Tiofarma: “With the new stainless steel kettles, we are taking a step forward in the quality of our production process”
Tiofarma develops and manufactures high-quality pharmaceutical products. From its production facility in Oud-Beijerland (NL), the company produces nasal sprays, tablets, and semi-solid products such as creams and ointments for medicinal use. To improve the production of preservatives used in these ointments and creams, Tiofarma needed to replace its existing stainless steel kettles. The pharmaceutical manufacturer approached Gpi Pharma with a request for six stainless steel kettles, each with a capacity of 30 liters.
Mathieu Bannink, Project Lead at Tiofarma, was involved in the project from the start. He explains the reason behind the request: “Our existing kettles were no longer sufficient. There was some urgency, as some parts were starting to fail and we didn’t want to risk downtime. That’s when we reached out to Gpi for new kettles.”
Choosing Gpi
Mathieu continues: “I’ve been in this industry for quite some time, so I already knew Gpi and had been in touch before. Since Gpi has had a dedicated pharma division for several years now, it seemed like a good fit. Gpi quickly came up with a solid quotation, and we immediately received an initial design that included all components. This gave us a clear idea of what the tanks would look like and helped us refine the design and details of the kettles. This first phase went smoothly, and the proposed delivery time matched our requirements. Once we approved the quotation, Gpi presented the final design to us, which was very well received by our colleagues who will be working with the kettles.”
The Assignment
The project included the design, production, and transport of six mobile stainless steel tanks of 30 liters each. “We use the kettles to produce preservatives for medical ointments and creams. During the process, we heat water to 95°C, after which we add the preservatives. This solution is then added to the creams and ointments to extend the shelf life of the medicines,” says Mathieu. He continues: “We didn’t need overly complex kettles, but they did have to fit perfectly with our working methods and meet pharmaceutical standards. That’s why we chose stainless steel 316. We wanted to keep the tanks as compact as possible, as space in our production area is limited; 30 liters is the maximum batch size we handle,” Mathieu explains.
Production
The tanks were manufactured at Gpi’s production facility in Lopik. During the FAT (Factory Acceptance Test), Mathieu visited the facility in Lopik, which left a positive impression: “The facility in Lopik looks clean and well-organized. It’s impressive to see the way the work is carried out. The material certificates are readily available, and all materials are fully traceable.”
The Result
The new stainless steel kettles provide Tiofarma with a reliable replacement for the old equipment used to produce preservatives for medical ointments and creams. Mathieu explains: “This gives us more operational reliability and represents a step forward in the quality of our production process. We now have high-quality pharmaceutical tanks that meet our needs, complete with full documentation of the materials and their traceability.”
The Collaboration
The Project Lead at Tiofarma looks back on the collaboration with Gpi: “I look back on this project very positively. Communication went very smoothly. The fact that Gpi came over to present the design in person says a lot about the company. We are very satisfied with both the result and the service. I would definitely recommend Gpi and consider them again for a future project.”