Speaking to in-PharmaTechnologist.com at this year's Interphex in New York, the firm's regional sales manager Brent Todd told us ATMI is now testing its 2D bags for biomanufacturing with helium, because an atom of the gas is smaller than a molecule of air, and therefore can detect smaller holes.
He said the move was a response to demand from clients and and the wider industry, who are increasingly opting for bags in downstream biomanufacturing processes.
"Obviously if you're using these bags more downstream the value of the content increases dramatically. So customers are obviously more interested in making sure they're not going to leak," he said.
The firm is now preparing to roll out helium integrity testing on its 3D line of storage vessels - including mixing bags, and bioreactor bags - within the next year.
Brent went on to herald the benefits of single-use technology in general, both for ATMI and the industry, branding it "game changing."
He said: "This is a way to increase your operational efficiency. You can only go so high in terms of improving your technology without making dramatic changes, but with implementing single-use technology you can go to that next level and really get some changes in your efficiency."