Sanitary pumps for the pharmaceutical industry — WFI, sterile transfer & CIP/SIP
Sanitary pumps and stainless steel positive displacement pumps 316L electropolished for WFI circulation, compounding, sterile filtration & transfer, metering and CIP/SIP — designed for in-place cleaning, low shear to protect biological fluids, to sanitary standards EHEDG / 3-A / FDA (per manufacturer documentation).
Vietnam has over 238 WHO-GMP certified facilities and 17 EU-GMP facilities (or equivalent) — each facility is a chain of sanitary pump application points from WFI to metering and CIP/SIP. (GMP facility count — compiled from industry reports)
Where are pumps used in pharmaceutical manufacturing?
Each process stage has different fluid characteristics and requirements. The diagram below maps recommended pump families and CSF / OMAC series to each pump application point — select by process stage rather than generically. Specific operating points depend on plant design.
Purified water & WFI
Ultra-pure PW/WFI, hot recirculation distribution loop.
Mixing / blending
Solutions, syrups, suspensions, emulsions; thin → viscous.
Sterile filtration & transfer
Injectable solutions, biological fluids through 0.2 µm filter membrane.
Metering / filling
Injectable solutions, syrups — require accuracy, drip-free operation.
CIP / SIP
Alkaline/acid CIP solutions, SIP steam, often entrained with air.
Homogeniser · heat exchanger · valve
Sanitary process equipment — not pumps.
5 pump application points in pharmaceutical plants: PW/WFI loop circulation · compounding & blending · sterile filtration & transfer · metering & filling · CIP/SIP. Alongside these are sanitary ancillary process equipment (homogenisers, heat exchangers, sanitary valves — not pumps). Match the model to each actual operating point — contact for datasheet
Three challenges in pharmaceutical plants — and how to address them
Cross-contamination & material extractables, degradation of shear-sensitive fluid structure, and CIP/SIP requirements together with precise metering are three recurring problem groups. Each card below states the mechanism causing the problem and the corresponding technical approach.
Cross-contamination & material extractables
Dead zones, rough surfaces that harbour microorganisms; non-compliant materials that leach extractables into active pharmaceutical ingredients → risk of cross-contamination & quality deviation.
Hygienic Pump 316L stainless steel electropolished, self-draining design, minimal seals, elastomers compliant with FDA / USP Class VI; EHEDG / 3-A certified per manufacturer documentation.
Degradation of shear-sensitive fluid structure
Biological fluids, emulsions and shear-sensitive suspensions; high shear forces from high-speed pumps break down structure and activity → reduced formulation quality.
Low-shear positive displacement pump: lobe (OMAC), eccentric screw / sinusoidal rotor (CSF M-Series/SN), or seal-less peristaltic (OMAC) — preserving structure and biological activity.
CIP/SIP & precise metering
Cleaning must be performed in place without disassembly; CIP solutions with entrained air require self-priming. Filling of injectable solutions demands high accuracy and drip-free operation.
Pump self-priming CIP-able/SIP-able (CSF A/AS, CV/CL) for CIP circuits; pump OMAC peristaltic metering ±1%, seal-less, reversible for sterile filling.
CSF sanitary pumps & OMAC lobe pumps for pharmaceutical applications
Select by process stage and fluid characteristics — from purified water circulation to low-shear sterile transfer. Specification data is based on verified manufacturer data; unverified values are noted as "contact datasheet".
CSF CL-CLC standard sanitary centrifugal pump
Suitable process stage: purified water / WFI loop circulation, sanitary liquid & cream transfer.
View productsCSA - CSF food-grade centrifugal pump
Suitable process stage: high-sanitary-grade liquid transfer, FDA / USP Class VI elastomers per manufacturer documentation.
View productsCSF Series A self-priming food-grade pump
Suitable process stage: liquid with entrained air/foam, CIP circuit, alcohol/solvent (ATEX).
View productsOMAC BF/F series full stainless lobe pump
Suitable process stage: sterile injectables, ointments, suppositories, vaccines, blood derivatives, physiological solutions.
View productsOMAC C/CF series advanced lobe pump
Suitable process stage: pharma-biotech, CIP-efficient, high-sanitary-grade shear-sensitive fluid.
View productsOMAC BA/BB series 3-A sanitary lobe pump
Suitable process stage: low-shear viscous transfer at strict sanitary grade.
