Acrylic Chromatography Columns
See the bed · pilot & method development
When watching the packed bed matters, Mann Welding builds columns in transparent acrylic. Operators can confirm the bed visually during packing and operation, which makes acrylic a natural fit for pilot work, method development, training, and lower-pressure applications — built to your custom dimensions.
When to choose acrylic
Acrylic trades pressure capability and broad chemical compatibility for transparency. It’s the right choice when:
- Operators need to see the bed during packing and runs
- You're doing pilot work, scale-down, or method development
- Visual confirmation supports training or process understanding
- Operating pressures and chemistries are within acrylic's range
Weighing materials? Our column materials guide compares acrylic against 316L stainless and C-22 Hastelloy, or see our stainless steel columns.
- Material: transparent acrylic
- Inner diameter and bed height: built to your requirements
- Best for: pilot, method development, visibility-critical work
- Sanitary connections and precision flow distribution
- Pair with a mechanical or digital hydraulic control unit
- Designed and built in the USA
Need to see your separation?
Tell us your scale and operating conditions and we’ll spec an acrylic column that fits your pilot or development work.
FAQ
Chromatography column questions, answered
- What materials are Mann Welding chromatography columns built from?
- Columns are fabricated in 316L stainless steel, C-22 Hastelloy, or acrylic, selected for chemical compatibility, cleanliness standards, visibility, and cost targets.
- What column diameters and sizes do you manufacture?
- Standard inner diameters range from 45 cm to 180 cm, with custom sizes and bed heights engineered to your specific process requirements.
- Are your columns suitable for GMP pharmaceutical manufacturing?
- Yes. We support hygienic, GMP-ready design with electropolished finishes and IQ/OQ documentation packages suitable for regulated manufacturing environments.
- Do you provide ASME-coded pressure vessels and validation documentation?
- Mann Welding is an ASME-certified fabricator. We provide IQ/OQ documentation packages and polymeric materials meeting USP Class VI requirements when specified.
- Where are Mann Welding chromatography columns manufactured?
- Every column and hydraulic control unit is designed and fabricated in the USA at our Chattanooga, Tennessee facility, supporting supply-chain security for US and global pharma.
- Can you build custom or non-standard chromatography column sizes?
- Yes. Custom fabrication is our core capability. We engineer each column around your target inner diameter, bed height, pressure profile, media, and cleaning approach rather than fitting you to a fixed catalog, with standard inner diameters from 45 to 180 cm and custom sizes by request.
- How long does it take to manufacture a custom column?
- Lead time depends on size, material, finish, and documentation requirements. Because we fabricate in-house in the USA, we can often turn custom columns faster than overseas suppliers. Contact us with your specifications for a project-specific estimate.
- Do you repair or refurbish existing chromatography columns?
- Yes. Along with new columns we offer repairs, refurbishment, and replacement parts including screens, helping you extend the life of existing equipment and reduce downtime. Send us the column details and we will advise on the best path.
- How are Mann Welding chromatography columns packed?
- Columns are packed using slurry-fill methods paired with a mechanical or digital hydraulic control unit (HCU). PLC-controlled bed leveling, variable-speed operation, and repeatable recipes produce consistent, well-formed beds for reliable separation performance.
- What surface finishes and hygienic options are available?
- We offer electropolished and GMP-ready finishes that reduce hold-up and support clean-in-place and steam-in-place (CIP/SIP) operations, along with sanitary connections suited to regulated manufacturing.
- Do you provide hydraulic control units (HCUs) with your columns?
- Yes. We build both mechanical HCUs for rugged, software-free operation and digital, PLC-driven HCUs with closed-loop pressure control, audit trails, and electronic records, so you can pair the right control approach with your column.
Contact Us
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Looking for specs, pricing, or guidance on which chromatography column is right for your application? Our sales team is here to answer questions, provide technical details, and help you get the right solution in place.
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Already working with a Mann Welding column and need assistance? Our support team can help with components, maintenance, and troubleshooting so your systems stay running at peak performance.
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