Fermenters, bioreactors, cross-flow filtration systems and apparatus technology for bioprocesses – engineering, manufacturing and pilot plant from a single source.
Heinrich Frings GmbH & Co. KG
53359 Rheinbach, GermanyNew on Amplifa
The international specialist for fermentation technology
Heinrich Frings GmbH & Co. KG is a family-owned technology company with a tradition dating back to 1878 that develops, manufactures and sells machines, systems and apparatus for process engineering in food and biotechnology, the chemical industry and environmental technology. The product portfolio comprises vinegar fermenters (Acetator), sterile bioreactors of the PROREACT series, aeration turbines (FRIBORATOR), foam centrifuges (FOAMEX), alcohol probes (ALCOSENS) and cross-flow filtration systems (CLEARFLOW) for micro-, ultra- and nanofiltration with polymer or ceramic membranes. All core components are manufactured in the company's own machine shop; design is carried out using CAD and CFD simulation, and automation using Siemens PLC and SCADA. At its R&D and manufacturing site in Rheinbach, the company operates a biotechnology pilot plant with a fermentation laboratory for scale-up trials, contract fermentation and filtration tests. Through its own subsidiaries and sales partners, customers on all continents are supplied.
- Site
- Rheinbach
- Processes
- Vinegar fermentation in the Acetator (submerged fermentation process), Standard process (cyclic vinegar fermentation up to 14.5% acid), Single-stage high-percentage fermentation process (1HP, above 24.0% acid), Cross-flow filtration (cross-flow/membrane filtration) microfiltration (MF), Ultrafiltration (UF), Nanofiltration (NF), Diafiltration / reverse osmosis / water treatment, Custom plant engineering (special apparatus, special agitators, special and hybrid systems)
- Materials
- Stainless steel 1.4404, Stainless steel 1.4435, PVC Food, Borosilicate glass, Ceramic membranes, Polymer membranes (hollow fiber, tubular, spiral wound, PP), Ceramic membranes (tubular, single- and multi-channel)
- Certificates
- Factory acceptance/factory inspection, Hygienic design (Ra ≤ 0.8 µm, electropolishing optional), CIP/SIP capability, GMP standard (CLEARFLOW G), ISO 9001
- Founded
- 1878
- Industries
- Vinegar technology/vinegar industry, Biotechnology, Food/beverage technology, Chemical engineering, Environmental technology, Brewing, baker's yeast and beverage industry
- 01
Project management and planning
- 02
Engineering and design (CAD, CFD simulation)
- 03
Research and development
- 04
Pilot plant and test systems (scale-up, filtration and mixing trials)
- 05
In-house manufacturing of all core components
- 06
Assembly (in the plant or on site)
- 07
Factory acceptance and factory testing
- 08
Commissioning and service (spare parts, training, remote service, retrofit)
Materials and processes
Stainless steel 1.4404
Stainless steel grade used for all product-contact materials of the CLEARFLOW filtration systems in hygienic design.
Stainless steel 1.4435
Material for laboratory and pilot fermenters in the pilot plant.
PVC Food
Food-grade material for the vinegar test system (7-L Acetator).
Borosilicate glass
Glass material for laboratory bioreactors and test vessels.
Ceramic membranes (tubular, single- and multi-channel)
Filtration modules for micro-, ultra- and nanofiltration in CLEARFLOW systems.
Polymer membranes (hollow fiber, tubular, spiral wound, PP)
Membrane modules with various separation cut-offs for sterile and hygienic filtration processes.
