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Vaisala viewLinc inspires pharmaceutical manufacturer APL
The quality of products manufactured or processed in cleanrooms is protected by applicable Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), which set strict requirements for environmental monitoring.
Swedish pharmaceutical manufacturer APL(Apotek Produktion & Laboratorier) recently installed Vaisala's viewLinc continuous monitoring system in its production facility and was delighted with the reliability and peace of mind the system offers. Moustapha Ismail was engaged by APL as an external consultant to qualify and replace an older monitoring system at the site. He says: "The previous monitoring systems had been in use for around fifteen years. We took this as an opportunity to evaluate the latest technology on the market before making any decisions."
Vaisala viewLinc impresses with user-friendliness and outstanding reliability
With over 500 employees and five manufacturing facilities in Malmö, Gothenburg, Stockholm and Umeå, APL is one of Europe's leading manufacturers of prescription drugs and stock preparations as well as a contract manufacturer in the life sciences sector.
One of the most important requirements for the new monitoring system was ease of use, as this was considered to be a weak point of the previous system. "Of course, we were looking for monitoring solutions with minimal downtime and maximum reliability. However, as we were aware of the benefits of smart technology, we were keen to take advantage of the latest developments," explains Moustapha. "Some members of the team had worked with Vaisala sensors before, so we were already familiar with their accuracy and long-term reliability. For this reason, Vaisala was asked to bid alongside other companies to meet our users' requirements."
To demonstrate the capabilities of viewLinc, Vaisala staff conducted a virtual demonstration of the system in operation at Vaisala's manufacturing facility in Helsinki. "This allowed the APL team to see how easy it would be to set up a viewLinc system with the VaiNet wireless data loggers for temperature and humidity," explains Vaisala Sales Manager Janne Halonen.
Maximum data security with Vaisala VaiNet
The VaiNet data loggers communicate over low frequencies to provide a strong signal over long distances without the use of an amplifier, even in places with obstacles such as metal or concrete structures. In addition, thanks to the low frequency, VaiNet does not interfere with other network traffic. If required, it is also possible to connect data loggers, transmitters or other devices to the viewLinc system via Ethernet, PoE and USB.
The VaiNet AP10 network access points transmit data from the data loggers to the viewLinc Enterprise Server and both the access point and the software check that the data has been received correctly. The data is then stored in viewLinc's secure database to ensure the integrity and security of the data. To ensure data redundancy, the load is distributed across the various VaiNet access points used by the loggers within their perimeter. The integrated memory of each logger and the viewLinc database complete the audit trail.
The probes in the data loggers use Vaisala HUMICAP® humidity technology and platinum RTD sensors ensure first-class measurement stability. HUMICAP® sensors utilize capacitive thin-film polymer technology that is resistant to contamination from dust and condensation.
Calibration ensures accuracy and compliance with specifications
Following the viewLinc demonstration, a comprehensive evaluation of reference customers and Vaisala's detailed technical and pricing offer, APL selected the viewLinc continuous monitoring system, which was installed in 2022. The system consists of over sixty VaiNet RFL100 wireless data loggers for temperature and humidity, supported by multiple VaiNet AP10 wireless access points. Although the data loggers are equipped with sensors designed for long-term stability, they need to be calibrated to ensure accuracy and compliance with specifications. Vaisala offers an annual calibration service. However, APL decided to use Vaisala's training and tools to perform calibrations in-house.
APL trusts viewLinc in conjunction with VaiNet
"From an operational point of view, we were impressed by the user-friendliness of the system. We have great confidence in viewLinc. Our team can log in at any time of the day or night and view the readings. We know that the VaiNet loggers are accurate and reliable, so we are confident that this system will protect our vital indoor facilities and alert us if any of the monitored points approach a threshold." - Moustapha Ismail