DANBURY, Conn. and NEW YORK, March 29, 2011 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Interphex -- ATMI, Inc. (Nasdaq:ATMI) today announced it has introduced Helium Integrity Testing on its single-use Integrity™ Bioprocess Vessels (BPVs). The deployment of Helium Integrity Testing (HIT) to confirm product integrity is unique in the industry and its application to fully-assembled bags takes quality assurance to a new level. ATMI's HIT, for which patents have been applied, is likely the most sensitive and reproducible technology for leak-detection in the industry.
The HIT process involves flooding a fully-assembled vessel with a prescribed amount of helium and noting any helium escape that can be detected. Specialized helium sensors that are exterior to the vessel can detect holes as small as 10 microns. While tests of this type have been attempted before, no company has ever fully qualified and comprehensively deployed it. After extensive development of the technology for adaptation to wide-spread, practical application, HIT is being piloted on ATMI's 2-D Integrity bags at its North American life sciences manufacturing facility in Bloomington, MN. The company plans to deploy HIT across its full Integrity line of single-use technologies in a phased approach.
"The integrity of sterile vessels used in biopharmaceutical processes is of critical importance," commented Jeffery Craig, Global Director, Business Development & Marketing, ATMI LifeSciences. "Leaks in the bags obviously compromise the quality of the product so, by starting to deploy HIT, we are providing customers with additional peace of mind beyond our already stringent integrity testing, and continuing to ensure that ATMI employs the most cutting-edge integrity testing standards in the market. To address market needs for quality, ultra-cleanliness, and vessel integrity, we always manufacture in Class V space with vertical laminar air flow to minimize particle count, and we execute 100% integrity testing of fully assembled bags. The addition of HIT to our integrity testing procedures allows us to provide unprecedented quality assurance."
Not all manufacturers have stringent processes in place to ensure the quality and integrity of their single-use technologies. In cases where testing does occur, the preferred method is pressure decay testing. This test, however, is not known to be sensitive enough to detect very small leaks. Additionally, this and other methods typically test only the bag chamber and not the fully-assembled vessel with fittings, tubings, and connectors attached.
Products tested by HIT will initially be marketed to specific application areas within the bioprocessing industry, for example, biopharma downstream processing, final fill and finish, cell therapies, and personalized medicine.
About ATMI
ATMI, Inc. provides specialty semiconductor materials, leading-edge materials development science, and high-purity materials handling and delivery solutions designed to increase process efficiencies for the worldwide semiconductor, flat panel, and life sciences industries. For more information, please visit http://www.atmi.com.
About ATMI LifeSciences
ATMI LifeSciences is a leader in single-use mixing, storage, and bioreactor technology, fluoropolymer-based products, and custom-engineered, flexible packaging solutions. The business's fundamental knowledge of polymers, specially selected resins, and its clean room manufacturing experience combine to help drive optimum performance in critical disposable process operations. For more information, please visit www.atmi-lifesciences.com.
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Statements contained herein that relate to ATMI's future performance, including, without limitation, statements with respect to ATMI's anticipated results of operations or level of business for 2011 or any other future period, are forward-looking statements within the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements are based on current expectations only and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties, and assumptions, including, but not limited to, changes in semiconductor industry growth (including, without limitation, wafer starts) or ATMI's markets; competition, problems, or delays developing, commercializing and delivering new products; problems or delays in integrating acquired operations and businesses; uncertainty in the credit and financial markets; and other factors described in ATMI's Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010, and other subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Such risks and uncertainties may cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in our forward-looking statements. ATMI undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements.