Pharmaceutical Cleaning Equipment for IBC Systems

Any manufacturing system needs to be thoroughly cleaned between batch changes. With Matcon's IBC-based approach, cleaning happens off-line which allows processes to continue with clean IBCs while used ones are being washed. This is a direct advantage over fixed mixer systems, resulting in less downtime and a more consistent production schedule.

Matcon IBCs are built to make cleaning straightforward. Smooth product contact surfaces, a single piece Cone Valve and no moving parts inside the IBC all contribute to quick effective cleaning and drying. There is nothing complicated to strip down and no hard to reach areas where residue can build up.

What IBC Cleaning Solutions Does Matcon Offer?

Matcon offers a range of IBC cleaning systems to suit different facility needs and levels of automation. Options range from a simple, manually positioned wash lance through to a fully automatic wash station. Whether your facility is just starting out or running at high throughput, there is a cleaning solution that fits.

One practical benefit is that both stainless steel powder handling IBCs and polyethylene Tablet IBCs can be cleaned using the same equipment. This reduces the need for separate cleaning setups and keeps your operations simpler and more cost-effective.

How Does Off-Line IBC Cleaning Reduce Production Downtime?

Off-line cleaning is a key benefit of using an IBC-based manufacturing system. Because the IBC is detached from the production line and cleaned separately, key processing equipment stays in use for longer. You are not waiting for a mixer or vessel to be cleaned before the next batch can start.

Cleaning downtime is one of the biggest drains on overall equipment effectiveness (OEE), and off-line IBC cleaning directly addresses that.

Why Is Cleaning Validation Important in Pharmaceutical Manufacturing?

In pharmaceutical manufacturing, cleaning validation is not optional. Regulatory bodies including the FDA and EMA require documented proof that cleaning procedures consistently remove product residues, cleaning agents, and microbial contamination to acceptable levels. A cleaning process that cannot be validated creates serious compliance risk.

Matcon's IBC cleaning systems are designed with validation in mind. The repeatable spray pattern and automated Cone Valve cleaning mean that every clean follows the same process, producing the same result. This consistency is what makes validation achievable and defensible. For a broader view of best practice in pharmaceutical manufacturing environments, visit pharmaceutical manufacturing best practice.

WHITEPAPERS

A Better Way To Handle Tablets Using IBCs

Handling tablets in larger batches using IBCs reduces the amount of labour needed to move containers and make and break connections at each stage of the tablet finishing process. Fewer transfer events mean better control, stronger traceability and recording throughout tablet processing.

A single Tablet IBC can replace multiple drums and offers automatic filling capabilities, while reducing the risk of breakage or damage during transfer. For operations running high volumes of tablets, moving from drums to IBCs at the tablet handling stage delivers measurable improvements in throughput and production efficiency.

Matcon's cleaning systems are compatible with both stainless steel powder handling IBCs and polyethylene Tablet IBCs.

Both container types can be cleaned using the same equipment, which simplifies your cleaning setup and reduces the investment needed in separate washing systems.

Yes. Matcon's IBC cleaning systems use a high-pressure nozzle that delivers water in a repeatable spray pattern, and the Cone Valve is cleaned automatically in position.

This consistency is what makes the cleaning procedure validatable, which is a core requirement for pharmaceutical manufacturing compliance.

Clean-in-place (CIP) is a method of cleaning the interior of equipment without disassembling it. Matcon offers CIP solutions as part of its IBC cleaning range, which can be particularly useful in facilities where minimising manual handling during cleaning is a priority.

When IBCs are cleaned off-line, the production line does not necessarily have to stop while cleaning takes place.

Clean IBCs are brought into the line while used ones are cleaned separately. This keeps your process equipment running and directly reduces the cleaning downtime that would otherwise cut into your available production time and reduce OEE Overall Equipment Effectiveness.

Matcon offers a range of automation options, from a manually operated wash lance at the simpler end through to a fully automatic wash station.

The right level of automation depends on your throughput requirements, the number of IBCs you are cleaning per shift, and the degree of operator involvement that suits your facility.

Pharmaceutical Cleaning Equipment for IBC Systems

What IBC Cleaning Solutions Does Matcon Offer?

How Does Off-Line IBC Cleaning Reduce Production Downtime?

Related Pages

Why Is Cleaning Validation Important in Pharmaceutical Manufacturing?

Key Features of Matcon IBC Cleaning Systems

DOWNLOADS

Related Resources

WHITEPAPERS

A Better Way To Handle Tablets Using IBCs

Frequently Asked Questions about IBC cleaning:

RELATED PRODUCTS

Tablet Handling Products

Tablet Processing

API