Hot Cell Lines for SHINE's Cassiopeia

For SHINE, we contributed to the development of an advanced hot-cell environment designed for the safe handling of radioactive materials. These purpose-built hot cell lines play a vital role in one of North America’s largest lutetium-177 facilities. This infrastructure enables SHINE to produce high-quality medical isotopes that support cancer treatments worldwide, while ensuring the highest standards of safety, precision, and reliability.

  • Project: Hot Cell Lines for SHINE's Cassiopeia
  • Customer: SHINE
  • Place of installation: Janesville, Wisconsin, USA

Greg Piefer - Founder and CEO SHINE Technologies: “High-quality lutetium-177 is an important isotope for cancer therapy because it can both illuminate and treat disease. We’re producing n.c.a. Lu-177 weekly at our Cassiopeia facility and shipping it worldwide to support targeted radiopharmaceutical therapies. In the medical isotope business, cancer treatments depend on consistent production. Reliable, well-engineered hot cell systems enable us to deliver consistently, so patients can receive their treatments.”

Hot Cell Lines for SHINE's Cassiopeia

Render Hot Cell Lines for SHINE's Cassiopeia

 

The hot cell lines are designed to provide a shielded environment for the safe handling and manipulation of radioactive substances at one of North America’s largest lutetium-177 facilities. This infrastructure enables SHINE to produce medical isotopes that support cancer treatments while maintaining the highest safety standards for personnel and product quality.

Project Highlights:

Two new production lines for the launch of a new production facility for Lutetium-177 (Lu-177).

  • Lu-177 is a challenging isotope to produce due to supply chain processing demands; we developed a tailored, innovative solution to the customer’s production process.
  • Scaling up raised many unknowns, but practical discussions on costs, investments, and technical requirements led to close collaboration and successful project execution.
  • Building challenges impacted design and engineering, but through weekly calls, we quickly adapted with effective solutions, enabling SHINE to start production within a year.
Hot Cell Lines for SHINE's Cassiopeia

Engineering Excellence - Realized to Perfection:

Major Hot cell equipment for safely processing in an advanced clean room environment, designed for high-quality standards.

Key features:

The system consists of two lines. The lines are identically designed, except for the location of the electrical cabinet for each line. The hot cell line includes three main production areas connected by airlocks and shielded lines.

  • In total, there are six Modular Hot Cells (MHC) with integrated autoclave, automated product retrieval port, and waste container docking stations at the back.
  • Bringing in the radioactive targets from the back using the manipulators.
  • A horizontal integrated autoclave with an automated sliding door for terminal sterilization of the final product.
  • Equipped with Hastelloy boxes for safety, cleanliness, and sustainability, ensuring maximum resistance and long-term reliability.
  • Major Hot cell equipment for safely processing in an advanced clean room environment, designed for high-quality standards.
“Von Gahlen’s modular system exceeds shielding requirements while providing the safety controls we need to scale production confidently. Just as important, they’ve been a reliable partner through implementation and ongoing operations - from timely technical support to preventative maintenance.”

 

www.shinefusion.com

SHINE employee Mindy Becker takes you on a virtual tour of our production process, showing how this "smart bomb" for cancer treatments goes from raw materials to life-saving therapies.

If you have similar needs for your facility, please do not hesitate to discuss the possibilities with us.