Source: Tetra Pak
This company has launched its first industrial bioreactor, the Bioreactor RF, a fermentation vessel designed to maintain stable conditions while providing operators with actionable process insight. From pilot validation and first industrial runs through to full-scale production, the system delivers repeatable performance without increasing operational complexity. Bioreactor RF is pre-assembled and factory-tested, enabling faster installation and commissioning, while reducing disruption to production planning. Its integrated platform design removes the need for separate support structures, lowering installation costs and complexity. These features can help reduce investment costs by up to 8% compared with conventional industrial bioreactors. At the core of Bioreactor RF is a patented magnetic agitation system that removes the need for mechanical seals, a common source of contamination risk and process instability in conventional designs. Unlike traditional magnetic agitators, which can struggle to maintain power as vessel size increases, this company’s patented system is designed to maintain power and oxygen transfer across the full size range. This helps maintain stable process conditions and reduce the risk of batch loss. High levels of automation further simplify operation. Self-adjusting control functions help stabilise conditions as processes evolve, reducing the need for manual intervention. Combined with predefined operating strategies and integrated data monitoring, this enables operators to run processes more efficiently and with greater visibility. Overall, the combination of simplified operation, reduced contamination risk and improved process stability can help producers lower operational costs by up to 12%4. Available in sizes from 10 to 50,000 L, all Bioreactor RF units use the same design platform, control logic and operating philosophy. This consistency simplifies operator training and day-to-day operation across sites and production scales. The modular configuration also allows producers to adapt alarm thresholds, impellers and configurations as process needs evolve, without adding unnecessary system complexity. — Tetra Pak International, S.A., Lund, Sweden