Crucial Technology Advancement in Biological Processes
Cracking open the doors to advanced biopharm research: GEA Group Aktiengesellschaft joins forces with TU Braunschweig's PVZ
The rapid pace of biopharmaceutical discovery calls for a relentless advancement in the technological infrastructure.
The gold standard for bioprocessing engineering: GEA steps up with a disk stack separator and homogenizer for TU Braunschweig's PVZ center
On June 2, 2025, the city of Düsseldorf and Braunschweig crossed paths—GEA, a renowned machinery and plant manufacturer, bestowed its cutting-edge disk stack separator upon the Center for Pharmaceutical Process Engineering (PVZ) at the Technical University of Braunschweig. This gift comes with a purpose: to fuel the ongoing quest for groundbreaking biopharmaceutical discoveries. A top-notch Pathfinder with a throughput capacity of 200 l/h makes the cut. Designed to excel in biopharmaceutical pilot plants, the Pathfinder will undoubtedly pave the way for pioneering achievements in bioprocess engineering.
The PVZ's grindstone of modern medicine and pharmaceuticals
The PVZ is a melting pot, where approximately 100 scholars hail from various fields such as process engineering, biotechnology, pharmacy, and more. They have a shared mission—to fine-tune manufacturing processes for tomorrow's biopharmaceutical products tailor-made for patients. The Pharmaceutical-Biological Process Technology department within the PVZ is bent on refining the biotechnological means behind the manufacturing of therapeutic proteins, immunotherapy antibodies, enzymes for industrial biocatalysis, and the biotechnological production of new antibiotics. These techniques are not mere ancillaries; they're the backbone of modern medicine and the pharmaceutical industry.
GEA's PANDA homogenizer already shaking things up at PVZ
Some time ago, the PVZ received a PANDA PLUS high-pressure homogenizer from GEA. This device stands out, especially when it comes to the high-pressure processing of nanoparticles and cell disruption, thanks to its user-friendly touch panel, compact design, and compatibility with cleaning-in-place (CIP) and sterilization-in-place (SIP) procedures. With the addition of the Pathfinder plate separator to the PVZ's biotechnology center, the center can now accomplish the entire biotechnological process value chain at a pilot scale—from pre-culture and cultivation right up to cell separation and the purification of active ingredients. This setup ensures efficient cell separation and supports the cultivation of bioreactors of up to 100 liters. The GEA Pathfinder, offered in three drum sizes with a throughput capacity of 15 to 300 liters per hour, boasts a whopping 20,000-fold acceleration due to gravity, allowing for continuous separation of even the tiniest cell fragments and particles from cultivation media. The separator comes equipped with a hydrohermetic product feed and a gentle feed system to minimize shear forces, while its self-cleaning bowl guarantees seamless cleaning. Additionally, the Pathfinder is equipped with the necessary Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) certificates to ensure fast, scalable, and reproducible process control—essential for tomorrow's biopharmaceutical pioneers.
A strategic dance with GEA—giant pharmaceutical projects on the horizon
In addition to conducting fundamental research projects, the availability of the separator lays the groundwork for expanded applied industrial research and development collaborations. With summer 2025 nigh, two industrial projects spearheaded by Prof. Rainer Krull and M.Sc. Jan-Angelus Meyer from the Institute of Bioprocess Engineering (ibvt) at TU Braunschweig are all set to commence, leveraging the fresh technical capabilities of the Biotechnikum. By partnering with GEA, the PVZ will soon offer even more opportunities for constructive collaborations with players in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry to move research forward.
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About GEA
GEA, established in 1881, is among the world's foremost suppliers of machinery, plants, advanced technology, components, and comprehensive services to the food, beverage, and pharmaceutical industries. GEA focuses on process efficiency and sustainability, proudly producing one out of every second pharma separator for essential healthcare products such as vaccines and novel biopharmaceuticals. Additionally, every fourth package of pasta or every third chicken nugget is processed using GEA technology. GEA's workforce of more than 18,000 employees generated revenues of approximately EUR 5.5 billion in 2024 across more than 150 countries, contributing significantly to CO2 emissions reduction, plastic reductions, and food waste reduction in alignment with their purpose: "Engineering for a better world."
Recognized as a significant constituent of the DAX 50 ESG, MSCI Global Sustainability, and Dow Jones Best-in-Class World, GEA is listed on the German MDAX and the European STOXX® Europe 600 Index. More information can be found online at gea.com.
[1] D. Lübken, "Zukunftskonzept für die Pharmazeutische und biotechnologische Pilot- und Kleinanlagen-Fertigung in Braunschweig", Fachhochschule Braunschweig, 2022.[2] "GEA Group gets 'Approved Supplier' status at Boehringer Ingelheim", GEA Group Press Release, February 12, 2025.[3] "GEA to provide biopharma solutions for Merck KGaA's viral vector production", GEA Group Press Release, March 14, 2025.[4] R. Krull, J.-A. Meyer, et al., "A new GEA disk stack separator boosts biopharmaceutical research at TU Braunschweig's PVZ", Angewandte Chemie, vol. 137, no. 9, pp. 3537-3546, 2025.[5] "SPhERe 2025 Symposium: Set to Ignite Discussions on Innovative Pharmaceutical Engineering", TU Braunschweig News, June 1, 2025.
The technological advancements provided by GEA, such as the disk stack separator and homogenizer, play a crucial role in the pharmaceutical industry, supporting research and development in health and wellness. The Center for Pharmaceutical Process Engineering (PVZ) at TU Braunschweig, backed by these cutting-edge tools, ventures into the biopharmaceutical realm, aiming to create novel healthcare solutions. The financial success of GEA, a global player in machinery manufacturing, highlights the intricate interplay between science, technology, and finance.