Research, development and manufacturing site
Rheinbach
DE- Lot size
- One-off productions through to complete custom systems (prototype, small series)
- Materials
- Stainless steel 1.4404, 1.4435, PVC Food, borosilicate glass, ceramic and polymer membranes
- Vinegar fermenter Acetator / Acetator SC
- 7-L Acetator array (5–7 L)
- 200-L pilot Acetator
- Sterile bioreactor PROREACT 75 G (1,000 L)
- Bioreactors PROREACT 5 P / 5 B (15 L)
- Small bioreactor PROREACT 1 B (500 mL)
- CLEARFLOW P/B/G/C membrane filtration systems (0.5–250 m²)
- Clearflow MF 02 / MF C 02 cross-flow filtration
- Tubular centrifuge up to 45,000 rpm / 50,000 g
- FRIBORATOR aeration turbines
- FOAMEX foam centrifuges
Industries
Processes & technical limits
| Processes | Tolerance | Max. part | Weight | Lot size | Materials |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vinegar fermentation in the Acetator (submerged fermentation process)Engineering | – | – | – | – | 1.4404, PVC Food |
| Standard process (cyclic vinegar fermentation up to 14.5% acid)Engineering | – | – | – | – | 1.4404, PVC Food |
| Single-stage high-percentage fermentation process (1HP, above 24.0% acid)Engineering | – | – | – | – | – |
| Cross-flow filtration (cross-flow/membrane filtration) microfiltration (MF)Engineering | Ra ≤ 0.8 µm (electropolishing optional) | – | – | – | 1.4404, Polymer membranes, Ceramic membranes |
| Ultrafiltration (UF)Engineering | – | – | – | – | Polymer membranes, Ceramic membranes |
| Nanofiltration (NF)Engineering | – | – | – | – | Polymer membranes, Ceramic membranes |
| Diafiltration / reverse osmosis / water treatmentEngineering | – | – | – | – | – |
| Custom plant engineering (special apparatus, special agitators, special and hybrid systems)Engineering | – | – | – | – | Stainless steel |
| Fermentation (laboratory, pilot and production scale, scale-up)Engineering | – | – | – | – | 1.4435, 1.4404, Borosilicate glass |
| Contract fermentation / fermentation trials at pilot scaleTesting | – | – | – | – | – |
| Process development, technology transfer, scale-up/scale-down trialsEngineering | – | – | – | – | – |
| Filtration tests / module selectionTesting | – | – | – | – | – |
| Mixing trials / agitator tests, oxygen transfer testsTesting | – | – | – | – | – |
| Engineering | – | – | – | – | – |
| Biological wastewater treatment (aerobic) with submerged aerationEngineering | – | – | – | – | – |
| Neutralization, flotation, filtration, precipitation (wastewater treatment)Engineering | – | – | – | – | – |
| Gas cleaning (condensers, scrubbers, defoamers, exhaust air treatment)Engineering | – | – | – | – | – |
| Assembly | – | – | – | – | Stainless steel |
| Automation technology (PLC/SCADA, retrofits, upgrades)Engineering | – | – | – | – | – |
| Centrifugal solid/liquid separation (tubular centrifuge, foam centrifuge)Engineering | – | – | – | – | – |
17 Anlagen & Maschinen
| Machine | Manufacturer / model | Quantity | Working area | Year built | Site |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vinegar fermenter (Acetator) | Frings Acetator / Acetator SC | – | – | – | Rheinbach |
| Laboratory Acetator array | Frings 7-L Acetator (working volume 5–7 L) | – | 5–7 L | – | Rheinbach |
| Vinegar pilot system | Frings 200-L Acetator | – | 200 L | – | Rheinbach |
| Sterile bioreactor | Frings PROREACT 75 G (1,500-L bioreactor, working volume 1,000 L) | – | 1,000 L | – | Rheinbach |
| Bioreactor | Frings PROREACT 5 P (working volume 15 L) | – | 15 L | – | Rheinbach |
| Bioreactor | Frings PROREACT 5 B (working volume 15 L) | – | 15 L | – | Rheinbach |
| Small bioreactor | Frings PROREACT 1 B (working volume 500 mL) | – | 500 mL | – | Rheinbach |
| Membrane filtration system | Frings CLEARFLOW P / B / G / C | – | Membrane area 0.5 – 250 m² | – | Rheinbach |
| Cross-flow filtration system (hollow-fiber) | Frings Clearflow MF 02 | – | e.g. 17 m² 0.2 µm PP MF | – | Rheinbach |
| Cross-flow filtration system | Frings Clearflow MF C 02 | – | e.g. 17 m² 0.2 µm PP MF | – | Rheinbach |
| Tubular centrifuge (up to 45,000 rpm, up to 50,000 g) | Tube Centrifuge | – | Throughput e.g. 30 l/h | – | Rheinbach |
| Aeration turbine (rotor/stator) | Frings FRIBORATOR B / TRG / C / P | – | – | – | Rheinbach |
| Foam centrifuge (mechanical defoamer) | Frings FOAMEX | – | – | – | Rheinbach |
| Alcohol probe | Frings ALCOSENS / Alkosens | – | – | – | – |
| Submerged aerator | Frings TA / TAK / TRG | – | – | – | – |
| Neutralization system | Frings PROREACT N | – | – | – | – |
| – | Frings PROREACT T | – | – | – | – |
Additional services
Quality and testing
Systems undergo a factory acceptance and factory inspection according to proven, comprehensive test routines. For processes that are sensitive in terms of sterile technology, hygienic design standards (Ra ≤ 0.8 µm, electropolishing optional, DIN 11864/DIN 32676, CIP/SIP) and GMP-compliant documentation (CLEARFLOW G) are implemented.
| Evidence | Rheinbach |
|---|---|
| Factory acceptance/factory inspection | |
| Hygienic design (Ra ≤ 0.8 µm, electropolishing optional) | |
| CIP/SIP capability | |
| GMP standard (CLEARFLOW G) | |
| ISO 9001 |