View productsCSF / OMAC series range, selector by process stage & material
Flow rate / head data is taken from verified manufacturer data (catalogue + website). Unverified values for specific operating points are noted as "contact datasheet". Units maintained consistently in m³/h and bar.
| Series | Type | Flow rate / pressure | Materials | Pharmaceutical application |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CSF CSA | Sanitary centrifugal (EHEDG+3-A) | up to 300 m³/h · head up to 100 m | 316L; elastomer FDA/USP VI | High-sanitary-grade liquid transfer |
| CSF CL/CLC | Pressed-body centrifugal | up to 75 m³/h · >60 m | Pressed body + 316L | Purified water, WFI, liquid, cream |
| CSF A/AS | Liquid-ring self-priming (ATEX 3G) | up to 50 m³/h · up to 35 m | 316L | Liquid with entrained air/foam, CIP, alcohol |
| CSF CV | Low-pressure multistage | viscosity up to ~250 cps | Full 316 | Syrup, oil, liquid — CIP |
| CSF SN | Rotor sin (low-shear) | 0–36 m³/h @15 bar / 0–100 @5 bar | 316/316L | Low-shear, CIP 85/90 °C, SIP on standstill |
| CSF M-Series | Eccentric screw (PCP) | 6 bar/stage · flow contact for datasheet | Steel rotor + rubber stator; 316L/304 | Viscous liquid metering |
| CSF PA/PAR | Pneumatic piston (ATEX) | 1–80 l/min · 0–150 bar | 316 (mirror finish) | Viscous liquid metering, sterile environment |
| OMAC BF/F | Full stainless-steel lobe | 7–20 bar · 1,5–30 kW | 316L; elastomer FDA EPDM/PTFE | Sterile injectables, vaccines, blood derivatives |
| OMAC C/CF | Lobe (EHEDG+3-A+ATEX) | 7–17 bar · 1,5–45 kW | 1.4404/1.4435 | Pharma-biotech, economical CIP |
| OMAC peristaltic | Seal-less peristaltic | 1.5–15 bar · metering ±1% | Tube Silicone/Tygon/Sta-Pure FDA | Metering, sterile filling |
Pump selection guide by process stage
- PW/WFI circulation: CSF CL/CLC, CSA sanitary centrifugal — EHEDG, 316L EP, SIP.
- Compounding / blending: OMAC lobe, CSF M-Series/SN screw/sinusoidal rotor for viscous fluids low-shear.
- Sterile filtration & transfer: OMAC peristaltic seal-less / lobe BF, C; CSF SN, A/AS.
- Metering / filling: OMAC peristaltic ±1% · CSF PA/PAR for viscous fluids.
- CIP / SIP: CSF A/AS self-priming · CV/CL CIP-able centrifugal.
- Exact model match for each actual operating point — contact for datasheet
Sanitary centrifugal or low-shear positive displacement pump?
Thin & clean fluids (PW/WFI, CIP solution), requiring high flow rate/hour and circulation loops — CSF CL/CLC, CSA, A/AS.
Viscous / shear-sensitive / sterile fluids (biological fluids, emulsions, metering) — OMAC lobe, CSF screw/sinusoidal rotor, OMAC peristaltic.
Sanitary certifications & contact materials
Sanitary certifications
- EHEDG
- 3-A Sanitary
- FDA
- USP Class VI
- PED
- ATEX
CSF CSA and OMAC C hold EHEDG + 3-A per manufacturer declaration; ATEX for alcohol/solvent pumps in hazardous areas.
Wetted materials
- Inox 316L EP
- EPDM (FDA)
- PTFE
- Silicone
- Tygon
- Sta-Pure
Product-contact surfaces & WFI use AISI 316L electropolishing (e.g. OMAC BF to Ra < 0.6 µm); elastomers/gaskets compliant with FDA / USP VI.
When to choose seal-less
Biological / sterile fluids where seal contamination is not permitted → prefer seal-less peristaltic pump (fluid contacts tubing only) or sterile lobe. Precise metering & reversible → OMAC peristaltic ±1%.
Match the correct certification, material, and specific fluid/dosage form — contact for datasheet
316L EP & in-place cleaning
Electropolished 316L stainless steel provides a smooth surface that resists microbial adhesion; self-draining design with minimal dead zones enables CIP and SIP in-place without disassembly.
Low-shear fluid protection
Low-shear positive displacement pumps maintain the structural integrity of biological fluids, emulsions, and suspensions — minimizing activity loss and formulation defects.
