Aqua-Chem becomes the North American platform and water purification global center of excellence of Nijhuis Saur Industries (NSI), the Industrial Water arm of Saur, formed after the acquisition of Netherlands-based Nijhuis Industries in 2020. With the addition of Aqua-Chem, NSI obtains a highly complementary portfolio of water purification and process water treatment solutions with leading market positions and a large installed base in growth end-markets such as pharmaceuticals & life sciences, beverage, energy, and the U.S. military.
Saur expects significant synergies from cross-selling opportunities among existing customers, development of rental and other service solutions, manufacturing synergies, and joint technical collaboration. Saur expects to grow its revenues in Industrial Water to over €300m in 2022 pro forma for the acquisition.
Headquartered in the Knoxville, Tennessee (USA), Aqua-Chem is specialized in water purification, with market-leading technologies in vapor compression distillers, reverse osmosis, pure steam generation, and pre-treatment solutions. Aqua-Chem focuses primarily on the North American market, where it generates about 70% of its revenues. The company employs 165 people worldwide and works with a highly diversified client base of more than 300 customers across its four end markets of pharmaceuticals, beverage, energy, and military.
Patrick Blethon, Executive Chairman of Saur: “I am excited to welcome Aqua-Chem and all its talented employees into our Group. The acquisition of Aqua-Chem firmly places Saur among the leading players in North America. Leveraging the strong complementarities between Aqua-Chem and our Group, Saur will be uniquely positioned to offer an unmatched value proposition to its clients with increasingly innovative solutions. This acquisition is a key step in the deployment of our roadmap to establish Saur as champion of the water transition globally.”
Shane DeWitt, CEO of Aqua-Chem: “Today marks a new step in Aqua-Chem’s long history of excellence and successful development. Together with Saur and NSI, we will invest in our long-term growth, accelerate our product development as well as add new service solutions and resources, helping our clients solve their complex water challenges with superior scale,unparalleled capability, and unique and differentiated innovation.”
Please contact us at (800) 964-7035 or sales@aqua-chem.com if you have questions.
SELKIRK Pharma Selects TORRENT® Ambient WFI System for New Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Fill/Finish Facility
Selkirk Selects TORRENT® Ambient WFI System
Selkirk Pharma, Inc. a privately held U.S. pharmaceutical manufacturer has selected TORRENT® Ambient WFI System to complement their state-of-the-art Fill/Finish CMO facility in the healthcare hub of the Pacific Northwest. Selkirk offers aseptic fill and finish, and comprehensive analytical testing capabilities with a distinct focus on small-batch, high-value, late-stage clinical and commercial products.
The TORRENT® WFI Packaged Membrane WFI System and TORRENT® PW Packaged RO/CEDI USP PW System generates compendial water that exceeds current USP, PhEur, and JP requirements for direct and contract manufacturing of critical pharmaceutical, bio-pharma, medical device, cosmetic, and personal care products. The fully integrated systems are a part of a complete Aqua-Chem water room solution that includes utility pretreatment, generation, and hot or ambient storage and distribution.
If you would like to learn more about Aqua-Chem’s TORRENT® Ambient WFI / PW systems or other engineered clean water solutions such as vapor compression distillers or pure steam generators, please contact us at (800) 964-7035 or sales@aqua-chem.com.
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AQUA-CHEM, INC. CONTINUES INVESTMENTS IN PRODUCTION PROCESSES TO SUPPORT MARKET DEMAND
Aqua-Chem, Inc. is pleased to announce that they have added a new, precision waterjet cutting machine to their manufacturing facility in Knoxville, TN. Implementing this new waterjet will expand Aqua-Chem’s range of materials and thicknesses that can be cut in-house. In addition, this precision cutting system will be a crucial component of our expanded production capacity and reduced lead times.
“Cutting more parts in-house with the new waterjet has allowed us to improve efficiencies, saving both time and resources,” says Frank Keefer, Aqua-Chem Vice President of Operations. “This new machine is less time-consuming than outsourcing or machining. We are always looking for ways to improve our processes to ensure that our customers are receiving the highest quality water purification equipment with the shortest lead time in the marketplace.”
