Continuous Microbial Monitoring For Process Water

production facility for sterile products pharmaceuticals
Real time microbial monitoring for process water builds
quality and production levels.
Monitoring process water microbial counts in the pharmaceutical industry has traditionally been a time consuming, hands-on operation. Sample preparation, plate counting, stains, reagents, and the time required to get results has kept microbial monitoring a cumbersome task that provides only snapshots of the process water quality at the time of sampling.

The Thornton Model 7000RMS from Mettler Toledo, a continuous on-line microbial monitoring system for purified water and water for injection, uses advanced laser based technology to provide immediate detection and quantification of microorganisms. Particles as small as .52 microns can be detected, and the monitor uses recent advancements in spectroscopic technology to differentiate between microbial and inert particles.

The 7000RMS puts on-line analytics for microbial contamination on the same timeline as TOC and conductivity, with all three critical aspects now subject to real time measurement.

The offers a white paper with a more detailed view of the system functions and the technology behind it. Additional product and application information is available. Share your water analysis and process analytic challenges with application experts, leveraging your own knowledge and experience with their product application expertise.


Steady Product Improvement for Jogler Level Gauges

magnetic liquid level gauge
Magnetic liquid level gauges provide high visibility indication
of liquid level.
Image courtesy Jogler, LLC
Great performing products do not always arise from wholly new designs. More often, they are the culmination of a string of small improvements incorporated into an existing design. You keep what works and add improvements in response to customer feedback, and newly available material and manufacturing resources.

Jogler, LLC is a high quality level gauge manufacturer, located in Baton Rouge, LA (USA). The company pursues excellence in the manufacture and performance of all its level and flow measurement and indication products. Several improvements were included in their magnetic liquid level gauges. Not all are visually apparent, so we share them here.

  • Chambers are designed to ANSI B31.1 and B31.3 specifications. Extruded outlets are used to weld chamber branch connections, ensuring smooth and reliable float travel.
  • Indicators utilize a proprietary technology to seal the bargraph indicator tubes that eliminates the use of special glass blowing techniques that can weaken the instrument and make it susceptible to damage due to shipping or vibration.
  • The bargraph assembly utilizes an extruded aluminum rail system that remains dimensionally stable, will not twist of deform at temperature extremes. Flags are captive in the rail system and cannot bind or fall out.
  • Floats are constructed with a single weld, reducing leak potential and weld induced metal weakening. 
The product line general overview is provided below. More detail on specific product features and how they can provide top flight performance in real process measurement and control applications is available from product application specialists. Share your liquid level measurement and indication challenges. Leverage your own knowledge and experience with their product application expertise to develop an effective solution.



User-Friendly Handheld pH Meter for Process Measurement

portable handheld pH redox meter instrument
The Pro2Go handheld pH meter delivers high levels
of accuracy and functionality for process measurement.
Image courtesy Mettler-Toledo Process Analytics
A wide range of user-friendly features for accurate measurement of pH and redox are integrated into a versatile rugged handheld instrument from Mettler Toledo. The Pro2Go is designed and well suited for single-handed operation, with its light weight, slim case and intuitive operation. The device features compatibility with a range of analog and Mettler Toledo's ISM sensors. The Pro2Go provides superior service for many industrial process operations. Extending its applicability are intuitively linked menus, a graphic LCD display and operation in 10 languages.

A data sheet, included below, provides more detail on the robust pH and redox measurement system. Measurement data can be accumulated in the field, with up to 2000 readings stored in the unit available for simple transfer via USB connection.

For more detailed information, contact the process measurement specialists at Alliance Technical Sales. Share your process measurement challenges of all types with application specialists, leveraging your own knowledge and experience with their product application expertise to develop the most effective solutions.


Best Practice Guide For Pharmaceutical Water Systems

sterile production facility with stainless steel vessels
Producing water for pharmaceutical production is a
critical process.
Pharmaceutical production operations utlizing water are common. The process and regulatory requirements for the water and the procedures employed for production and quality assurance are extensive and complex.

Mettler Toledo, through its Thornton brand, has a long history of involvement in pure water quality measurement. The company's sensors, analyzers and transmitters are found throughout many industrial settings where precision pure water quality measurements are the essential part of the operation.

Thornton recently published a helpful guide for best practices in pure water measurement. It is entitled "Compliance by Design in Pharmaceutical Water Systems". The document provides a summary of water sources and contaminants, then continues with an outline of industry requirements for bulk waters. The production of pure water is dicussed, and recommendations for pharmaceutical water system instrumentation are provided.

A copy of the document is provided below. Share your process analytical challenges with the application experts, leveraging your own process knowledge and experience with their product application expertise to develop effective solutions.


Alliance Technical Sales Wraps Up a Good Year

automated process control room
Alliance Technical Sales, like every other business, is finishing out 2017. Everyone at ATS is thankful for the support and opportunity provided by our customers and suppliers.

The company made some changes to its product lineup during the past year, expanding the range of application solutions available.


We also continued our program of product training and education to maintain top flight competence in recommending solutions to our customers' process measurement and control challenges.

Thank you, again. We look forward to the upcoming year and providing service to our customers at all levels.


Sight Flow Indicators

armored direct read flow indicator
Armored flow indicator provides direct visual reading
of process media flow.
Image courtesy Jogler, LLC
In the operation of an industrial process, there may be instances where a visual confirmation or assessment of fluid flow is useful or necessary. In those cases, a direct reading sight flow indicator is just the thing needed to fill the requirement.

The sight flow indicator is essentially a clear tube with an encasement and appropriate connections that facilitate the indicator's installation into a process piping system. It is installed in a manner that provides an operator visual access to the inside of the piping at that location. Further details about construction materials, armoring, and more will round out the product selection that best accommodates the industrial environment, the media, and the visual inspection needs.

Jogler manufactures a range of flow, level and analytical instruments for industrial use. Their sight flow indicators, with line sizes from 1/2 to 4 inches and lengths up to 60 inches, enable a process operator to get that all important look at the liquid media as is passes through the flow indicator. The presence, color and character of the media can be assessed visually through the flow indicator, delivering visual confirmation of some targeted aspect of the process.

Share your process flow and level measurement challenges with instrumentation specialists, leveraging your own knowledge and experience with their product application expertise to develop an effective solution.


Host Device Transmitters for Interchangeable Sensors

process measurement transmitter with wireless network connection to smart phone
Indigo 200 Series Transmitters accommodate an array of
smart sensors.
Image courtesy Vaisala
Our previous post was about Vaisala's new interchangeable humidity sensors in their Indigo line. The Indigo sensors, and other smart probes, are designed to work with the Indigo series transmitters to provide top flight performance in process measurement and control applications.

Transmitters enable plug-and-play setup with the smart sensors. Output options include analog, relay and Modbus. The browser based wireless interface allows configuration and viewing access to the transmitter. The LCD color display enables easy viewing on location.

Share your process measurement challenges with process instrumentation experts, leveraging your own process knowledge and experience with their product application expertise to develop the best solution.