#USA #Bethlehem #Bioprocessing #ABEC #Process Sciences

ABEC Expands its Capabilities in Bioprocess Optimization

ABEC, a renowned leader in bioprocess engineering solutions, has recently announced the expansion of its Process Sciences group. This strategic move aims to strengthen ABEC's ability to assist biopharmaceutical manufacturers in optimizing bioprocesses, thereby accelerating development timelines, decreasing risks, and boosting overall productivity throughout the bioprocess lifecycle.

The Process Sciences team integrates chemistry and bioengineering expertise with advanced modeling, experimental testing, and custom equipment design. This comprehensive approach guides clients from initial development stages to commercial production. By leveraging hands-on experimentation and advanced computational tools, ABEC facilitates quicker troubleshooting, more efficient scaling, and reliable technology transfer while maintaining product quality and consistency.

At the core of ABEC's process sciences approach is a deep understanding of the operational processes. Engineers meticulously analyze and optimize critical parameters such as mass transfer, agitation, mixing time, shear, and CO₂ extraction. This meticulous focus helps achieve specific process goals while circumventing common challenges encountered in mixing and scaling operations. The expertise offered extends to both microbial fermentation and animal cell culture processes, allowing ABEC to provide tailored solutions across a broad spectrum of biomanufacturing applications.

ABEC’s specialized facilities play a pivotal role in supporting process validation through real-world mixing studies and testing on live cell or microbial cultures at varying scales, ranging from 200 ml to 6,000 liters. These initiatives are backed by computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and other modeling tools that provide robust data supporting quality-by-design initiatives and process characterization.

The advanced CFD simulations employed also help reduce development timelines and cut costs by minimizing the number of experimental cycles needed, while mitigating risks associated with scaling and technology transfer decision-making. Rather than adapting processes to fit standard equipment, ABEC designs systems tailored to meet specified process requirements.

Scott Pickering, a key figure at ABEC, stated, “Process sciences instill confidence in our clients as they transition from development to production. By merging modeling, experimental validation, and tailored equipment design, we aim for performance optimization, yield improvement, and reduced uncertainty.”

About ABEC

Founded in 1974, ABEC has consistently delivered engineering solutions and services to the global biotechnology industry. Many of the world's pharmaceutical and biotechnology firms rely on ABEC for their pioneering treatments, which are produced using equipment and processes designed by the company. ABEC's value is driven by extensive experience, comprehensive in-house capabilities, and a flexible, customized approach that minimizes costs and market launch timelines while maximizing productivity.