Frank goes on to add, “The new waterjet cutting machine is a proactive move to support demand for our expanded line of carbon towers and media filtration. Our Carbon Tower design has many unique design features that make maintenance and servicing easier and less time-consuming, so the customer response and demand have been very positive. Many of the beverage manufacturers we work with are looking for an easy solution to replace aging pretreatment systems for feedwater. Our range of Carbon Towers answers those requests because they have fast lead times and are easy to integrate into an existing system.”
If you would like to learn more about Aqua-Chem’s Carbon Towers and Media Filtration systems or other engineered clean water solutions such as vapor compression distillers or reverse osmosis systems, please contact us at (800) 964-7035 or sales@aqua-chem.com.
.com.
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Aqua-Chem, Inc. Makes Game Changing Investment in Production Processes to Support Pharmaceutical Market Demand
Aqua-Chem, Inc. is pleased to announce that we have invested in a new, automated laser cutting machine. This advanced, laser system will be a key component of our expanded production capacity and reduced lead times.
The new laser machine is fast and efficient and will allow Aqua-Chem, Inc. operations to streamline our production operations and maintain our strict quality standards. The new laser machine also delivers on another key metric for Aqua-Chem, which is safety. It’s a top priority for Aqua-Chem to provide a safe workplace for our employees. With many integrated safety features such as sensors to avoid the risk of collision the new laser machine will improve worker safety and automated features such as an automatic nozzle changer, many tasks that were previously manual are now automated, saving time and reducing risk.
“This machine was selected for its incomparable ability to consistently produce high-precision components efficiently.” says Frank Keefer, Aqua-Chem Vice President of Operations. Franks also states, “The addition of this laser cutting machine is just one example of our efforts to continuously improve our processes. We are always looking for ways to improve our processes to ensure that our customers are receiving the highest quality water purification equipment with a short timeline.”
Frank goes on to add, “The new laser cutting machine is a move to support demand for our new Torrent™ Ambient WFI and PW systems. These packaged systems have been very well received by the pharmaceutical market, thanks to their easy integration. A lot of pharmaceutical manufacturers we work with are looking for a fast and easy way to increase their production of water for their manufacturing processes and the Torrent™ units have really answered those requests because they have a small footprint and are easy to integrate into existing processes.”
If you would like to learn more about Aqua-Chem’s TORRENT™ Ambient WFI / PW systems or our other clean water solutions such as vapor compression distillers or pure steam generators, please contact us at (800) 964-7035 or sales@aqua-chem.com.
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The Future of Pharmaceutical Manufacturing is Cool
Aqua-Chem, Inc. announces the launch of the Torrent product line – our second-generation Ambient Water for Injection/Purified Water (WFI/PW) system. This product line provides complete solutions for compendial water applications. From WFI/PW generation to storage and distribution, all the bases are covered. Torrent is focused on consistently and efficiently generating water that meets or exceeds FDA standards, with a lower total cost of ownership than many other technologies on the market. As a membrane-based solution, Torrent carries a lower initial capital investment and operates at lower energy consumption than thermal processes, enabling a faster return on investment.
The Torrent product line was designed with the user in mind, delivering reliability, quality, and ease of operation. The product line features modular “plug-and-play” designs built on stainless-steel frames with sanitary tubing, NSF 61-approved materials, and <25.0 μin Ra wetted components for product water. An oversized 15-inch HMI screen makes it easy to quickly assess equipment status. Remote diagnostics and 24/7 post-sales support mean complete coverage for our customers.
We focused on creating the best possible owner experience – from low capital and operational costs to reliability, uptime, and user experience – we have designed a line of systems that checks all the boxes for compendial water production.
“We are very excited about the improvements we’ve made to the Torrent product line; these systems are versatile and can handle a variety of feedwater conditions while being highly energy efficient and delivering a low total cost of ownership. Torrent is a great addition to our pharmaceutical product line,” says Gary Edwards, President & CEO of Aqua-Chem. “Aqua-Chem is always looking for innovative solutions to provide clean water in the most sustainable manner possible.”
