PBM Inc. And Aker Kvaerner Pharmaceuticals Inc. Work Together To Develop A Cleaner Pipe And Tubing Hanger For The Pharmaceutical And Biotechnology Industries

The pharmaceutical industry is accustomed to operating in accordance with guidelines and procedures that ensure products are manufactured to the required standards of safety and efficacy. Such guidelines have only recently started to be prepared for the engineering design process that defines pharmaceutical facilities and equipment. Aker Kvaerner Pharmaceuticals has assembled a team of leading technical specialists, many of them from within the industry itself, to bring hands-on experience to providing solutions for customers. Attention to detail and recommending better and cleaner products to the industry is a serious commitment.

Modern pharmaceutical and biotech facilities can have miles of sanitary tubing sprawling though-out clean rooms and clean work areas. Supporting this tubing while maintaining a clean and cGMP-compliant environment is critical to the engineers, owners, and operators of these facilities.

Aker Kvaerner challenged PBM to design a tubing support suitable for a sanitary environment that would be "cleaner", but competitive with other hangers and clamps available in the marketplace. PBM took the challenge, with the guidance of Tony Colaizzi of Aker Kvaerner, and developed a line of pipe and tubing hangers following the design principles of ASME-BPE, 2002. These PBM hangers are available as wall, floor, or ceiling mount assemblies, as well as multi-run stacked configurations, in a size range of 1/2" through 6" for pipe, tube, copper tubing, and conduit.

Unlike the "square" design offered by other manufacturer's, PBM's design, made from 316 stainless steel with a 35 Ra finish, has round and smooth surfaces that are cleanable and drainable. All materials are FDA complaint, suitable for wash-down, and compatible with steam cleaning. The use of acorn type nuts results in no exposed threads that trap particles and are difficult to clean. In addition, corners are chamfered or rounded for ease of cleaning. The cleanliness features of the design were verified by riboflavin testing in a 165°F wash down environment by an independent organization. The PBM design uses a silicone grommet to clamp and seal the pipe or tube securely. This silicone grommet material is compliant with 21CFR 177 and is suitable for temperatures up to 400°F continuous. PBM's hanger design is the first and only of it's kind, with several patents pending.