Neuland Pharmaceuticals — Centrifuge Blanketing Systems (CBS)
How Nirmal replaced failed competitor CBS units to restore compliance, safety, and operational efficiency — growing the relationship from 4 to 19 units.
19
CBS units installed (up from 4)
100%
Centrifuges returned to auto mode
0
Audit points after replacement
6 mo
Manual operation ended
The Challenge
Established in 1984 and publicly listed, Neuland Laboratories Ltd. is a Hyderabad-based manufacturer of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) and an end-to-end chemistry solution provider. As a cGMP-compliant facility serving global drug developers, Neuland's centrifuge operations are critical to production continuity and regulatory standing.
System Failures Across the Fleet
Centrifuge blanketing systems (CBS) supplied by a competitor failed across the board, forcing centrifuges to run in manual mode. What began as isolated faults cascaded into a facility-wide operational disruption lasting six months.
- All CBS units from the incumbent supplier failed in service
- Centrifuges reverted to manual operation — a significant safety and efficiency compromise
- Six months of manual mode caused measurable production inefficiencies
- Audit inspections identified compliance non-conformances linked directly to the system failures
- Frustrated operators and procurement teams received inadequate support from the incumbent
Running pharmaceutical centrifuges manually in a cGMP environment creates explosion risk, product contamination exposure, and immediate audit vulnerability — none of which are acceptable in regulated API manufacturing.
Nirmal's Solution
Nirmal had been engaging with Neuland proactively for some time without receiving an initial order. When the competitor's systems failed completely, Nirmal was already familiar with the site requirements and was positioned to respond immediately.
Structured Replacement Programme
- Conducted detailed on-site surveys to map each centrifuge's blanketing requirements
- Tailored the CBS offer to match Neuland's specific gas flow, pressure, and connection requirements
- Negotiated competitive pricing — with additional flexibility extended on the expanded order
- Committed to reliable delivery timelines, eliminating uncertainty during the transition
- Provided assurance of ongoing technical support and service — addressing the root cause of the previous frustration
Nirmal's CBS Series units are designed for pharmaceutical centrifuge inertisation, providing controlled nitrogen blanketing that meets both safety and cGMP compliance requirements. The glandless design and proven diaphragm technology ensure reliable automatic operation without constant manual intervention.
Outcome
Nirmal initially received an order for four CBS units. Following successful installation and demonstrated performance, Neuland expanded the partnership, placing subsequent orders that brought the total fleet to nineteen units.
All centrifuges returned to full automatic mode. Audit non-conformances linked to the previous systems were resolved. Neuland now operates a standardised, Nirmal-supplied blanketing fleet with the ongoing technical support that had been absent under the previous supplier.
Persistence, quality, and genuine customer-centricity — not just price — are what convert a difficult entry into a long-term partnership. Nirmal's willingness to engage before the order arrived was the foundation of everything that followed.