Key Innovations of Aqua-Chem’s Torrent product line include:
Modular “plug-and-play” design
Stainless steel frame and enclosures with large 15-inch HMI screen
Title 21 CFR Part 11 ready control system
Remote diagnostics & 24/7 post-sales support
Made in and serviced from the USA
Aqua-Chem’s Torrent products are available immediately and can be customized to fit seamlessly into your water purification systems.
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As the novel coronavirus spreads throughout the world, Aqua-Chem is working to support pharmaceutical and vaccine manufacturers across the globe as they race to find a cure. Right now our water is being used in the clinical trials of some of the leading COVID-19 vaccine candidates in the U.S. Even more exciting, we are proud to know that the water we produce is already being used to manufacture many of the first vaccines that will be shipping throughout North America in the coming months.
Water is the primary ingredient in many pharmaceuticals and is a critical, highly regulated ingredient in all vaccines, both as a diluent and as a carrier. Aqua-Chem’s President and CEO, Gary Edwards noted, “Aqua-Chem is deeply committed to supporting the fight against COVID-19. Our whole team knows that our equipment is on the frontlines of the fight against COVID-19. From our vapor Compression Distillers to Pure Steam Generators and Ambient WFI Membrane systems our whole team is committed to engineering and building systems that reliably deliver high-quality water for critical needs. “
As we all look forward to a “post-pandemic” world, Aqua-Chem is helping the pharmaceutical and health care industry combat the pandemic- and that’s a responsibility that we all take personally.
Aqua-Chem, Inc. Announces Beverage Reverse Osmosis System
[Serving the Beverage Industry with Clean Water Technologies]
Knoxville, TN: Aqua-Chem, Inc. today announced the launch of their Beverage Reverse Osmosis Systems targeted at meeting the needs of the growing beverage industry and engineered to deliver a low total cost of ownership. Aqua-Chem has developed arange of standard designs and can draw from years of experience to create the most efficient and sustainable system to meet your needs. Both single and double-pass configurations are available to meet a variety of product water quality requirements. Reverse Osmosis Systems are designed to produce purified ingredient water for beverage applications. Aqua-Chem RO systems incorporate energy-saving RO membranes and vertical multistage pumps forlow maintenance and long life. Aqua-Chem Reverse Osmosis systems use membranes from a variety of suppliers making the customization of these systems unlimited. Aqua-Chem Reverse Osmosis units integrate the pretreatment and polishing processes with the control system. Aqua-Chem’s Beverage Reverse Osmosis Systems are used in producing bottled water, juices, teas, carbonated drinks, sports drinks, energy drinks, alcoholic beverages, and more.
“We are so excited about the versatility of this line of Reverse Osmosis Systems. Not being tied to one membrane supplier has tremendously opened up the customization possibilities for Aqua-Chem to engineer an efficient and sustainable system that delivers a low total cost of ownership.” says Jeffrey Okun, Vice President of Sales at Aqua-Chem “These Reverse Osmosis Systems are a great addition to the complete Aqua-Chem water room system for the beverage industry.”
Features and benefits of Aqua-Chem’s Beverage Reverse Osmosis System include.
Complete integration of pretreatment and polishing process in one control system.
Convenient sample ports for easy monitoring.
Aqua-Chem’s field service team supports you during and after commissioning
We offer operator training, preventative maintenance programs, and more.
Fully programmable alarm conditions customized to your system requirements. Alarms can be fixed or adjustable.
Single and Double Pass Configurations are available with standard nominal product flow ranges of 100 gpm to 400 gpm. Other flow rates are available, to meetthe needs of your facility.
