Award-Winning Filtration Excellence: Suncombe’s Fully Integrated Sterile Filtration System for GSK

The Challenge: Modernising a Manual System

At GSK’s Ulverston facility, a manual sterile filtration system was used to transfer product into a Grade C cleanroom. The original system involved a double filtration system and manually operated hoses, leaving the process vulnerable to environmental contamination and inconsistent filter integrity testing.

GSK required a transformation: a fully integrated, automated filtration skid that could perform. They needed:

Only the physical replacement of filter elements would remain manual.

The Project: Collaboration and Complexity

To achieve this, GSK assembled an expert team that included:

From day one, the collaboration was intensive; detailed P&ID reviews, 3D modelling, weekly meetings, site visits, and multiple design iterations led to a state-of-the-art solution that overcame all technical and regulatory challenges.

The System: Engineering Innovation in Action

The resulting skid was:

The unit was designed to straddle the cleanroom boundary:

Beyond sterility and safety, the system offered significant environmental and operational advantages:

Global Recognition – Pharma Category Award

The outcome? A filtration solution that:

The collaborative team efforts were recognised at the IChemE Global Awards, where the project won the Pharma Category Award, celebrating excellence, innovation, and impact in the chemical and process industries.

From Suncombe

“ Using our 60+ years of experience in hygienic pharmaceutical systems, this project allowed us to push technical boundaries and work as true partners with GSK and their engineering experts. We’re proud that the results not only met but exceeded expectations—and were honoured to see this recognised by IChemE. ”— Steve Overton, Technical Director, Suncombe

Contact Suncombe for the Future of GMP Filtration Systems

This award-winning project is more than a milestone, it’s a blueprint for the next generation of sterile filtration systems. It demonstrates how careful engineering, cross-functional collaboration, and regulatory focus can deliver measurable value in the most demanding pharmaceutical environments.

At Suncombe, we approach sterile filtration systems with the same precision and regulatory focus that defines our other hygienic processing equipment, including GMP Washers, GMP Process Skids and Systems. Whether you’re modernising a legacy process or designing a new high-containment facility, our award-winning sterile filtration systems provide the equipment needed for critical pharmaceutical and biotech applications.

Speak with our technical specialists today by emailing [email protected] or calling +44 (0) 203 089 0280.