It is an enormous privilege to supply products to important markets utilizing our research laboratory, pharmaceutical, and cosmetics capabilities. The projected budget for laboratories of all types: human pharma, veterinary pharma, university research, and pure research is large and still growing.

As of right now, the total addressable market (TAM) for all new or rebuilt labs over only a 12-month future forecast is, at minimum, approximately $33 billion nationwide, comprising of 209 sites. In addition, that momentum will likely produce new plants, as President Biden recently introduced the Cancer Moonshot Program. This introduction indicates renewed government support for R&D and includes incentives of several billion dollars more to reduce cancer deaths by 50% by 2035. Additionally, pharma continues to increase spending for many of its drug programs and will begin to require an increasing number of laboratories moving forward.

Cosmetics are another product of several pharmaceutical companies and aren't just limited to the typical consumer manufacturers. We group cosmetics as the following:

• Skincare: moisturizers and creams
• Haircare: shampoos
• Face care: creams and lotions
• Personal care: toothpaste and mouthwash
• Treatment: including medicinal creams

Our workhorse materials of choice are Purad® PVDF and PolyPure® natural PP piping systems. They provide the cleanest option to guard against leach-out compared to metal piping while delivering the smoothest surface to combat biofilm development in manufacturing settings.

As some of us are familiar with, the laboratory water specification across these research types will be ASTM-I, ASTM-II, or ASTM-III type water.

• ASTM Type I is ultrapure water used in the electronics industry and for biological applications.
• ASTM Type II is used for high purity laboratory use and for producing pure chemical mixtures.
• ASTM Type III removes 90-99% of contaminants using reverse osmosis directly from tap water. It is primary grade for non-critical    uses like rinsing beakers.

Natural polypropylene or PPn has been successfully used for many years in applications involving these water types. Still, there may also be laboratories doing research that require water for injection (WFI) or USP 1231 quality, in which case PVDF is specified. Depending on temperatures and pressures, the owners can also determine if natural polypropylene is acceptable. For further discussion on PP vs. PVDF, view Asahi’s previous article here.

A quick snapshot of how the water quality types compare, along with the recommended welding requirements:  CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE READING