Blood Plasma Processor Relies on BFM® for Hygienic Seals

Prothya Biosolutions (formerly Plasma Industries Belgium) processes around 1.2 million litres of human blood plasma per year, breaking down the individual proteins for use in therapeutic and clinical analysis products via ‘fractionation’. This is a complex process that must maintain the strictest hygiene throughout each stage.

This becomes a challenge when transitioning plasma and other process additives between vessels. The flexible connections required at these transfer points are potential areas for contamination, which was a concern for Prothya Biosolutions.

The Problem with Traditional Connections

Prothya Biosolutions had a specific problem with the traditional clamped connection between a filter aid hopper and the manhole hat at the top of a processing vessel. The staff found it very difficult to mount and dismount because of a slight variation in the diameter of the connection.
As part of this connection, a gasket was glued to the bottom of the hopper. During changeovers, this gasket would frequently loosen and fall into the vessel below. This posed a real risk of filter aid leaking into the clean room, as well as expensive product contamination inside the processing vessel.

Kristof Greens, a Project Engineer for Prothya Biosolutions, was determined to find a solution that was easy to fit and provided a 100% seal.

Greens stated, “It often took two people to fit the old connector in place, and despite our best efforts, the gasket loosened and occasionally fell into the vessel below. There was just no way of catching it in such an awkward position.”

The BFM® Fitting Solution

Prothya Biosolutions called in Insolids BV, the local distributor for BFM®, to find an alternative to the traditional, ill-fitting hose clamp connection. Insolids BV immediately suggested the BFM® fitting, a patented snap-fit flexible connection. This system consists of a connector with snap rings on either end, and two corresponding spigots that are welded to the connecting pipework.
For this specific application, BFM® stainless steel spigots were installed at the connection points of the filter aid hopper and the processing vessel. A transparent Seeflex 020E connector was then fitted between the two pieces of equipment (left).

The custom BFM® spigots allow the connector to be easily and securely snapped into the correct position by a single operator.

The exact fit and 100% seal completely removed the difficulty of installation and the risk of product leakage into the clean room. The one-piece design also eliminated the risk of dropping components into the processing vessel, which improved production downtime.

A “Huge Improvement” in Operations

Kristof Greens confirmed the positive impact of the BFM® fitting. “By removing the difficult clamping system, the BFM® fitting has made a huge improvement in terms of handling our changeovers. It’s much easier for us to physically replace the connector now—it only takes one person a few seconds and we know it’s always going to be correctly fitted in exactly the right position,” he said.

Greens also noted the improved confidence in maintaining cleanroom hygiene. “There’s no risk of product leakage or dropping of clamp components into the processing vessels during changeovers. Brilliant!”

Want to know more about the amazing BFM® fitting system? Contact us today!

Case Study courtesy of BFM® distributor Insolids (Benelux Region)