Innovation in Biological Procedures: Technological Advancements
GEA Group Aktiengesellschaft: Advancing Biopharmaceuticals
technological breakthroughs in biopharmaceutical research necessitate constant upgrades to infrastructure.
Bioprocess key technology: The Center for Pharmaceutical Process Engineering at TU Braunschweig amplifies capabilities using a GEA disc separator and homogenizer
Düsseldorf/Braunschweig, June 2, 2025 - In the race for biopharmaceutical advancements, technology infrastructure requires steady development. When it comes to separating cells from culture supernatants, a crucial step in biotech processes, efficiency and precision are paramount. To meet these challenges head-on, the Center for Pharmaceutical Process Engineering (PVZ) at Technische Universität Braunschweig enhances its biotech facility with a cutting-edge disc separator from GEA. With the equipment's delivery, GEA supports biopharmaceutical research at the PVZ. A Pathfinder (translation: "trailblazer") with a capacity of up to 200 L/h will be employed. Designed specifically for applications in biopharmaceutical pilot plants, the Pathfinder will pave the way for fresh paths in bioprocess engineering.
Research at the TU Braunschweig PVZ driving medical and pharmaceutical evolution
The PVZ is an interdisciplinary research hub where approximately 100 scientists from process engineering, biotechnology, pharmacy, and other natural and engineering sciences collaborate. Their shared goal is to develop and refine production processes for novel biopharmaceutical products tailored to individual patients. The Department of Pharmaceutical-Biological Process Engineering at the PVZ focuses on biotechnological processes integral to active ingredients such as therapeutic proteins, immunotherapy antibodies, industrial enzymes, and new antibiotics. With these processes at the core of modern medicine and the pharmaceutical sector, their optimization is essential.
GEA's PANDA PLUS homogenizer already proving successful at the PVZ
Some time ago, GEA provided the PVZ with a high-pressure homogenizer, the PANDA PLUS. Specifically designed for high-pressure processing of nanoparticles and cell disruption, the PANDA features a touch panel for easy operation of all machine functions. Ideal for Cleaning in Place (CIP) and Sterilization in Place (SIP) procedures, the PANDA's compact design facilitates effortless installation, use, and maintenance. With the introduction of the Pathfinder disc separator from GEA, the PVZ now has the ability to execute the entire value chain of a biotech process, from preculture to cultivation to cell separation and purification of active ingredients at the pilot scale. This makes it possible to conduct cultivations with bioreactors of up to 100 liters and efficiently separate cells. Offered with three drum sizes delivering throughput capacities of 15 to 300 liters per hour, the GEA Pathfinder boasts high separation performance and can continuously separate even fine particles and cell fragments from cultivation media.
Strategic Partnership with GEA: Larger Industrial Projects on the Horizon
Beyond conducting research projects based on fundamental research, the use of the separator preludes extended collaborative research and development endeavors. As early as summer 2025, two industrial projects under the leadership of Prof. Rainer Krull and M. Sc. Jan-Angelus Meyer from the Institute for Bioprocess Engineering (ibvt) of the TU Braunschweig will be carried out with the Pathfinder, leveraging the new technical possibilities of the expanded biotech center. "This expands the PVZ's opportunities for cooperation with partners from the pharmaceutical and biotechnological industry in the future, driving innovative and application-oriented research forward," the researchers of the ibvt commented.
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GEA is a global leader in machinery, solutions, and services for the food, beverage, and pharmaceutical industries. Established in 1881, the conglomerate excels in machinery engineering, advanced process technology, and comprehensive service solutions. For example, GEA manufactures half of the world's pharmaceutical separators, essential for health products such as vaccines and novel biopharmaceuticals. Within the food sector, every fourth pasta package or third chicken nugget is processed using GEA technology. With over 18,000 employees, the company generated revenues of approximately 5.4 billion EUR in the 2024 fiscal year across over 150 countries. Aligned with the company's mission, the focus is on improving efficiency, sustainability, and reducing CO2 emissions, plastic usage, and food waste. As a component of leading sustainability indices such as DAX 50 ESG, MSCI Global Sustainability, Dow Jones Best-in-Class World, and Best-in-Class Europe, GEA is listed on the German MDAX and the European STOXX® Europe 600 Index.
The advances in biopharmaceutical research necessitate the integration of science and technology to continually upgrade infrastructure. To optimize the production of novel biopharmaceutical products, the PVZ collaborates with GEA, a leading technology provider in the pharmaceutical sector, to incorporate their latest disc separator and homogenizer into their research facilities.
