Single Use Support has released the next generation of its RoSS.BLST® blast freezing and thawing platform, aimed at supporting more consistent freeze-thaw performance for biologics processed by contract development and manufacturing organisations (CDMOs) and biopharmaceutical manufacturers. The updated system is designed to strengthen product protection, improve process reproducibility and increase operational efficiency across single-use bioprocessing container formats.

Addressing variability in cold chain management

Cold chain management remains one of the more critical steps in bioprocessing, as non-uniform or inefficient freezing can compromise drug substance integrity. RoSS.BLST is built around fully 21 CFR Part 11 compliant, recipe-driven freezing protocols intended to help minimise batch-to-batch variability during freeze-thaw cycles.

The system’s airflow management performs a complete air circulation every 2.5 seconds, supporting rapid and uniform temperature distribution throughout the chamber. This circulation is intended to support faster heat transfer, contributing to more consistent freezing profiles and improved product quality.

A direct cooling system, paired with a Siemens control platform, is designed to accelerate pull-down to target temperature and shorten overall runtime, supporting faster batch freezing cycles alongside lower energy demand. The platform accommodates high loading volumes, supporting up to 192 × 2 L bottles per batch, and reaches target temperatures down to -80°C, combining rapid pull-down performance with optimised electricity and cooling water consumption.

“With our next-gen RoSS.BLST, we’re trans­forming the freezing of bulk-packaged drug substances into an efficient, reproducible, and scalable process,” commented Markus Fürhapter, CTO of Single Use Support. “Fully controlled freeze-thaw cycles translate into consistent process reliability, without added complexity.”

Greater chamber capacity within the same footprint

Beyond process performance, RoSS.BLST is engineered to improve space efficiency within existing bioprocess facilities. The system offers what the company describes as a best-in-class ratio of usable chamber volume to footprint, providing 30% more usable chamber capacity than comparable blast freezers.

The unit features a stainless-steel, hygienic design intended to support ease of cleaning and maintenance, combining high-performance forced-air blast freezing with a modular interior that accommodates a range of bioprocess container types and batch configurations. Single Use Support has also noted that its freeze-thaw platforms use natural refrigerants with low environmental impact, in line with decarbonisation initiatives.

Part of a broader cold chain ecosystem

RoSS.BLST is designed to integrate with Single Use Support’s wider cold chain portfolio, including RoSS.ULTF ultra-low temperature storage freezers, and protective secondary packaging solutions for single-use bottles (Bottle RoSS) and 2D bioprocess containers (RoSS® shell). Together, these solutions are intended to support drug substance protection from filling through freezing, long-term storage and transport.

For more information, visit: https://www.singleusesupport.com

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