IMI PBM Pinch Valve
Sanitary pinch valve, IMI PBM Igenix® Pinch Valve PV series
IMI PBM Valve Solutions – Pinch valve for single-use circuits, ultrafiltration and chromatography
The IMI PBM Igenix® Pinch Valve range is based on a radically different principle from ball or diaphragm valves: the fluid never comes into contact with the valve body.
The mechanism pinches a flexible or braided tube from the outside until it is fully closed, then releases it on opening.
Only the tube is in contact with the product, which by design eliminates any cross-contamination between batches and removes the need to clean the valve between campaigns.
Used in biotechnology for single-use systems, in ultrafiltration (UF) purification, in chromatography, in vaccine manufacturing and cell therapies, as well as in pharma R&D and benchtop laboratories.
Principle and benefits in single-use
On a conventional single-use circuit, traditional valves require either fluid contact (with cleaning, requalification and contamination risk issues) or integration into the disposable manifold (cost, complexity, limited valve reuse).
The Pinch Valve solves both problems: the valve is reusable without cleaning, and the tube is replaced with the single-use kit.
No product cross-over possible between two successive batches, no valve requalification at each campaign, no contamination of the fluid by the valve’s elastomers or metals.
Available configurations
Two main operating modes:
Manual, by graduated control knob, suited to benchtop systems, laboratory lines and manual control points on production skids. Can be locked in the open or closed position.
Automated, by integrated pneumatic actuator, suited to integration on ultrafiltration skids, chromatography columns or automated dissolution systems. Optional position sensors and limit switches for status feedback to the PLC.
Body and component materials
Valve body in 300 series stainless steel, aluminium or engineering plastic depending on the version.
Plunger (pincer) in 300 series stainless steel for wear resistance under repeated cycling.
None of these parts comes into contact with the process fluid.
Stem O-rings in USP Class VI FKM (Viton). Handle and safety components (knob, cover, retaining nut) in acetal, combining chemical resistance and mechanical robustness for intensive manual use.
As the body is not wetted, its chemical compatibility is not a selection criterion: the valve can be used with any fluid compatible with the chosen tube (platinum-cured silicone, C-Flex, PharMed, TPE), including aggressive solvents, acids or highly active biological media.
Compatible tubes
Compatible with flexible and braided tubes up to 1″ (25.4 mm) inside diameter and 1-3/8″ (35 mm) outside diameter.
Platinum-cured silicone, C-Flex®, PharMed® BPT, TPE and other USP Class VI qualified pharma elastomers.
Installation on tubing in place, without cutting or process interruption: the valve opens sideways, the tube is placed in it, and the valve closes around it.
Tube replacement at single-use campaign changeover, without removing the valve from the skid.
Body surface finish
| Finish | External Ra | Target applications |
| Standard mechanical | ≤ 1.25 µm (50 µin) | UF skids, chromatography, laboratory |
| Fine mechanical | ≤ 0.81 µm (32 µin) | Cleanroom environment, biotech |
As the valve body is outside the fluid path, the surface finish only concerns compatibility with external cleaning protocols in classified rooms.
Dimensions and connections
Sizes available from 1/2″ to 1″ (corresponding to the nominal diameter of the pinched tube).
The valve body is mounted on the skid by integrated mounting brackets or a standard rail support, with no fluid connection (no flange, no clamp, no weld).
Installation does not depend on ASME BPE or DIN dimensional standards, since the tube forms the interface with the circuit.
Operating range
Fluid-side operating pressure: depends on the chosen tube, typically 2 to 4 bar for pharma silicone, up to 7 bar for reinforced braided tube.
Actuator pressure: from 4.1 bar (60 psig) for the pneumatic version, allowing direct supply from standard skid compressed air.
Operating temperature: depends on the tube and its qualification range. The valve itself accepts a range of -20 °C to +80 °C in normal use.
Actuation and status feedback
Single-acting or double-acting pneumatic actuator, mounted directly on the valve body, supplied by a standard 24 V solenoid valve.
Integrable inductive or optical limit sensors for open/closed status feedback to the PLC.
ATEX version available for classified zones.
Traceability and packaging
Each valve is supplied with a material certificate of conformity for the main components, a USP Class VI declaration for stem elastomers, and a statement certifying its non-product-contact design.
Laser marking on the body: reference, size, serial number.
Individually packed in a polyethylene sleeve.
Flexible tubes are not supplied with the valve but can be sourced separately as a qualified pack.