Aqua-Chem’s Reverse Osmosis systems have various upgrades available such as integrated Concentrate Recovery to increase water efficiency, hot water sanitization features, and Stainless-Steel membrane vessels. Aqua-Chem also offers pretreatment options and ultraviolet disinfection and more as a part of the complete Aqua-Chem beverage water room offering. Beverage Reverse Osmosis Systems are available immediately and can be custom engineered to perfectly complement your existing water purification system. For more information on Reverse Osmosis Systems for beverage applications visit aqua-chem.com/beverage-reverse-osmosis/
Reverse Osmosis Units are a part of Aqua-Chem’s full water room design, which is based on decades of experience in the manufacture of water for beverage production and includes:
Aqua-Chem, Inc. Announces Carbon Tower Product Line
[Serving the Beverage Industry with Clean Water Technologies]
Aqua-Chem, Inc. announces the launch of their Carbon Tower product line targeted at meeting the needs of the growing beverage industry and engineered to deliver a lower total cost of ownership than many other technologies on the market. Aqua-Chem’s carbon towers are suitable for any application requiring steam or hot water sanitization and are constructed out of NSF 61 approved materials. The Aqua-Chem Carbon Tower utilizes bituminous coal to provide clean water for use in bottled water, juices, teas, carbonated drinks, sports drinks, energy drinks, alcoholic beverages and more. Aqua-Chem’s Carbon Tower is energy efficient and offers a sustainable method for beverage manufactures to remove Chlorine, Chloramines, and Organics from their supply water.
“The carbon tower line is a highly customizable component that integrates seamlessly into almost any beverage facility,” says Jeffrey Okun, Vice President of Sales at Aqua-Chem “Aqua-Chem is always looking for innovative solutions to provide clean water in the most sustainable manner possible.”
Standard Features:
Aqua-Chem offers standard carbontowers capable of processing 200-450 gallons per minute. Customized designs, including larger and smaller carbon towers are also available.
316L Stainless Steel and other NSF 61 approved materials assure no materials are leached our extracted from the equipment into the water.
Optimized both the flow rate and empty bed contact time to provide you with the best quality water while maximizing the utilization of your carbon and meeting production goals. (1 gpm/ft3 flow-rate for 7.5 min EBCT)
1-1.5x service flow backwash rate to reduce wastewater and save time.
A media retaining, slotted screen strainer is utilized to maximize carbon capture within the Tower. The design eliminates the need for support bed material, increasing the effective carbon surface area available for filtering.
Backwash rates can be varied to meet individual facility requirements and seasonal fluctuations in water temperature. Effective carbon tower operation is highly dependent on the effectiveness of the backwash process. The appropriate freeboard within the tower provides flexibility within the backwash process to achieve optimal effectiveness.
Inlet/outlet pressure, outlet flow, and vessel temperature monitoring assure temperature control during the steam cycle.
Upgrades:
Automatic backwash assures consistent performance with less effort.
Automatic steam or hot water sanitization processes increase the efficacy of the VOC removal and sanitization.
Electropolished tank and face piping for a superior surface finish.
Aqua-Chem’s Carbon Towers are available immediately, with short lead-times and can be customized engineered to perfectly compliment your existing water purification system. For more information on Beverage Carbon Towers visit https://aqua-chem.com/carbontowerfiltration/
Carbon Towers are a part of Aqua-Chem’s full water room design, which is based on decades of experience in the manufacture of water for beverage production and includes:
2020 FOYA Category Winner for Facility Integration
Pfizer, Inc.
Aqua-Chem recognized as WFI Equipment Supplier to ISPE- FOYA 2020 Pfizer
Location: Andover, Massachusetts, USA
Project: Pfizer Building E – Andover Clinical Manufacturing Facility
In 2015, Pfizer launched “Project Indigo” to relocate clinical manufacturing capabilities from Chesterfield, Missouri, to the new 175,000 sq. ft., state-of-the-art Andover Clinical Manufacturing Facility (ACMF) on the existing Pfizer Andover, Massachusetts, campus. The move was made to expand clinical biological drug substance manufacturing capacity from 14 to 21 campaigns per year, while vertically integrating the Andover site through the co-location of early phase clinical manufacturing with large scale commercial manufacturing that was existing on the site. With respect to scope, the ACMF is a five-story building, housing five independent manufacturing suites, dedicated to the development of new biotherapeutics and vaccines to support trials in disease areas including: oncology, rare diseases, infectious diseases, hemophilia, and rheumatoid arthritis. Capabilities include cell culture, microbial fermentation, associated downstream purification operations, and the required support areas for solution preparation.
