Three UK technology companies, C-Tech Innovation, Ingenza and AM Technology are collaborating   on a £1m project to develop new flow process techniques for bio manufacturing. Co-funded by the Technology Strategy Board, the initial phase of the programme will run for two years.  The project will integrate all aspects of bioprocess development from catalyst discovery and engineering, to process design, through to small footprint manufacturing of high value products.

Unlike batch reactors, the output of a flow device can be changed without altering the hardware or set-up conditions. This flexibility saves time and cost in development. The improved control capabilities of flow systems can also deliver better yield and productivity. The objectives of this project will be to design a compact flow reactor for continuous bio processing and develop improved process design techniques to accelerate the introduction of new bio-manufacturing processes for a variety of product types such as unnatural amino acids and chiral amines. The reactor to be developed for this project will be based on the Coflore design. This patented concept is the first truly modular multi stage CSTR and represents a breakthrough in flow reactor design. It combines good plug flow with efficient mixing independently of reaction time and has good solids handling capabilities.

The adoption of more efficient development strategies and manufacturing techniques will be key to future success in the bio manufacturing sectors. This project brings together three UK SMEs that are global leaders in bio catalysis, process design and reactor technologies.  Ingenza Ltd is a biocatalyst and bioprocess development company based in Roslin, near Edinburgh. It operates molecular biology, fermentation and chemistry laboratories which integrate its expertise in biocatalyst discovery, production and improvement, high throughput screening, bioprocess development and synthetic chemistry. C-Tech Innovation Ltd develops novel technological processes to provide energy and material efficient manufacturing solutions for the chemical, food, and process industries. The company operates its own laboratory and workshop facilities at its premises at Capenhurst, near Chester.  AM Technology are a specialist reactor design company based in Cheshire. They have multiple patents on flow systems and their Coflore reactor has been the winner of two major awards.