Measurement technology in the production of pharmaceutical active ingredients: How ChemCon achieves maximum precision with VEGA sensors

Chemical and pharmaceutical applications require innovation, the highest quality standards and complex manufacturing processes. Without reliable instrumentation, safe and efficient processes would be virtually impossible to achieve. Whether for level measurement, pressure measurement or point level detection – precise sensor solutions are the basis for stable production conditions.

An impressive example is ChemCon – a contract manufacturer and analytical service provider based in Freiburg, in southwest Germany. With sensor specialist VEGA at its side, ChemCon can be sure it always has state-of-the-art measurement technology, one that combines safety, efficiency and quality.

On 7,000 square metres of floor space, ChemCon manufacture pharmaceutical active ingredients, high-purity polymers and fine chemicals. Every year, numerous complex customer projects from around the world are undertaken here – from the earliest stage of development to commercial production.

Particular attention is paid to process certainty. Every reaction, filtration, extraction and crystallisation must be precisely monitored. With level sensors, pressure sensors and level switches from VEGA, even the most demanding processes can be comprehensively monitored from start to finish.

The use of VEGABAR 38 pressure sensors is a good example of state-of-the-art pressure measurement. Their ceramic measuring cells can withstand even highly aggressive media. The integrated 360° LED ultra brigh indicator displays the switching status directly on site – white for low pressure below 50 mbar, red for overpressure, green for zero pressure.This makes pressure measurement not only precise, but also intuitive – a decisive advantage for occupational safety and ease of use.

Precise, seamlessly integrated sensor technology ensures system-wide process control at ChemCon. The advantages at a glance:

• Contactless and reliable level measurement, even under difficult process conditions
• Precise pressure measurement with colour-coded status visualisation facilitates work and provides certainty when making decisions
• Precise Point level detection for prevention of dry run and overfilling in hazardous areas
• Hygienic process integration for pharmaceutical applications
• Process optimisation through continuous monitoring
• Increased efficiency from stable production conditions
• Flexibility for customer-specific production requirements
• Cost efficiency thanks to simple installation and maintenance-free operation

When handling solvent residues, reliable Ex protection is absolutely essential. In ChemCon’s hazardous material storage facility (Zone 2), compact radar sensors from the VEGA BASIC series ensure precise level measurement. As they are completely encapsulated in PVDF, they do not require additional barriers or an intrinsically safe power supply.
The result: less space required, lower costs and greater process reliability.

The example of ChemCon demonstrates impressively that: Modern measurement technology is the key to safe, efficient and sustainable processes in the production of pharmaceutical active ingredients for use in clinical trials or commercial substances in special applications.

Whether for level measurement, pressure measurement or point level detection – VEGA’s sensor solutions, such as VEGABAR 38, VEGASWING 61 and VEGAPULS 6X, enable reliable control of even highly complex production processes.

This is how technological expertise and uncompromising quality translate into true process reliability – and how measurement technology becomes a driving force for innovation in chemical and pharmaceutical applications.