SPM receives significant order for online monitoring of process fans

SPM has received a significant order for the Intellinova Parallel EN online system, including DuoTech accelerometers for monitoring critical production fans at AstraZeneca's biopharmaceutical production facility in Gärtuna, Södertälje.

In the pharmaceutical industry, process fans play a crucial role in maintaining a clean, controlled environment, ensuring the safety of both employees and products, and optimizing operational efficiency. They are indispensable for controlling air quality by removing contaminants such as dust and fumes, controlling temperature for product stability, and facilitating processes such as sterilization and air filtration.

The Intellinova Parallel EN system unit will be delivered in three configurations with eight, sixteen, and thirty-two measuring channels, respectively, for connecting a total of 101 DuoTech accelerometers. The measurement systems will be installed and configured by SPM's service engineers in 2026. Measurement data will be saved in AstraZeneca's existing database within the analysis and diagnostics software Condmaster, which is locally installed at the customer's site.

With this order, AstraZeneca is further expanding online monitoring of production-critical fans, having already invested in Intellinova systems at its Södertälje production sites.

Commenting on the investment, Tony Westerberg, Team Leader, Operations/Media and Condition-Based Maintenance SME at AstraZeneca, said: “The continued focus on online condition monitoring is central to increasing our availability and ensuring stable operation. By combining real-time data with predictive analytics, we can identify deviations early, prioritize the right actions, and minimize unplanned stops. This is not just a technology investment – it is a way of working that strengthens our safety, extends the life of the equipment, and frees up time for more value-adding maintenance. Planning the right maintenance at the right time is a prerequisite for being able to optimize production and deliver important medicines to patients around the world.”

AstraZeneca is one of Sweden's most important export companies with operations in Gothenburg, Södertälje, and Stockholm. Of the approximately 8,100 people working in research, production, and marketing of pharmaceuticals, 5,000 work at the facilities in Södertälje and Stockholm.