By Lisa Nadile
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LIBERTYVILLE, IL— Steris now offers comprehensive sterilization in the Chicago area. The company is now offering a second gamma irradiator to process lower cost products in addition to the company's current irradiation and electronic beam systems. The new irradiator is also part of Steris's Chicago-area expansion of its sterilization facilities for the food, pharmaceutical, and medical device industries.
The addition of this system, which is capable of continuous processing, significantly expands the amount of products sterilized, says Dan Carestio, director of sales and marketing for Steris/Isomedix Services.
The original batch irradiator is used primarily by customers needing to process high-value products, such as orthopedic implants and other medical devices. The new irradiator is best for customers seeking to process large amounts of lower-valued products (those priced less than $1,000), such as sponges and other disposables. Electronic beam irradiation is also available.
“Customers don't have a preference for a specific technology, they know one may be more appropriate than the other. For example, certain products require a specific flavor of sterilization depending on packaging,” says Carestio. The Cobalt 60 irradiation process leaves no chemical residues and will penetrate hermetically sealed packages, for example.
Users also may need to utilize the penetration of the gamma irradiation to speed the sterilization process. The procedure's safety means that companies are not required to test the product for biological indicators before it's released, say Steris officials.
“The new irradiator is capable of handling 6 million ft2 of products annually. It operates continuously for 24 hours, 7 days a week,” he says. “Customers can back a truck up to the building and unload products still in their shipper cartons or pallets, and have them sterilized and loaded back into the truck quickly,” he explains. For more information contact Steris Corp. at (440) 354-2600 or visit http://www.steris.com.