Single Use Support has launched its RoSS.BLST controlled-rate blast freezer, designed to improve freeze-thaw consistency, scalability and process control for high-value biologics manufacturing.

The system has been developed to support more uniform and reproducible freezing conditions across single-use bioprocessing container formats, with the company targeting contract development and manufacturing organisations and biopharmaceutical manufacturers managing complex cold chain requirements.

Cold chain management remains a critical step in biologics production, where variability in freezing can affect drug substance quality and stability. Single Use Support said the RoSS.BLST platform is designed to address this challenge through recipe-driven freezing protocols and controlled airflow management intended to reduce batch-to-batch variability.

The system operates with fully controlled freeze-thaw cycles and includes 21 CFR Part 11 compliant recipe-driven protocols. According to the company, advanced air circulation technology completes a full air exchange every 2.5 seconds, supporting more consistent temperature distribution and faster heat transfer during processing.

A direct cooling system paired with a Siemens control system is designed to accelerate pull-down times to target temperatures of up to -80°C, while also reducing overall energy and water consumption during batch processing. The system supports loading capacities of up to 192 2-litre bottles per batch.

“With our next-gen RoSS.BLST, we’re transforming the freezing of bulk-packaged drug substances into an efficient, reproducible, and scalable process,” said Markus Fürhapter, chief technology officer at Single Use Support. “Fully controlled freeze-thaw cycles translate into consistent process reliability, without added complexity.”

The company said the platform has been engineered to increase usable chamber capacity without expanding equipment footprint, offering around 30% more usable chamber volume compared with comparable blast freezer systems. It also uses a stainless-steel design intended to support cleaning and maintenance requirements in regulated manufacturing environments.

Single Use Support added that the system has been designed with modular internal configurations to accommodate a range of bioprocess container formats, supporting flexibility across different manufacturing setups and batch designs. The platform also uses natural refrigerants as part of broader decarbonisation efforts within industrial cold chain infrastructure.

The RoSS.BLST system forms part of the company’s wider cold chain ecosystem, which includes ultra-low temperature storage systems and secondary packaging solutions for single-use bottles and 2D bioprocess containers. These systems are designed to support drug substance handling from fill and freeze through to storage and transport.

The launch reflects continued investment in technologies aimed at improving control and efficiency in biologics manufacturing, particularly in areas where temperature stability is critical to maintaining product integrity across production and logistics stages.