No compromises in terms of tightness

For more than 40 years, the German Franz Ziel GmbH has been offering its customers in the pharmaceutical sector tailor-made solutions and, in the course of this, has developed into a leading provider in the field of GMP compliance services. One product area of the company with 230 employees specializes in services relating to cleanroom technology for safe production environments. In this field, Franz Ziel develops and manufactures systems that are subsequently implemented at customers located in the pharmaceutical industry worldwide. Starting with the individual planning through the design to the final commissioning and acceptance as well as the subsequent support the company offers comprehensive services from a single source. This includes cleanroom systems such as isolators, which offer the highest possible level of safety. Markus Hörsch, Division Manager for Sales and Marketing at Franz Ziel, explains: "With our solutions, we pay particular attention to ensuring that the employees, the products and the production environment are protected in the best possible way in the processes. Our principle "PROTECTING LIFE WITH TECHNOLOGY" hits the nail on the head and describes the basis of our entrepreneurial activities. To ensure that we always comply with this and achieve optimum results, the quality of the individual components installed in our systems plays a decisive role.” Against this background, all components are intensively tested before they are used here. For almost 20 years, Franz Ziel GmbH has relied on the Swiss company RICO Sicherheitstechnik AG as a supplier in terms of safety. RICO provides the gas-tight butterfly valves for the systems manufactured here and always meets the high-quality requirements due to continuous further developments.

Gas-tightness creates safety during bio-decontamination

In cleanroom technology, and especially in isolator technology, the sealing off of certain areas is indispensable. In some cases, hazardous substances must not be allowed to leave the work area, and in other cases, germs and bacteria must not be allowed to enter from the outside so that the product is not contaminated. The company's portfolio therefore includes Restricted Access Barrier Systems (RABS) and isolators in various designs. These containment solutions for aseptic processes are chosen for instance in filling and loading/unloading freeze dryers or other critical processes. The isolators are used for aseptic filling of pharmaceuticals, which, in contrast to filling in clean rooms, prevent direct manipulation by humans and thus serve to protect the product as well as people. The isolator housing with its integrated glove ports creates a barrier between the operator and the product. The ventilation system installed inside the equipment with its controlled pressure regulation further increases the safety for product or operator. The plants are equipped with supply and exhaust air systems, using HEPA filters to purify the air flow. "Before the process starts, bio-decontamination with evaporated H2O2 is carried out. In the course of this, it is essential that the gas does not get into the ambient air and that absolute gas tightness is guaranteed," says Markus Hörsch. Gas-tight butterfly valves from RICO Sicherheitstechnik AG are therefore integrated into the technical area of the systems on both, the supply air and exhaust air sides. The RAPIDO butterfly valves are able to control the flow of air in the ventilation duct and to close the duct 100% gas-tight. Actuators are used to regulate the valves. "The RAPIDO system ensures continuous air exchange during normal operation of our systems thanks to the variable valve position. At the same time, the pressures inside the isolator are regulated," explains Markus Hörsch, adding that the flap position monitoring and safety function in the event of a fault were also decisive for the purchase. Because an important criterion was that the tightness of the butterfly valves can be checked in the installed state - this can be done quickly and easily by means of a hand pump and pressure gauge via the so-called PERFEKT system of the RICO butterfly valves.

Partnership will continue in the future

With regard to the handling of RICO products, Markus Hörsch is also very satisfied and explains that the valves have a very good quality of workmanship and a slim, yet robust design. Another advantage is that they can be installed by the Franz Ziel employees on their own. Regular checking of the valve function is a matter of course as part of the processes. As the systems must be subjected to a pressure test before each decontamination cycle, it would be noticed immediately if something was leaking and thus the process could not start. " We are very satisfied with the partnership with RICO. We focus on the quality of our technologies and systems. RICO follows the same values, which is fully reflected in the products supplied." says Markus Hörsch, assessing the cooperation and adds that Franz Ziel will continue to rely on the high-quality valves from the Swiss experts in the future.