The ACMF project design allows for integration on several levels. Physically, the building is located next to an existing R&D facility and the existing commercial manufacturing facility is connected by an elevated bridge that creates convenient, controlled paths for the movement of personnel, equipment, and drug substances and product without stepping outdoors. Clinical manufacturing occurs independently within five suites across two floors. To mitigate the risk of cross contamination, there are no crossties between any of the suites. Most of the equipment is mobile and skid-based, enabling the transfer of materials from the R&D process innovations team (in Building F) to the ACMF and from the ACMF across the connecting bridge to commercial manufacturing (in Building B). Thanks to very effective master planning over the years, ACMF was able to use the existing site infrastructure (utilities, warehouse, support services, etc.)
From an operational perspective, facility integration was achieved through five tactical mandates: multi-host, multi-platform, configurable suites, portable systems, and wireless controls. The ACMF was designed to accommodate both microbial and mammalian cell capabilities recognizing the elevated perceived risk of cross contamination. This risk has been mitigated through strict product segregation protocols implemented in the very design of the building and the paths, in the physical independence of each manufacturing suite, and through strict procedural controls. With respect to multi-platform, the facility was designed with three suites having single-use disposable systems and two having more traditional stainless-steel platforms, which mirror capabilities across Pfizer R&D and commercial capabilities globally. Each suite provides maximum flexibility in regard to configurability. With almost no permanent installations and with all equipment and process control systems on wheels or skids, each suite can be configured to handle even the most complex processes and then be easily changed to meet a future need. With such an emphasis on equipment portability and suite configurability, careful planning was required to enable connectivity, process automation, and data collection. To meet this need, the ACMF facility utilizes a wireless DeltaV automation system that demanded a more comprehensive automation systems integration effort than required in a wired implementation to ensure that all skids and all equipment operate as intended. In addition to wireless process automation, the facility also employs wireless asset tracking to avoid losing track of any of the highly mobile portable process skids.
Behind the physical and operational innovations is “intellectual innovation” that is foundational to the siting of this facility on the Andover campus. By locating ACMF in Andover, Pfizer brought together R&D, clinical manufacturing, and commercial manufacturing colleagues and all the knowledge, expertise, and insights acquired over three decades of biological drug development experience into one location. This co-location is much more than a matter of convenience. Close and continuous collaboration among all Andover site teams enables the integration of the intellectual capital at the heart of Pfizer’s biologics enterprise. Formal cross-staffing programs place commercial manufacturing colleagues in clinical manufacturing roles to promote the continuous transfer of knowledge and skills. Moreover, the site data historian captures data and information generated by all process development activities at Andover- from bench to pilot to clinical and commercial manufacturing. The data historian is a single repository for all process knowledge and lessons learned from process conception through to commercial manufacturing.
Overall, the ACMF proves that a sustainable, flexible, configurable, and wireless clinical manufacturing facility can achieve complete integration into a dynamic, high-performance process development flow today and preserve that integration no matter how biologic drug development may evolve in years to come. Based on the many levels that Pfizer incorporated facility integration into the Andover Clinical Manufacturing Facility, this project is recognized with the 2020 FOYA Facility Integration Award.
Supply Partners and Key Participants:
Manufacturer/Owner Name – Pfizer Inc. Engineer/Architect (A&E) – CRB Construction Manager – Lendlease Piping Subcontractors –
Decco, Inc. (process)
TG Gallagher Mechanical Contractors
HVAC Subcontractor – McCusker Gill Inc. Automation and Control Suppliers –
Schneider Electric (Building Automation)
Hallam-ICS (Instruments & Controls)
Major Equipment Suppliers/Contractors
WFI Generation Equipment – Aqua Chem Inc.
Media and Buffer Prep Skids – Integrated Process Engineers and Constructors Inc. (IPEC)
Bioreactor and CIP Skids – A&B Process Systems Corp.
Disposable Bioreactors, Chromatography Columns and Skids – GE HEALTHCARE
