Steriline, a European manufacturer of standard and robotic lines for the aseptic processing of injectable drugs, introduced a Robotic Vial Filling and Capping Machine under isolator (RVFCM50) and a Robotic Nest Filling Machine under double-wall isolator (RNFM5). 
 

The RVFCM50 can process up to 2,400 pcs/h. Once vials are washed and depyrogenated, the first of three robotic arms grasps two vials at a time and places them under the filling heads, which are linked to two peristaltic pumps that potentially allow infinite capacity filling. This step happens directly on two weighing cells, so that the filling volume can be checked in real-time during filling operations and the recipe parameters can be met. 
 

Once properly filled, the vials are moved to the second robotic arm for the stoppering process and then to the third robotic arm for capping. Whenever the check sensors detect any non-conformity during filling, stoppering or capping, the process can be repeated to guarantee the conformity needed according to the company’s “robotics zero-loss philosophy”. 
 

The machine was designed to manage highly potent drugs and is equipped with an isolator that ensures the sterility of the processed vials and protects the operator at the same time. 

The RNFM5 under double-wall isolator can process every container that comes in nested form, including syringes, vials and cartridges. In the filling area, a vertical manipulator, equipped with suction cups, removes the nest from the tub, allowing the first robotic arm to pick up the nest and place it under the filling needles and stoppering heads. A second robotic arm picks up containers and performs the statistical weight checking process, with the help of five high-precision weighing cells located on the machine baseplate. The glass containers are then moved under five dosing heads and simultaneously stoppered. Seals are used on syringes and cartridges, while vials are stoppered with the all-in-one closure system developed by ARaymondLife.

In addition to the weight-checking sensors, which ensure the right fill quantity, the machine is also equipped with Steriline’s smart bung system, which can detect the conformity of the stoppering process. 
 

The RNFM5 allows client’s to introduce a new production line to start the commercialization of a new biotech drug. Its output is up to 10,000 pieces/h with a double-wall isolator solution that guarantees sterility throughout the entire process and maximum safety for operators.