YMC ChromaCon Announces Contichrom® PILOT 300X — A New Standard in Pilot-Scale Continuous Chromatography

Contichrom® PILOT 300X – Pilot-Scale Continuous Chromatography for GMP Manufacturing

The Contichrom® PILOT 300X is YMC ChromaCon’s next-generation preparative HPLC system for pilot-scale continuous purification in fully regulated GMP environments. Built around patented twin-column MCSGP technology with AutoPeak®, it enables high purity and high yield at the same time, while reducing solvent consumption and overall Process Mass Intensity (PMI).

Available from 2026, the Contichrom® PILOT 300X is designed for peptides, oligonucleotides, and other high-value synthetic molecules that demand robust, scalable, and compliant purification from lab development through to commercial manufacturing.

Key benefits at a glance: continuous chromatography with automated fraction recycling, GMP-ready hardware and software, reduced solvent use, higher productivity, and seamless scale-up to Contichrom® TWIN production systems.

What Is the Contichrom® PILOT 300X?

The Contichrom® PILOT 300X is a pilot-scale, twin-column preparative HPLC system that brings continuous chromatography into GMP manufacturing. It integrates ChromaCon’s proprietary Multicolumn Counter-Current Solvent Gradient Purification (MCSGP) technology with AutoPeak® control to overcome the classic purity–yield–throughput trade-off in batch chromatography. Instead of discarding valuable side fractions, the system automatically recycles and re-separates them, recovering more product at target purity and significantly cutting re-chromatography.

Designed for both aqueous and organic solvent processes, the Contichrom® PILOT 300X supports modern high-performance resins in reversed-phase and ion-exchange chromatography, providing a flexible platform for a broad range of synthetic APIs and advanced intermediates.

Engineered for Demanding Pilot-Scale Purification

The Contichrom® PILOT 300X translates laboratory-process understanding into reliable pilot-scale manufacturing. With a maximum operating pressure of 100 bar and flow rates up to 300 mL/min, it is optimized for columns up to 10 cm inner diameter, supporting fast, efficient methods for complex separations.

Twin-column continuous operation: MCSGP with AutoPeak® for automated internal recycling of impure side fractions.
Pilot-scale performance: up to 300 mL/min flow and 100 bar maximum pressure for modern, high-efficiency resins.
Flexible chemistry: compatible with aqueous and organic solvents for peptides, oligonucleotides, and small molecules.
Hazardous area certification: fully certified for ATEX Zone 2 and Class I Division 2 environments.
24/7 automation: robust hardware and software for unattended continuous operation.

By combining these capabilities, the Contichrom® PILOT 300X provides a bridge between benchtop development and production-scale continuous chromatography, allowing process teams to lock in scalable conditions early in development.

MCSGP with AutoPeak® – High Purity and High Yield at Once

Traditional single-column batch chromatography forces a compromise: either collect narrow center cuts for high purity and lose yield, or widen fraction windows to increase recovery at the expense of purity. MCSGP (Multicolumn Counter-Current Solvent Gradient Purification) in the Contichrom® PILOT 300X changes this equation.

Automated side-fraction recycling: overlapping “shoulder” fractions are automatically redirected to a second column, rather than being discarded or manually reprocessed.
Dynamic collection windows: AutoPeak® continuously adapts fraction boundaries in real time, ensuring robust collection of in-spec product as process conditions evolve.
Higher productivity: more aggressive loading and gradients are possible, increasing throughput while preserving the required purity.

The result is a continuous chromatography process that delivers high purity and high yield simultaneously, with fewer manual interventions and less solvent usage compared to conventional batch methods.

2D Integrated Chromatography for Complex Purifications

Beyond continuous MCSGP operation, the twin-column architecture of the Contichrom® PILOT 300X enables true 2D integrated chromatography. Two different purification modes (for example, reversed phase followed by anion exchange) can be combined into a single automated process.

Integrated two-step purification: link two orthogonal methods in one continuous workflow.
Reduced intermediate handling: minimize pooling, transfers, and storage between steps.
Smaller facility footprint: fewer unit operations and reduced equipment count.
Improved data integrity: continuous, fully traceable data capture from feed to final pool.

