DEC Group
Powder Transfer & Containment Systems
Powder Handling, Containment & Process Equipment
Every open transfer point in a pharmaceutical process is both a containment risk and a cleaning validation burden. DEC Group (Dietrich Engineering Consultants) is a Swiss-headquartered global provider of powder handling, process containment, micronization, continuous processing, and aseptic fill-finish systems, all built around the principle that closed-system material flow should be the default, not the exception. With over 1,000 customers worldwide and more than 15,000 systems installed, DEC offers the widest single-vendor process scope of any MHS principal.
DEC organizes its portfolio around six technology competencies: Powder Handling, Particle Size, Continuous Processing, Filling Solutions, Containment Solutions, and Aseptic Process Solutions. The acquisition of Extract Technology added US manufacturing of isolators, downflow booths, and mobile cleanrooms to the portfolio.
MHS Pharma represents DEC Group across the Northeast United States, providing application engineering support across the full DEC portfolio, from powder transfer and containment through micronization and fill-finish.
Why DEC Group
Patented PTS Technology
DEC’s flagship Powder Transfer System uses vacuum dense-phase conveying at low velocity (1–3 m/s) to move powders through sealed tubing with no mechanical conveyors and no moving parts in the product path. A patented flat membrane filtration concept eliminates gravity charging and multi-floor layouts.
Integrated Material Flow
DEC covers from raw material handling through powder transfer, blending, micronization, and containment to aseptic fill-finish — six technology competencies under one vendor. Each transfer point is engineered as part of a continuous contained workflow.
Containment Across Every Tier
The full containment spectrum, from open-front downflow booths for OEB 3 dispensing through flexible isolators at <1 µg/m³ to rigid-wall isolators and high-containment pack-off systems at OEB 5/6. Extract Technology adds 25+ years of booth and isolator expertise.
R&D to Production Scale
Consistent scalability across each product family. DecJet jet mills span from 0.2 g R&D batches to 400 kg/h production. DecFill aseptic lines cover lab-scale through 300 products per minute. PTS Batchmixer handles 2–6,000 L blending with no moving parts.
Applications
DEC Group equipment serves pharmaceutical, biopharma, chemical, food, cosmetics, and advanced materials industries:
- Contained powder transfer, charging, dispensing, and blending (OEB 3–5)
- HPAPI handling with isolator integration and continuous liner systems
- Micronization and milling for sub-micron particle size reduction of APIs
- Aseptic fill-finish for vials, syringes, cartridges, and IV bags
- Continuous processing including crystallization, filtration, and drying
- Solid dose manufacturing: tablet press and capsule filler feeding
- Bulk material handling: FIBC discharge, drum emptying, liquid transfer
Equipment Range
Isolators and Downflow Booths
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Containment Isolators Rigid-wall and flexible film containment isolators for dispensing, sampling, and processing of high-potent compounds. From mobile flexible systems at <1 µg/m³ to rigid-wall configurations validated to OEB 6. Flexible to rigid-wall · To OEB 6 · Dispensing, milling, discharge · Mobile options |
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Aseptic Isolators Sterile isolators for pharmaceutical fill-finish, compounding, and cell therapy manufacturing. Grade A (ISO 5) environments in lower-grade cleanrooms with integrated VPHP bio-decontamination. Modular designs for scalable capacity. Grade A in Grade D · Integrated VPHP · Cell therapy · Fill-finish · Modular |
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Downflow Booths (Extract Technology) Open-front containment booths for operator protection during dispensing, weighing, and sampling. Clean air from the ceiling plenum pushes respirable dust downward and away from the breathing zone. Available with optional containment screens for enhanced performance below 1 µg/m³. 1.5–6 m widths · 25+ years design heritage · Screen upgrade to <1 µg/m³ |
Powder Handling
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Powder Transfer System (PTS) DEC’s flagship vacuum dense-phase conveying system. Patented flat membrane filtration moves powders through sealed tubing at low velocity, preserving particle integrity with no moving parts in the product path. Available in static, mobile, CIP/SIP, and SafeChange configurations. 5,000+ systems installed · Dense-phase 1–3 m/s · CIP/SIP capable · Contained to OEB 5 |
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Drum Containment Systems (DCS) Stainless steel cylindrical glove boxes for contamination-free emptying and filling of drums containing toxic, explosive, or sensitive powders. Suction lance connected to PTS ensures residue-free emptying. Also available for contained liquid transfer and drum inversion. 316L stainless · Glove port access · PTS-integrated · Powder, liquid & inverter variants |
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Big Bag Discharge & Filling FIBC emptying and filling stations for contained handling of large-volume powder materials. Integrated with PTS for closed transfer from bulk bags directly into process equipment. Discharge & filling configurations · PTS-integrated · Contained handling |
Micronization & Milling
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MC DecJet Spiral Jet Mills Patented spiral jet mill range for micronizing powders down to sub-micron particle sizes. The range spans from the DecJet 30 for R&D (0.2 g batches) to the DecJet 400 for production, with consistent particle size distribution scalability across all sizes. Contained configurations available for high-potency compounds. 30–400 mm chambers · R&D to 400 kg/h · Sub-micron capable · Contained options |
Fill-Finish
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DecFill Aseptic Fill-Finish Aseptic filling platform covering lab-scale through high-speed production. Handles vials, pre-filled syringes, cartridges, IV bags, sachets, and special packaging. cGMP compliant and designed to meet Annex 1 guidelines. The newest DecFill XP platform features levitating transport technology and next-generation sustainable vials. Lab to 300 ppm · Vials, syringes, cartridges, IV bags · Annex 1 compliant · DecFill XP with levitating transport |
Workbenches
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QuadraFlow Bench Contained workbenches for pharmaceutical powder handling, sampling, and small-scale processing. Clean airflow design with integrated containment for operator protection during manual operations. Contained workbenches · Integrated airflow · Operator protection |
MHS Pharma — Northeast US Representative
MHS Pharma provides direct technical representation for DEC Group across the Northeast United States. We support pharmaceutical manufacturers and CDMOs across the full DEC portfolio, from powder transfer and containment through micronization and fill-finish.
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