GEA Pharma Systems Small Scale Solid Dosage R&D A complete ...

Process Analytical TechnologyProcess IntelligenceOptical methods like UV/Vis-, NIR-, IR- or Raman spectroscopy haveearned their spurs in many areas in chemical, pharmaceutical and foodindustry for a long time, mainly in off-line applications. The biggest hurdleto use these optical methods online is the problem of “window fouling”.The observation window is covered with material (bulk solids, sticky, pulpytype products etc.) and needs to be cleaned from time to time.After assisting multiple tests with various customers and suppliers ofoptical measurement techniques in its labs, GEA Pharma Systems hasrecognised this and developed the Lighthouse Probe in cooperation withJ&M Analytik AG. The combination of GPS’s expertise in containment,automation and pharmaceutical processing and J&M’s expertise in opticshas resulted in a robust and reliable probe with in-line calibration andcleaning capabilities.The Lighthouse Probe is the only probe on the market that can clean itsobservation window online.Thanks to the big observation area, the probe also analyses a volume closerto normal sampling volumes than traditional probes. This results in amuch more stable measurement. The Lighthouse Probe has been adaptedto suit the extensive rate of machinery GPS can deliver. It has a manualversion to fit a R&D machine; a mechanical window clean system for apilot plant system and fully automated version suitable for production orhigh containment systems.In processmeasurement positionClean andcalibrate positionThe strength of the Lighthouse Probe is that it is not limited to onesupplier of optical spectroscopy:• For moisture detection, one of the most seen applications, the probe isconfigured with an NDC system resulting in an online LOD apparatus.Thanks to over 30 years of experience, the NDC algorithm for moisturedetection is very robust and precise. This reduces calibration to adjustingtwo parameters instead of model development as us is standard with allspectroscopic system. The development considerably reduces theinvestment, installation and maintenance costCIP position atend of process• GPS recognizes and respects the end user’s choice of spectrometers andcan deliver the probe tuned for various brands now.• As real process understanding comes from combining differentparameters, we also understand that online models can hardly ever bemade using spectra only. The Lighthouse Probe can be delivered andconfigured with the necessary software to make this possible.Please ask our sales force for details.20