Single-use tube set assemblies are critical components in modern biopharmaceutical manufacturing, offering flexibility, sterility, and efficiency.
Discover leading suppliers of single-use tube set assemblies and learn key selection tips to ensure quality, compliance, and efficiency in biopharmaceutical manufacturing.
Single-Use Tube Set Assemblies: Top Trusted Suppliers and Smart Selection Tips
Single-use tube set assemblies are essential for modern pharmaceutical and bioprocessing operations. They ensure safe and sterile processes while maintaining the efficiency and flexibility needed for industrial needs.
Finding the best supplier for these components can significantly contribute to your organization’s productivity and output quality.
How to Choose a Single-Use Assembly Supplier
The single-use assembly market is a growing industry, reaching a value of $13.47 billion in 2024. This gives laboratories and manufacturers numerous options.
Selecting a supplier is a strategic decision that can affect your process. While each use case may differ, considering these factors can help you choose the right partner.
Intended Application
The right single-use tube set assembly fully depends on the intended purpose. Before comparing suppliers, clarify what you will be using the tube set for. Options may include fluid transfers, cell and gene therapy, filtration, or filling operations.
Some applications can work perfectly with a pre-assembled tube set, as long as it passes the right ISO standards.
Others will require custom designs, particularly for specialized research applications. Clearly defining operating conditions up front helps narrow the field to suppliers with relevant expertise.
Quality and Compliance
Quality systems are nonnegotiable in laboratory setups. Suppliers should follow stringent quality management frameworks, including ISO-certified processes, and be able to provide proof of adhering to these standards.
Documentation, such as detailed product literature or certificates, provides assurance and can support your own regulatory compliance and audits.
For example, single-use systems need to be sterile, especially when handling sensitive compounds that react strongly to contaminants. Companies will need documentation for multiple ISO series, depending on the type of sterilization process they employ, whether it’s radiation-based or gaseous, such as ethylene oxide.
Strong documentation practices also make inspections easier to handle and can help accelerate approval rates.
Supply Chain Reliability
Reliable supply directly impacts production or research schedules. A strong supplier ensures consistent lead times and proactive inventory management through strategies like working with multiple suppliers and clear communication around demand forecasting. These proactive methods help minimize downtime by ensuring teams have enough resources to keep the pipeline running.
Dependability is especially important for facilities running continuous production and accommodating high demand, where a single delay can impact the entire operation. In these environments, supplier reliability can directly affect uptime and revenue.
Customization and Design Support
Pharmaceutical processes can vary across different facilities or materials, which makes customization a key differentiator.
Look for suppliers that offer engineering and CAD support to design assemblies that integrate with your existing equipment or meet unique project needs.
Access to experienced design teams enables you to identify potential issues, such as dead legs or incompatible joint fittings, before large-scale production.
Early-stage design collaboration ensures alignment throughout the entire process, saving both time and money. It also simplifies approvals and reduces the risk of late-stage reworks or wasted materials.
Material Expertise
Material selection has a significant impact on pharmaceutical production and research, influencing chemical compatibility and patient safety.
Suppliers should have a deep knowledge of tubing materials and formulations, including how they influence fluid behavior and overall process consistency and integrity. Their team should understand how materials perform under different temperatures or chemical exposures. This expertise is critical when handling sensitive processes or chemicals.
Poor material selection can lead to contamination or degradation, significantly impacting the final product.
Budget
While cost should come secondary to quality, especially in pharmaceuticals, it remains an important factor. Pick a supplier that fits your budget, considering factors like the total cost of ownership and long-term reliability.
A higher-cost provider can be worth it if the tube set supplier offers lower failure rates and shorter lead times. Transparent pricing models and lasting partnerships can deliver better value in the long run.
Methodology for Ranking Suppliers
The team assessed each supplier based on the following criteria, ensuring relevance for pharmaceutical manufacturing teams:
- Product portfolio: Selection and flexibility of single-use tube set assemblies, including standard and custom configurations
- Quality and compliance standards: Strength of quality control systems, certifications and availability of documentation
- Industry expertise: Proven experience serving pharmaceutical manufacturing environments
- Customer support: Responsiveness and availability of engineering or design assistance
Where Can You Find Single-Use Tube Set Assemblies?
These five suppliers have established strong reputations for their expertise in single-use tubing and assembly solutions.
1. Sentinel Process Systems Inc.
Sentinel Process Systems Inc. is a trusted partner for pharmaceutical manufacturers seeking reliable and meticulous single-use tube set assemblies. The company supports various applications, including secure fluid transfers, upstream and downstream bioprocesses, aseptic filling and sampling, and sterile processing, with a strong emphasis on consistency and compliance.
What sets Sentinel Process Systems Inc. apart is its collaborative, design-driven approach. While the company offers pre-built setups, customers can also benefit from custom design support that accommodates unique manufacturing needs and setups.
Key Features
- Custom-designed single-use tube set assemblies
- ISO-certified products
- Consistent and quick lead times
2. Sartorius
Sartorius is another industry leader in bioprocessing technologies, offering a broad range of laboratory products, including single-use tubing assemblies for pharmaceutical fluid transfers. The company serves pharmaceutical manufacturers, life science researchers and other similar fields.
Sartorius prides itself on its ready-to-use tubing sets, which can be adapted to various environments. Still, it also welcomes custom projects and collaborations with its experts.
Key Features
- Extensive product portfolio with branded solutions
- Scalable solutions for productions of various sizes
- Custom solutions available
3. WHK Biosystems
WHK Biosystems specializes in single-use assemblies and medical device components for biopharmaceutical manufacturing, with a strong focus on compliance and quality. Its parent company, TSE Industries, Inc., has been in the manufacturing business since 1962.
WHK’s approach emphasizes an extensive material library and experienced teams, leading to shorter lead times. As a result, it can effectively accommodate high-demand projects while delivering quality products and custom solutions.
Key Features
- Extensive material library and manufacturing experience
- Quick and reliable lead times
- Customized solutions for various pharmaceutical processes
4. Entegris, Inc.
Entegris designs custom single-use tube sets and manifolds for biopharmaceutical applications. These assemblies can be tailored with 2D or 3D bags, filters, connectors, and fittings.
The flexibility allows smooth integration into different bioprocess workflows. They help maintain sterility, reduce cleaning needs, and improve efficiency.
Entegris focuses on providing reliable solutions that meet strict industry standards. Their customizable systems support both small-scale research and large-scale GMP production, making them a trusted choice for modern bioprocessing needs.
5. Nordson EFD
Nordson EFD specializes in fluid dispensing and single-use packaging solutions. Their systems are designed to deliver precise amounts of fluids with a strong focus on accuracy and repeatability. This makes them ideal for industries where consistent performance is critical, such as biopharmaceuticals and electronics.
Nordson EFD reduces waste, improves process control and helps companies achieve reliable results. Their technology supports efficiency, quality, and compliance, making them a trusted partner for advanced manufacturing and laboratory applications.
Single-Use Tube Set Suppliers at a Glance
Compare providers to determine the best fit for your pharmaceutical operations.
Strengthening Pharmaceutical Research and Operations
Single-use tube set assemblies are crucial for ensuring efficiency and compliance in pharmaceutical manufacturing.
Choosing the right supplier requires careful consideration of project needs and a potential partner’s capacity.
Aligning your choice with your organization’s manufacturing goals can help you establish a supplier partnership that meets your current needs and supports future growth.