Scales for the Pharmaceutical and Biotech Industries

Learn more about Scales for the Pharmaceutical and Biotech Industries Read application notes

Product Models

Arlyn drum scale with UpScale weighing a stainless process drum in a pharmaceutical production and raw-material dispensing area
An Arlyn drum scale with UpScale weighing a stainless process drum in a pharmaceutical production setting. The final system is selected for the required load, readability, operating area, material-handling method and data workflow.

Pharmaceutical and biotech weighing systems

Choose the Scale Around the Material, Process and Operating Area

Pharmaceutical weighing can involve milligram-scale samples, production ingredients, drums, bioreactors or hazardous solvents. Those jobs do not belong on one scale. The correct system depends on the complete load, the smallest meaningful weight change, the operating environment and what must happen to the weight data.

Arlyn provides lower-capacity High Resolution Balances, industrial Ultra Precision and standard scales, ArlynGuard systems for classified locations, connected UpScale configurations and custom weighing systems.

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Which pharmaceutical scale should you choose?

Use a High Resolution Balance for small samples that require milligram or sub-milligram readability in a stable work area. Use an Ultra Precision Scale when the process needs fine measurement at higher capacities or on a larger industrial platform. Standard bench, drum and platform scales remain appropriate when their model-specific performance meets the procedure.

For bioreactors, process vessels and OEM equipment, a custom weighing system can be built around the vessel supports and installation. If the area is classified for combustible gases, vapors or dusts, select an approved ArlynGuard configuration for the documented location.

Research, Formulation and Quality-Control Weighing

Small samples and small additions often require a different instrument from production containers. Arlyn’s High Resolution Balances are intended for lower-capacity work in a stable indoor environment. Model selection is based on the complete load and the smallest increment the procedure needs to display.

Ultra Precision SAW scales serve different process needs. They provide fine measurement at higher capacities and on bench, large-platform or custom configurations. This makes them useful when formulation containers, pilot batches or production equipment exceed the practical capacity or platform size of a compact balance.

A standard strain-gage bench scale can still be the correct choice for routine receiving, container weighing or in-process checks. More displayed digits are useful only when the process needs them and the installation can support stable measurement.

Readability and accuracy are different.

Readability is the smallest increment shown on the display. Accuracy describes how closely a measured result agrees with the correct value under stated conditions. Capacity, repeatability, calibration, air movement, vibration, temperature, static and sample handling all affect selection.

Raw-Material Dispensing and Production Weighing

Dispensing systems should be sized around the container, the maximum material load and the smallest addition that must be controlled. A bench scale may fit a small vessel or bag. A low-profile drum or platform scale may be more practical for mobile containers, drums or totes. Ultra Precision is appropriate when the production load is relatively large but small weight changes still matter to the process.

For a manual procedure, the operator may read and record the result. A configured system can also support target-weight displays, checkweighing, setpoint outputs, filling or batching functions. The scale output must be integrated into an appropriately engineered control system. Safety interlocks and emergency stops should not depend on an ordinary weighing indicator.

Read about pharmaceutical raw-material dispensing, or compare standard, configured and custom weighing systems.

Bioreactors, Process Vessels and Custom Biopharma Systems

A bioreactor application is rarely defined by vessel capacity alone. The weighing system may need to support the vessel, frame, bag, mixer and connected equipment. Agitation, vibration, off-center loading and forces from tubing can influence the installed result.

When material enters and leaves at the same time, a vessel scale reports the net weight change. Separate feed or collection containers may need their own scales when the process must distinguish individual streams. At pilot scale, an industrial bench or Ultra Precision platform may be suitable. Larger or permanently mounted vessels may require a custom platform or load-cell arrangement developed around the support structure.

Review the bioreactor weighing guide and Arlyn’s custom scale capabilities.

Intrinsically Safe Scales for Classified Areas

Flammable vapors, combustible dusts or ignitable fibers can require a hazardous-location weighing system. The scale configuration must match the documented class, division or zone, material group and temperature requirement for the operating area.

ArlynGuard B covers bench-scale applications. ArlynGuard S combines an approved hazardous-location architecture with Ultra Precision SAW measurement. ArlynGuard D is designed for drums and similar containers and includes a loading ramp. Cylinder, platform and high-capacity floor formats are also available when those load shapes and capacities fit the process.

Approval applies to the complete selected configuration. A stainless-steel platform, battery supply or intrinsically safe indicator does not make unrelated components suitable for the classified area. Power, barriers, remote displays and communication hardware must follow the approved architecture.

Compare ArlynGuard system configurations.

Connectivity and Weighing Records

The weighing platform determines the measurement performance. An indicator or software layer can then help operators identify the job, capture selected data and move the result to another system.

Configured Arlyn UpScale systems can add custom fields, user and time information, checkweighing, barcode functions, local or network data logging, Google Sheets, AxChange, a Web API and industrial communication options. Available functions depend on the selected scale, indicator, interfaces and software options.

UpScale is also available with selected Arlyn-supplied balances and can extend connectivity to existing weighing equipment through supported data connections. It does not change the source scale’s capacity, readability, accuracy or environmental rating.

Compare laboratory balance connectivity or review Scale Integration with Arlyn UpScale.

Electronic-record qualification belongs to the complete deployed system.

A scale or indicator can provide useful data and access features, but it does not make a process FDA-, GMP- or 21 CFR Part 11-compliant by itself. System design, validation, access controls, procedures, record retention and the receiving application remain part of the customer’s quality and compliance program.

Match the Scale to the Process

  1. Material and process. Pharmaceutical systems may weigh samples, ingredients, containers, drums, cylinders, vessels or completed packages.
  2. Complete gross load. Capacity covers the sample, container, fixture, vessel, support frame and maximum contents. Taring does not restore capacity.
  3. Measurement requirement. The smallest meaningful addition, required readability, process tolerance and repeatability or accuracy criterion guide selection.
  4. Installation. Platform dimensions, loading method, vibration, air movement, temperature, moisture, chemicals and cleaning practices affect the system.
  5. Safety and approvals. Hazardous locations are defined by the applicable class, division or zone, group and temperature requirement.
  6. Data and control path. Connections may include an operator interface, printer, computer, PLC, database, LIMS, MES, ERP or cloud destination through the appropriate interface and protocol.

Stainless steel can provide useful corrosion resistance and simplify surface cleaning, but it does not automatically make the complete scale sanitary, washdown-rated or cleanroom-qualified. Suitability for the intended environment depends on the platform, load cells, indicator, cables, connectors, enclosure and cleaning method used in the complete system.

Related Pharmaceutical and Biotech Weighing Guides

Discuss Your Pharmaceutical Weighing Application

Arlyn supplies pharmaceutical weighing systems for laboratory samples, production ingredients, drums, process vessels, classified areas and connected data workflows. Compare standard, configured and custom options for the weighing process.

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