New Case Study: Improving Seal Performance in Pharmaceutical Manufacturing
Improving Seal Performance in Pharmaceutical Manufacturing: A Custom Solution for High-Speed Centrifuge Applications
In pharmaceutical manufacturing, sealing solutions must meet a higher standard. Beyond preventing leaks and maintaining equipment performance, seals must support strict requirements for cleanliness, traceability, chemical compatibility, and reliable operation in regulated environments.
Gallagher Fluid Seals partnered with a global pharmaceutical manufacturer to address a challenging sealing application at a vaccine production facility. The application involved high-speed centrifuge spindles used during vaccine bioprocessing, where each spindle required a stack of four lip seals installed on a hard-chrome coated shaft.
The initial solution was a FDA-compliant metal-cased PTFE lip seal designed to meet the application’s demanding operating conditions. However, during implementation, GFS identified a critical interference fit issue that made seal removal extremely difficult.
In a batch manufacturing environment where seals must be replaced after every production cycle, difficult removal can impact maintenance time, efficiency, and overall process reliability.
To address the challenge, GFS engineering developed a custom seal redesign. The new PTFE seal eliminated the metallic case while incorporating a thicker body and modified lip geometry to improve service life and simplify installation and removal.
The result was a two-generation seal development process focused on solving both performance and maintenance challenges while meeting the documentation and material requirements of pharmaceutical manufacturing.
This case study highlights how GFS approaches complex sealing challenges by combining application knowledge, engineering expertise, and custom design capabilities.
Read the full case study to learn how GFS helped optimize a critical pharmaceutical sealing application. Download it for free today.
