Precision fermentation for New Food applications
FERMENTERS & BIOREACTORS FOR NEW FOOD
Bioreactor and fermenter basics
Bioreactors and fermenters are effectively closed systems in which a biological process can be carried out under controlled conditions. Such processes may include fermentation by microbial cells to produce a desired product, or cultivation of animal cells to generate tissue-based products, such as cell-based meat or seafood.
GEA bioreactor/fermenter systems comprise the pressure vessel itself with a series of functional and control units. These include the agitator system, temperature control unit, pH and p02 adjustment system, unit for air/gas sparging and headspace purging, pressure control and exhaust handling systems, the SIP validation system, and the aseptic sampling system. The bioreactor/fermenter setup can be configured for batch, fed-batch, and continuous operation, with a minimal risk of introducing contaminants. GEA’s state-of-the-art valve technology ensures continuous sterile barriers on all shared process lines between dosings, with anything from one to three separate barriers, so that no cross-contamination is possible.
GEA bioreactor/fermenter systems can be configured with automated CIP/SIP, to help ensure thorough, efficient cleaning, with shorter down times, and less need for manual intervention.
Fermenters and bioreactors for industrial-scale cellular agriculture
We have developed our range of multipurpose, modular industrial-scale bioreactors and fermenters as versatile systems for cell-based meat production, and for precision fermentation to produce key nutritional components. Our technologies are designed for reliability, flexibility, and robustness, and link highly accurate sensors for monitoring growth conditions to the platform’s automation system, so you can aim to achieve optimum cell viability, growth, and output.
The GEA difference
Whatever you want from your bioreactor or fermentation plant, whether you are producing crude protein, precision products, or live cell cultures, our comprehensive range of plant concepts will provide the equipment you need to turn ingredients into final products.
GEA bioreactor and fermentation vessels can be supplied as standalone equipment or as automated process units delivered as fully functional modules and installed on site. This includes all agitators, metering and regulating technology, control units, valves, and pipe connections. Designed to offer fully hygienic operation as standard, with CIP/SIP functionality to prevent contamination, we can tailor systems for fully sterile processes. Options for hazardous environments are also available.
Our bioreactors and fermenters feature a dead-leg-free design. You can expect long-term sterility when performing media dosing, aseptic sampling, aeration, venting, or harvesting. Agitators and vessel design can be optimized for maximum oxygen transfer rates and broth homogeneity, while highly accurate temperature and pH/p02 control functions help to ensure that your cells are kept under optimum conditions for your process. Of course, our high-performance bioreactor and fermenter systems and skids use the latest components and valve technologies, and are fully regulatory compliant. A user-friendly HMI built on our GEA Codex® platform reduces complications during setup, in day-to-day operation, and when changing process parameters.
Working together
We won’t just sell you a piece of equipment: Our technology experts and project management team will work with you to configure and optimize your process, backed by years of GEA expertise in bioreactor/fermenter technology and engineering, industrial know-how, and process development.
And if you are not quite sure whether you are ready to invest in full industrial-scale production, talk to us about our downscaled mobile test center. This new solution allows you to either purchase, or trial at one of our sites, a complete, fully functioned, and flexible pilot-scale line to investigate whether your bench-scale cultivation or cell culture and fermentation processes might scale up successfully to commercial volumes.
Equipment lifetime support
So talk to us here at GEA about your requirements and expectations. We’ll be by your side at every step of design, configuration, installation, and commissioning. Choose one of our support packages and we can help to ensure that all of your equipment and components will give you top performance over their complete lifespan.
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