Boehringer Ingelheim Low-particle air in the tablet factory
Ventilation in the Smart Factory
SOL – these three letters not only represent a total investment volume of 90 million euro, but also the concentrated know-how for highly complex manufacturing technologies for medicines. SOL is the new solids launch factory of the global pharmaceutical manufacturer Boehringer Ingelheim. Its clear focus: Launch and innovation. The tablet factory is located at the headquarters in Ingelheim am Rhein, near Mainz. Since October 2021, all new launches of medicines in tablet form (solids) have been manufactured there for the global market launch. Six BerlinerLuft. ventilation units ensure low-particle air in the production rooms. CompetenceCenters Air Conditioning. These were supplied in a hygienic design – appropriate for use in the pharmaceutical industry – and are equipped with the highly efficient EcoCond heat recovery system.
"One of our largest projects in the pharmaceutical sector as a system supplier"
High air exchange for perfect air quality in the cleanroom
In the pharmaceutical industry, the issue of air quality is essential: The higher the cleanroom class, the fewer particles may be contained in the air. The pharmaceutical manufacturer produces in its Solids Launch factory in cleanliness class ISO 8 or cleanroom class D. The ventilation units of BerlinerLuft. Technik GmbH also had to meet these requirements. Cleanroom class D prescribes a sixfold minimum air exchange per hour.
Ventilation systems in hygienic design
BerlinerLuft. Technik GmbH has manufactured the supply air systems for the Smart Factory at Boehringer Ingelheim in hygienic design. Among other things, the shelves and dampers are made of stainless steel. In addition, the supply air systems operate with 100 per cent outside air. "In the pharmaceutical industry, this is the standard. Since Covid-19, the demand for ventilation systems with 100 per cent outdoor air supply has also increased in other areas," emphasises Uwe Speidel. BerlinerLuft. Technik GmbH always manufactures its ventilation and air-conditioning systems on a project and customer-specific basis at its CompetenceCenter Klimatechnik in Bexbach (Saarland).
Air handling units with heat recovery
Another requirement for the ventilation systems was the reduction of energy consumption through a highly efficient heat recovery system. "We had to achieve an efficiency of greater than or equal to 70 per cent – that was the specification from Boehringer Ingelheim. Of course, because every percent less efficiency costs a lot of money later. A high degree of efficiency is not only cost-efficient but also environmentally friendly," says Uwe Speidel. The ventilation and air-conditioning systems in the Solids Launch Factory are therefore equipped with the EcoCond system from BerlinerLuft. Technik GmbH.
EcoCond I EcoCond+ are energy-efficient heat recovery systems for heating and cooling. The economical operation of the system has been proven to reduce the life cycle costs of ventilation and air conditioning systems. Due to the separation of the air flows, the transfer of substances and fire is also excluded in the event of a malfunction. This makes the system particularly suitable for use in facilities where germs, odours, moisture, pollutants and other contaminants must not be transferred. This also applies to environments with aggressive media or process heat.
