Protina Pharmazeutische GmbH is an independent, medium-sized family business in its third generation and has been an expert in high-quality organic mineral compounds for over 100 years. It is particularly active in the field of mineral research. At the company headquarters and production site in Ismaning near Munich, the entire spectrum of the company is available from a single source: from research to the distribution of Protina products in 26 countries around the world.

Over the past twelve years, Efaflex, the specialist for high-speed industrial doors, has installed 35 EFA-SRT CR cleanroom doors and five other door types at Protina, both in the new building and in the existing building. "The new building was a mammoth task," explains Stefan Gutberlett, Head of Production and Project Manager for the new and existing conversion at Protina. "But believe me: conversions in existing buildings are the real challenge!" The requirements for the installation and function of the doors are as varied as the different areas in the plant.

With reference to an escape route, he explains that a door had to be found whose height could be adapted to the room situation because the cut-out was relatively limited. In addition, it did not have to be pressure-tight, but it had to be easy to clean. "Because no cleanroom door with a normally closed curtain box was an option for the escape route, Efaflex found a very good special solution with a special cladding!"

Replacing the doors within twelve weeks

The door specialist is a good partner, explains Stefan Gutberlett on a tour of the company. "When we needed to complete an important construction phase on time, Efaflex managed to replace the soft-touch doors with EFA SRT-CR-P doors for us in five weeks." He stops in front of a door lock. The cleanroom door on the opposite side opens and a vehicle drives into the airlock. After the gate is closed again, it takes a while before the second gate in the direction of travel opens and the vehicle can leave the airlock. "We work with pressure cascades," explains the Head of Production. "That's why the gates are equipped with an interlock system. The second gate only opens when the corresponding air pressure is set in the airlock again, so that an overflow into the black area is guaranteed at all times and the clean areas are always under overpressure." He also draws attention to a special feature: the vehicle in the airlock is a driverless transport unit and communicates with the gate control system.

Another door feels warm to the touch. It closes off the drying cabin from the rest of the container drying room. "This is where all the format parts and equipment to be cleaned are dried at 40 degrees Celsius after wet cleaning. The plastic curtain of the door can also withstand these comparatively high temperatures 24 hours a day." Stefan Gutberlett sums up: "Working with Efaflex is simply fun. Just as we live the corporate philosophy of responding flexibly to the wishes of our customers, this door manufacturer adapts to our wishes and requirements."

This article appeared in issue 3/23