Single-Use, Stainless Steel, Or Both? Key Points To Consider For Today's Manufacturing Facility

By Greg Gara and Christian Hermanas, Project Farma

Designing cutting-edge, novel therapeutics demands high levels of innovation, upfront planning, and in-depth scientific knowledge. Mass-producing these medicines, however, requires an entirely different skill set. Companies must decide whether to rely on single-use materials, stainless steel equipment, or a flexible solution that includes both elements while balancing capital and operating costs. Meanwhile, ongoing supply chain disruptions, capital funding issues, and staffing challenges continue to disrupt the industry. Understanding current trends in manufacturing is the first step in determining the right solution for your company.

Newer companies often rely on single-use materials to expedite production timelines and avoid the upfront capital expenses of using stainless steel. Manufacturing can start once the facility is ready rather than waiting for custom-built equipment with long lead times. Stainless steel equipment, by contrast, requires a significant upfront capital investment but comes with lower operating costs than disposable technology. It’s also easier to repair in-house.

Large, established biotech companies usually have stainless steel equipment in place. However, augmenting these with disposable materials, such as flexible tubing for transfer lines, may be advantageous because they reduce cleaning time and can be quickly changed. Many companies considering transitioning from stainless steel to single-use materials find that a hybrid solution maximizes the best of both worlds.