GE Healthcare and Rockwell Automation have partnered to leverage their automation, information technology (IT), and single-use solutions to create new bioprocessing operations. The companies aim to help biopharmaceutical companies create flexible and scalable facilities, streamlined production technologies, and adaptable manufacturing. GE Healthcare has also joined the Rockwell Automation PartnerNetwork Program as an equipment manufacturer partner. 

The collaboration will combine FlexFactory single-use equipment integrated with Figurate bioprocess automation to help improve reproducibility, repeatability, and compliance, as well as allow customers to digitize batch files and processes and to deliver instructions to workers with augmented reality to improve batch execution, operations, equipment setup, and training.

“As GE Healthcare and the healthcare ecosystem move toward precision health, flexible and scalable solutions are critical for companies to efficiently manufacture smaller batches of tailored medicines,” said Kevin Seaver, executive general manager, bioprocess automation and digital, GE Healthcare, in the press release. 

“Our collaboration with GE Healthcare will help make bioprocessing operations more agile,” said Fran Wlodarczyk, senior vice-president, architecture and software, Rockwell Automation, in the press release. “The facility of the future reimagines what’s possible in production of biopharmaceuticals. It uses connectivity, information, and modular equipment to create smaller-scale, more efficient operations. As GE Healthcare becomes a member of our PartnerNetwork program, our joint work will help GE Healthcare bring the Connected Enterprise to life, so they can meet demands for more targeted drugs and get products to market faster.”