No cross-contamination / seal-less
Seal-less peristaltic pumps allow fluid contact with tubing only; minimal seals & FDA/USP Class VI elastomers limit contamination and extractables into the drug substance.
Two pump brands for pharmaceutical manufacturing
CSF and OMAC (part of CSF Inox Group) are the two primary sanitary pump brands for the pharmaceutical industry — centrifugal and positive displacement — alongside ancillary sanitary process equipment presented separately below, so you can identify the right equipment type.
CSF Inox S.p.A. (Italy) manufactures sanitary pumps for food & beverage, dairy, chemical, and pharmaceutical applications: three product groups — centrifugal, positive displacement (PCP/sinusoidal rotor/twin-screw), and pneumatic piston. Pharmaceutical use: transfer/circulation/metering of pharmaceutical fluids, purified water, WFI, and CIP circuits. Part of CSF Inox Group.
View CSF brandOMAC S.r.l. Pompe (Italy) specializes in 316L stainless steel sanitary rotary lobe pumps and peristaltic pumps: five lobe series (B, BA-BB, BE, BF, C/CF) and peristaltic. Pharmaceutical use: viscous fluids low-shear, sterile injectables (BF), metering / filling (peristaltic ±1%). Part of CSF Inox Group.
View OMAC brandHomogenizers · heat exchangers · sanitary valves — not pumps
Alongside pumps, pharmaceutical plants use ancillary sanitary process equipment. These are not fluid transfer pumps — we name each equipment type correctly so you select the right one: high-pressure homogenizers, heat exchangers, and sanitary valves.
High-pressure homogenizer — forces fluid through a high-pressure valve gap to reduce particle size and homogenize emulsions / suspensions (milk, syrup, liquid emulsions). It is a standalone process unit, not a fluid transfer or metering pump. Pressure / homogenization range specs per model — contact for datasheet
See Bertoli — homogenizersTubular heat exchanger (corrugated / shell-and-tube). Pharmaceutical series Pharmaflo MLP (316L seamless, double tube plate for cross-contamination prevention, Ra < 0.5 µm EP, EHEDG + 3-A) for heating / cooling WFI, purified water, ethanol, and protein solutions. It is a thermal device, not a pump. Part of CSF Inox Group.
See MBS — heat exchangersSanitary valves & inline isolation/sampling equipment (France): VEOX mixproof valve (dual-stream cross-contamination prevention), DMX/DMAX diaphragm valve (PTFE + FDA/3-A elastomer), PEX/PEAX sterile sampling valve (FDA 21 CFR 177.2660). No pump products — handles flow isolation & sampling on sterile pipelines.
See Definox — sanitary valvesPharmaceutical segments served
Site-wide links — catalog, solutions, services & spare parts
From the pharmaceutical solutions page, continue to the pump catalog, related industry solutions, technical services, and spare parts inventory — everything for a complete pump project.
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Q&A on pharmaceutical industry pumps
Which pump is used for water for injection (WFI) and purified water (PW) systems?
Why does the pharmaceutical industry need sanitary pumps instead of standard industrial pumps?
Which pump should be selected for biological fluids, injectable solutions, or shear-sensitive emulsions?
What metering accuracy is required for pharmaceutical metering/filling pumps?
Which sanitary certifications should be noted when purchasing pharmaceutical pumps?
Can pharmaceutical pumps be cleaned and sterilized in place (CIP/SIP)?
Are Bertoli, MBS, and Definox pumps?
What materials and surfaces are standard for pharmaceutical product contact?
Get technical consultation for pharmaceutical plant pump selection
Provide the process step, fluid, flow rate, and required certifications — sufficient for us to recommend the appropriate series and configuration. Call directly, message via Zalo, or submit a request through the form.
- Process stage
- Fluid
- Flow rate
- Required certifications
- CIP / SIP
Finish Thompson pumps for pharmaceutical industry chemicals
Pharmaceutical manufacturing transfers pure chemicals, solvents, and acids requiring a sealed, cross-contamination-free system. Finish Thompson (FTI) — magnetic drive pump sealless distributed by TKT as authorized — static-sealed containment shell, PP/PVDF/ETFE materials; select configuration per each process chemical.
Magnetic coupling replaces the through-shaft — eliminating shaft seal leak points when pumping corrosive chemicals.
Select wetted-end materials based on actual chemical concentration and temperature at each process stage.
Multiple FTI series use carbon bearings, enabling dry running when the tank is empty — useful for processes with suction-dry risk.