Arrival & welcome

PSG Biotech, a global leader in biopharma pumps and flow technology – and a trusted partner of BPES since 2013 – recently hosted a joint meeting for their US and European distributors. Our Technical Account Managers, Will and Matt travelled to PSG’s headquarters near Duisburg, western Germany, to deepen their technical understanding of PSG’s technologies and strengthen ties with the wider team.
After landing in Düsseldorf, they made their way to HQ, where the PSG team extended a warm welcome. The evening began with an introductory dinner, complete with Weissbiers and the inevitable pork schnitzel, setting a relaxed and welcoming tone for the days ahead.

Training Day 1

The first day of training centred on PSG’s Coriolis-based flow technologies. At the heart of this was the SumoFlo®, the market’s most sensitive and accurate single-use Coriolis flow sensor. Constructed from gamma-stable PEEK, the SumoFlo® delivers an impressive ±1% flow accuracy and maintains performance regardless of changes in parameters such as viscosity or density – a major advantage in bioprocessing applications.

We had the opportunity to get hands-on with a tabletop demonstration system, which brought the theory to life and highlighted just how intuitive the technology is to use. Following a full day of classroom learning and practical sessions, we managed to squeeze in a 10 km run through the surrounding countryside before heading out once again for more excellent food and great company.

Training Day 2

The second day of training focused on PSG’s ultrasonic flow sensors: the BioProTT® Flow System (a clamp-on sensor with transmitter) and the FlowSU.

The clamp-on sensor attaches directly to flexible, transparent tubing commonly used in bioprocessing. By measuring the difference in ultrasonic travel time with and against the flow, it provides a non-invasive indication of flow with an accuracy of around ±2%. Its non-contact design offers a clear advantage in single-use processes, where maintaining sterility of the product stream is critical.

For applications requiring higher precision, the FlowSU inline single-use sensor is the preferred choice. A clear LED display indicates successful priming or the presence of bubbles, while the robust mounting system ensures secure installation of the disposable sensor.

Training then moved on to Quattroflow® pumps, beginning with the theory behind their distinctive four-chamber design, which was inspired by the human heart, the original “biologics pump”. This structure delivers low shear and low pulsation, while also withstanding significant back pressure, self-priming, and maintaining linear flow characteristics. These qualities have made Quattroflow® pumps a trusted standard in biopharmaceutical and cell culture applications worldwide.

Once again, our hosts looked after us exceptionally well, and we enjoyed the opportunity to exchange insights and experiences with fellow distributors from across the globe.

Training Day 3

The final day of training focused on practical skills, starting with hands-on troubleshooting and maintenance tasks before moving on to Qcon pump configurations. These intelligent pumps, equipped with integrated controllers, give users the flexibility to control via pressure, flow, or any 4–20 mA input. Alongside multiple manual operating modes, the built-in PID controller enables precise maintenance of a pressure or flow setpoint by automatically adjusting pump RPM based on real-time feedback. A particularly valuable feature is the autotune function, which determines the optimal PID values for the specific set-up and process fluid, making it simple and efficient to get started.

The programme concluded with a comprehensive overview of downstream processing applications where Quattroflow® pumps play a critical role, including diafiltration, chromatography, and tangential flow filtration (TFF), among many others.

To round things off, the charismatic Mike Franco (Director of Global Pharma Sales for PSG Biotech) surprised us with an impromptu quiz covering everything we had learned during the week, with the light-hearted threat of a dance routine for anyone who hadn’t been paying attention.

It was a fitting end to an excellent few days. We left with a deeper technical understanding of PSG’s technologies, stronger relationships with our colleagues across the distributor network, and plenty of ideas on how to best support our biopharma customers moving forward.