Pharmaceutical Industry
At Sulzer, we support pharmaceutical producers by providing advanced separation technologies that improve purification efficiency, reduce operating costs, and minimize environmental impact. Our solutions are engineered to deliver reliable performance that helps manufacturers operate more sustainably while meeting the strict requirements of the industry
Main applications of pharmaceutical industry
Aromatic Acids & Derivatives
-
Salicylic Acid
-
Acetic Acid
Phenolic Compounds
-
Phenol
-
BPA
Ketones & Aldehydes
-
Acetone
-
MEK
-
MIBK
-
Formic Acid
Solvents (Oxygenated & Halogenated)
-
Ethyl Acetate • MEK
-
Butyl Acetate • MIBK
-
DCM • IPA
-
Dioxane • Glycol Ethers
Aromatic Hydrocarbons & Derivatives
-
Toluene
-
Aniline
Driving Pharmaceutical Innovation with Purity, Efficiency, and Reliability
The pharmaceutical industry plays a vital role in safeguarding public health, delivering medicines and vaccines that improve lives worldwide. Manufacturers, however, must operate in a demanding environment defined by strict regulatory frameworks, high quality standards, and growing expectations for sustainable practices. Rising energy costs, solvent-intensive processes, and the need for precise purification steps add further complexity to production. Meeting these demands requires robust and reliable technologies that enhance process efficiency, secure product purity, and reduce environmental impact without compromising compliance.
Operating in today’s pharmaceutical sector means addressing multiple, interconnected challenges:
Purity Compliance
Meet stringent purity standards with advanced separation technologies that ensure consistent product quality and regulatory compliance.
Cost-Efficient Operations
Reduce operating costs by minimizing solvent use, energy consumption, and waste handling through optimized process design.
Complex Separations Made Simple
Handle heat-sensitive or closely related compounds with precision using Sulzer’s tailored purification and separation solutions.
Sustainable & Scalable Technologies
Minimize emissions and solvent losses with scalable, reliable systems designed for industrial performance and environmental responsibility.
Our portfolio of solutions helps pharmaceutical manufacturers meet strict quality standards while improving efficiency and sustainability. We offer a wide range of separation and purification technologies tailored to different processes, concentrations, and chemicals, ensuring reliable delivery of high-quality products. Our solvent recovery systems reduce the cost of consumables by enabling key solvents to be reused multiple times, supporting both economic and circular practices. For hazardous waste and effluents, we provide effective treatment solutions that ensure compliance with legislation while minimizing operating costs. All our process technologies are designed with efficiency and hygiene in mind, minimizing energy demand and supporting clean-in-place (CIP) and sterilization practices. Thanks to their modular design, they can be adapted to different production setups, helping manufacturers avoid underutilization, prevent capacity shortages, and respond quickly to evolving needs. Together, these solutions give pharmaceutical producers a dependable way to reduce costs, meet regulatory demands, and achieve long-term sustainability goals.
Explore our solutions for pharmaceutical industry
Efficiency
Decarbonization with return
Purity
Maximizing plant profitability
Reliability
Uninterrupted production
Explore our references for pharmaceutical industry
.webp)
Pharmaceuticals
Switzerland
Enhancing solvent recovery and API concentration with EvapCare™-F
Challenge:
Reduce high energy consumption, improve solvent recovery above 96–97%, increase API concentration by 30–40x, and overcome space constraints.
Solution:
Installed two EvapCare™-F units thermally coupled for efficient multi-effect evaporation, delivered as compact skid-mounted systems for easy transport and installation.
Technology:
Results:
Achieved 50% reduction in heat duty, saving approx. €150,000/year in steam costs, and reduced solvent losses for annual savings of around €180,000.
Pharmaceuticals
United States
Smart recovery with stability and efficiency
Challenge:
Stripping 1-propanol from wastewater to below 100 ppmv under varying feed temperature conditions and avoiding downstream disruptions.
Solution:
Sulzer's PEMFlux stripping technology combined high-efficiency internals and heat recovery to reduce the alcohol to less than 100ppmv. The system was optimized for unsteady conditions and engineered to maintain performance across fluctuating feed temperatures.
Technology:
Results:
The system achieved the targeted 1-propanol discharge requirements with minimized emissions and improved energy efficiency, ensuring stable downstream performance.
Pharmaceuticals
Europe
Boosting capacity with lower energy consumption
Challenge:
An existing wastewater stripping system could not provide the operating flexibility and increase in capacity required by the client. Additionally, the stream contained organic and chlorinated compounds that needed to meet very low outlet concentrations.
Solution:
Sulzer performed pilot testing with analysis to guarantee the organic content in the wastewater was <150 mg/l, and the chlorinated compounds were below 2mg/l. Using Sulzer's proprietary PEMFlux stripping technology, the system included high-performance internals, heat recovery and energy optimization.
Technology:
Results:
The unit has been in operation since 2014, meeting flexibility in operating capacity while providing a reduction in energy consumption of the column.
Pharmaceuticals
Switzerland
VoltaSplit™ reduces energy consumption and emissions for major Swiss pharmaceutical manufacturer
Challenge:
The customer needed an ethanol recovery distillation system that could operate without steam (boiler at full capacity) and fit within a restricted space, while reducing energy use and emissions.
Solution:
Implemented an indirect VoltaSplit™ configuration with a high-temperature heat pump, delivered as a compact skid-built unit, eliminating steam consumption and avoiding costly boiler upgrades.
Technology:
Results:
Achieved zero steam use, significantly reduced energy consumption, lowered emissions, and delivered a short payback time.
Pharmaceuticals
Portugal
Separation technology used to speed up fight against COVID-19
Challenge:
The pharmaceutical company needed to increase production capacity extremely quickly due to the COVID-19 emergency.
Solution:
OptimEXT™ system with Sulzer Kühni™ agitated column (ECR) for liquid-liquid extraction from available stock, shipped within one day, and provided installation and start-up support to ramp up production in less than two weeks.
Technology:
Results:
Enabled Farmhispania to significantly boost production quickly, meeting urgent global healthcare demands during the pandemic.
150+ Years Experience
Proven track record in chemical process engineering and equipment manufacturing.
Global Presence
Worldwide support network with local expertise and rapid response capabilities.
Quality Assurance
ISO certified processes and rigorous quality control for reliable, safe operations.