Custom isolators travel the world
Howorth Air Technology has provided eight isolators for a leading American biotech company
Howorth Air Technology has provided eight isolators for a leading American biotech company, for use in its small molecule active pharmaceutical ingredient facility in San Francisco. The project was unique in that it necessitated many developments of totally new engineering.
Howorth’s ability to produce custom-designed equipment was a vital element in its being awarded the contract. Construction of the isolators presented a very unusual challenge: each of the eight isolators was built to contain an existing piece of laboratory equipment, with both elements being seamlessly integrated to produce a final unique combination.
The isolators were designed to offer containment to a working Occupational Exposure Limit (OEL) of ?1 µm/m3.
Although the isolators were assembled in Howorth’s UK plant, first the existing processing equipment was shipped from the US for what were often complex modifications to be carried out.
Engineering drawings were produced and, following approval from the client, full scale 3D mock-ups built. Scientists and engineers from the client visited the plant to carry out a full ergonomic evaluation and review of the Isolators. The isolators were then manufactured and integrated with the client’s equipment prior to factory acceptance testing.
Upon completion, the isolators were shipped to the US for installation and successful commissioning.
