INTERPHEX 2025: Beta Bags and Sterile Manufacturing

Sterile manufacturing environments require that items be brought into the environment in a sterile manner. Traditionally, items would be taken through a transfer door into the sterile environment through a stainless-steel canister. Beta bags are a more flexible single-use method. To learn more about beta bags, the Pharmaceutical Technology^® Group spoke with Chris Gooding, general manager at CRL Solutions, during INTERPHEX 2025, which is being held in New York City from April 1–3.

According to Gooding, products that need to be transferred to a sterile environment come in different sizes that require different sterilization methods, which has resulted in the development of new methods for transfer. Beta bags can be made longer or for different sterilization methods, therefore, making them convenient.

“The beta bag is really [designed] out of convenience for transferring either supplies, tools, or equipment into a sterile environment through an RTP [rapid transfer port] or a transfer door ... as opposed to the previous method, [which] would be a stainless-steel canister, but it was limited on the size and the depth and a number of different things,” Gooding says. “The bag allows it to be sized differently. It's much less expensive and is ultimately disposable after use.”

Click the video above to watch the interview.

About the speaker

Chris Gooding is the General Manager for Central Research Laboratories (CRL), headquartered in Red Wing, Minn. Chris has been the GM of CRL for five years. Prior to that, he worked in various leadership roles for many different manufacturing companies. CRL has 80 years of experience in the development of remote-handling systems, including telemanipulators, transfer systems, glove ports, and waste drum transfer systems. CRL's solutions promote operator safety and efficiency when performing various tasks in life sciences and nuclear applications around the world. For more information about CRL Solutions and its network of partners, visit CRL Solutions.