Cleaning In Place systems
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Cleaning In Place (CIP) refers to using a combination of water, chemicals, heat and kinetic energy for a designated time to clean machinery, vessels, pipework or other contaminated equipment, without dismantling the plant and without direct operator involvement.
When correctly applied, a Clean In Place system provides several benefits to the user including validated repeatable, cleaning performance, improved health and safety, and reduced costs for labour and utility consumption.
The key to successful CIP is the design of automated systems which are effective at cleaning and repeatable in all possible circumstances. Cleaning with a CIP (clean in place) system is faster and less labour-intensive. As CIP reliability has improved so has its application in increasingly demanding and highly regulated industries where hygiene and avoidance of contamination are paramount, including pharmaceuticals and bio-waste.
Suncombe provides superior quality cleaning-in-place (CIP) systems for the Biopharma industry, pharmaceuticals, and biotechnology sector. Our advanced clean-in-place equipment alongside skilled technicians, ensures efficient cleaning without dismantling your production equipment.
SUNCOMBE & CIP (Clean-In-Place) systems


Suncombe pioneered the technology of CIP system design in the 1950s. Suncombe CIP Systems have been supplied for over 60 years and are used throughout the world in many different industries and sectors.
- The first fully automated system was installed in 1961
- 1,000s of systems used throughout the world
- 60+ years of design experience
- Developed with major clientele to meet their requirements
- Suitable for full validation
Suncombe specialise in addressing the most challenging applications which are often avoided by others. We have the knowledge, technology, products and experience to provide the complete CIP solution, including meeting complex project management, regulatory and validation requirements.
All CIP systems are made to Suncombe’s exacting sanitary manufacturing standards.
CIP Machine System – Using Energy for Cleaning
Cleaning uses a combination of thermal, chemical and kinetic energy applied for a set time. CIP allows higher thermal, and chemical energies to be used for set times, thereby providing guaranteed repeatable cleaning.
Biotech CIP Targets
including:
- Chromatography columns
- Transfer lines
- Tangential Flow Filtration Units
- Centrifuges
- Bioreactors
- Mobile Vessels
- Depth Filters
- Hoses and Flexibles
- Valve Assemblies
Pharmaceutical CIP Targets
including:
- Tanks, Vessels, Intermediate Bulk Containers (IBCs)
- Vats
- Fermenters
- Glovebox Isolators
- Mixers Processors
- Pipework
- Flexibles
- Transfer Line Valves
- Fluid Bed Dryers
- Mills
- Coaters
- Filters
- Pumps
- Dryers
- Tumblers
- Fillers
- OEM Equipment
Other CIP Targets
including:
- Silos
- Incubators
- Powder Handling Systems
- Ducting
- Road Tankers
- Flowplates
- Pasteuriser
- Homogeniser
- Separator
- Blender
- Carbonator
- Heaters
- Coolers
- Valve blocks and manifolds
- OEM Equipment
Mobile CIP & Static CIP System – The Differences
Clean In Place systems may be fixed in one location or mobile so as to facilitate several points of use. They may be designed as “total loss” systems, where the washing media is used once only before passing to drain or “recovery” systems, which recycle some of the washing media for part of the cycle.
Mobile CIP & WIP System
A mobile CIP system is a total loss Clean-in-Place system, where the entire system is equipped with wheels to move to its point of use. Its special design and development meet the ASME BPE standards essential to the BioPharma industry. Mobile CIP & Wash-in-Place (WIP) can be operated manually or automatically to clean processing equipment such as tanks, vessels, vats, fermenters, mixers, processors, pipework, valves, isolators, mills, coaters, filters, pumps, dryers, and fillers.
Our Mobile CIP product range features multiple variants, namely CIP Trolley, CIP Washer, Mobile CIP®, and MobileCIPOneTM offering unique benefits to each client.
Static CIP System
Effective cleaning of equipment and piping systems is easy when using a Static CIP system. Our Static CIP systems services in the UK are designed to clean and sanitise equipment and piping in place without the need for time-consuming disassembly. Our Static CIP system design facilitates the cleaning of hard-to-reach areas within the processing equipment. These systems are designed to minimise the use of water and chemicals while keeping precise control over the cleaning parameters including the cleaning solution concentration and contact time. Optimise your operational efficiency by reducing downtime through our automatic, efficient, and precise Static CIP systems. Read More
Offering unique benefits to each client, our Static CIP product variants include PureCIP, CIPOne, CIP+Plus, and Satellite.
Check out our CIP Selection Guide to make an informed decision on your CIP systems.
EXPLORE OUR CIP SYSTEM SELECTION GUIDE
Typical Clean-In-Place System Processes
The majority of Clean-In-Place system services in the UK constitute a similar set of operations, that include:
Pre-rinsing Stage
This stage takes place before the actual cleaning stage, where large debris and residues are removed.
Detergent Cleaning Stage
The CIP chemical solution contains a detergent or caustic agent and is circulated through the equipment to remove the attached dirt and soil. Commonly used cleaning agents include caustic soda, phosphorus and nitric acid, and sodium hypochlorite and peracetic acid.
Rinsing Stage
Dirt and the detergent is removed.
Acid Cleaning Stage
If required, alkaline residues and any scaling are removed in this stage.
Rinsing Stage
The cleaning agent is flushed out.
Disinfection Stage
The equipment is disinfected by treating it with heat or chemicals.
Final Rinse Stage
Finally, all chemicals and contamination are removed from the equipment, leaving it clean.
Read More
Choosing the right chemical solution for CIP cleaning services in the UK for a particular equipment and application depends on a variety of factors. These include the type of contaminants to be removed, the type of material used in the equipment, and the industry regulations that need to be followed.
Keeping all these factors in mind, we customise our Clean-in-Place system services in the UK to meet your industry’s standards, guidelines, and requirements. Offering CIP cleaning services in the UK, and across the globe, Suncombe ensures complete compliance with the various current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP) relevant to your industry.
Contact us and speak to one of our CIP specialists.
Testimonials
Why Choose Suncombe?
Decades after pioneering and revolutionary CIP technology and design in the 1950s, Suncombe LTD has come a long way in establishing itself as a market leader in cleaning-in-place and washing-in-place technologies. Since 1961, our company has committed to supplying a superior quality range of CIP, effluent treatment, and sanitary processing systems and services for a myriad of industries worldwide. We are proud to be the UK’s oldest and most seasoned manufacturer of CIP equipment and biowaste decontamination.
We continuously uphold our principles and values of innovation, and accountability in engineering, specialising in automation, as a trusted name in our industry. Suncombe is a name to bank on with 17 of the top 20 global pharma majors using our products.
If you’re looking for a reliable partner in innovative and path-breaking CIP system services in the UK, or worldwide, choose Suncombe.
Email salesdept@suncombe.com or call +44 (0) 203 089 0280 to speak to one of our specialists.