+49 8321 6099-0 info@bhs-sonthofen.com

Vacuum drying for pharmaceutical contract drying

October 22, 2025

BHS-Sonthofen GmbH recently successfully commissioned a vertical dryer for a medium-sized pharmaceutical company. The customer produces active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) in multi-shift operation for leading international pharmaceutical companies.

Innovative drying solution for the highest demands in pharmaceutical contract manufacturing

As a specialist in the development and manufacture of active ingredients and finished drugs, a pharmaceutical contract manufacturer turned to BHS-Sonthofen to efficiently dry solvent-moist synthesis products. After mechanical solid-liquid separation, for example using a belt filter, pressure rotary filter, or centrifuge, the moist filter cake is dried to a fine-grained powder, which can then be further processed in downstream process steps.

Design meets function: Maximum process reliability and cleaning-optimized design

Our long-standing customer relies on the HVW-T 3100 machine type in cGMP design, manufactured from the highly corrosion-resistant special material Alloy-C22 – ideal for pharmaceutical manufacturing environments. Areas that come into contact with the product can be completely cleaned without tools using integrated spray nozzles, reliably removing product residues. The conical container base can be separated from the lid using a bayonet lock and lowered using a lifting column, allowing optimal access to the product chamber for inspection and cleaning.

Precise temperature control and controlled evaporation in the vacuum process

In vacuum operation, temperature- and shear-sensitive products are guided through the heated BHS spiral mixer via a precisely temperature-controlled heating jacket. The solvents evaporate in the vacuum at significantly reduced temperatures, which significantly minimizes mechanical and thermal stress on the product.

The dried products are then discharged from the product chamber in a controlled manner via a ball segment slide valve. The separated solvents are recovered in a condenser.