Grand River Aseptic Manufacturing (GRAM), a US-based manufacturer of sterile parenteral vials and syringes, has expanded its pharmaceutical manufacturing capacity with the purchase of Bausch+Ströbel fully integrated high-speed filling line.
The investment in the Bausch+Ströbel filling line featuring SKAN isolator, represents second major equipment purchase for GRAM in 2018.
Designed to fill 200 vials per minute, the new filler can fill vials ranging from 2mL to 50mL with 100% weight checks. It features a vial washer, depyrogenation tunnel and filling machine.
GRAM business development and finance vice-president Nick Bykerk said: “GRAM continues to build our flexibility in the highly competitive CDMO market.
“Simultaneously, we are reinvesting in the development of our clinical-scale manufacturing. The combination of specialized clinical and commercial production with our analytical and development services offers a powerful solution to better meet the evolving needs of our clients.”
The firm expects the fully integrated fill line to more than triple GRAM’s manufacturing capacity while maximizing flexibility in manufacturing solutions, increase process efficiency and ensure the highest level of sterility.
GRAM president and CEO Tom Ross said: “The fully integrated filling line is a significant capital investment capable of executing clients’ complex parenteral manufacturing processes with the utmost precision.
“We look forward to serving our customers through additional investments in our facilities and finishing areas, including inspection, labeling and packaging.”
As part of expansion plans, GRAM recently signed major land purchase agreement and also invested in new Colanar FSV syringe filler for installation at its FDA-inspected, GMP-compliant manufacturing facility in Grand Rapids, Michigan, US.
The syringe filler, which is planned to be qualified and operational by the second quarter of 2018, will also be able to handle cartridges.
Ross added: “With Arlington Capital joining our company last November, we have the financial resources to invest in our customers through a planned expansion, new state-of-art injectable fill/finish equipment and additional highly trained staff.”