This integrated approach is particularly valuable for complex molecules where a single chromatographic step cannot simultaneously achieve all required specifications.

GMP-Ready Automation with ChromIQ® X

The Contichrom® PILOT 300X is powered by ChromIQ® X, a modern control platform developed under GAMP 5 principles and designed to support 21 CFR Part 11 compliance. It delivers the level of electronic control and data integrity expected in regulated GMP manufacturing.

Full traceability: detailed audit trails for methods, batches, and user actions.
Secure data handling: controlled user access, electronic signatures, and compliant data storage.
Advanced visualization: real-time monitoring of continuous runs, column performance, and critical process parameters.
Method lifecycle support: straightforward transfer and version control from development to commercial production.

Together, the hardware and software form a complete solution for GMP-compliant continuous chromatography at pilot scale.

Seamless Scale-Up from Contichrom® CUBE to Production

Methods developed on the laboratory-scale Contichrom® CUBE can be transferred efficiently to the Contichrom® PILOT 300X, simplifying scale-up and reducing tech-transfer risk. The same core MCSGP and AutoPeak® concepts are preserved, enabling a consistent development pathway from first feasibility to commercial production.

Predictable scale-up: maintain chromatographic selectivity while scaling column dimensions and flow rates.
Shorter development timelines: reuse proven method strategies and templates across scales.
Production-ready architecture: pilot-scale experience translates directly to Contichrom® TWIN production systems.

This integrated platform approach allows organizations to invest once in a continuous chromatography strategy and extend it across the entire lifecycle of a molecule.

Availability and How to Request a Quote

The Contichrom® PILOT 300X will be commercially available from 2026. Process development teams and manufacturers can already begin planning their transition to continuous chromatography by requesting a budgetary quote today.

Website: www.chromacon.com
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YMC ChromaCon is a pioneer in continuous chromatography solutions for biopharmaceutical and pharmaceutical purification. With technologies such as MCSGP, AutoPeak®, and N-Rich®, YMC ChromaCon helps customers achieve higher yields, improved purity, and more sustainable manufacturing processes.

What applications is the Contichrom® PILOT 300X best suited for?

The Contichrom® PILOT 300X is designed for pilot-scale purification of high-value molecules such as peptides, oligonucleotides, and synthetic APIs. Its twin-column continuous architecture is ideal for challenging separations where traditional batch chromatography struggles to deliver the required combination of purity, yield, and throughput.

How does MCSGP improve yield compared to batch chromatography?

In batch chromatography, overlapping side fractions are often discarded or re-chromatographed manually, which reduces overall recovery and increases solvent consumption. MCSGP in the Contichrom® PILOT 300X automatically recycles these side fractions onto a second column, recovering additional in-spec product while still meeting purity specifications. This internal recycling is the key to achieving both high yield and high purity in a continuous process.

Is the Contichrom® PILOT 300X suitable for GMP manufacturing?

Yes. The system is engineered for GMP-regulated environments. ChromIQ® X software is developed under a GAMP 5 framework and supports 21 CFR Part 11 compliance, including secure user management, electronic records, and full audit trails. This makes the Contichrom® PILOT 300X well suited for clinical and commercial manufacturing when deployed within an appropriate quality system.

Can the Contichrom® PILOT 300X be used in hazardous areas?

Yes. The hardware is certified for ATEX Zone 2 and Class I Division 2, enabling safe operation with flammable organic solvents in appropriate classified areas. This is particularly important for reversed-phase processes and other applications where organic solvents are routinely used at scale.

How do I transition methods from the Contichrom® CUBE to the PILOT 300X?

Methods developed on the Contichrom® CUBE can be scaled to the PILOT 300X by adjusting column dimensions, flow rates, and loadings while preserving the underlying MCSGP strategy and AutoPeak® control logic. ChromaCon provides guidance and documentation to support method transfer, helping teams move efficiently from lab feasibility to pilot scale and, ultimately, to Contichrom® TWIN production systems.