The Vacudyne Sterilizer Training Academy is a purpose-built facility designed to provide comprehensive, hands-on training for sterilizer operators. The Academy features a fully functioning 1-pallet Ethylene Oxide (EtO) Sterilizer, using an inert gas to safely simulate EtO operations, along with all ancillary equipment typically found in a commercial sterilization environment.
The Vacudyne Sterilizer Training Academy is a purpose-built facility designed to provide comprehensive, hands-on training for sterilizer operators. The Academy features a fully functioning 1-pallet Ethylene Oxide (EtO) Sterilizer, using an inert gas to safely simulate EtO operations, along with all ancillary equipment typically found in a commercial sterilization environment.
Adjacent to the sterilization chamber is a control room, thoughtfully designed to maximize comfort, productivity, and learning outcomes for our customers. The facility offers additional seating, a large overhead HMI for visual instruction, and fully integrated critical control elements, including power, intrinsically safe, and pneumatic panels—all of which are covered during training.
As part of the training to become a qualified sterilizer operator, candidates will be thoroughly checked out in the following operational elements:
System Description/Theory of Operation – Learn the major sub-systems of the sterilizer, key components, theory of operation, and basic maintenance procedures
Control System Overview – A full review of the main menu, operational screens, HMI features, and navigation through the control system
System Configuration – Learn to configure the software to match the physical options of a specific sterilizer
Cycle Building – Review the “Cycle Building Rules” and how the software ensures safe cycle construction, followed by the particulars of building actual cycles
Operation – Learn how to operate the system during a cycle, interpret available information, and make informed decisions as an operator
User Management – Create new users and update information for existing users. Review permissions levels for user groups and permissions for each group
Report Generation – Retrieve, view, save, and print process reports and charts
Calibration – Learn procedures required to comply with requirements for periodic calibration
Drum Change – Learn and execute how to safely change EtO drums following proper procedures, minimizing risk of exposure or unwanted discharge
Rooted in Vacudyne’s sixty years of experience in the sterilization industry, the Academy reflects our deep understanding of our customers’ needs and our commitment to supporting their success. It offers a unique opportunity for full immersion in sterilizer operation, architecture, and maintenance—safely and effectively preparing operators before they work with real products or facilities. Some of the primary concerns addressed in our Academy:
From the moment EtO is released from the drum to the last moment EtO is evacuated from the chamber, the safety of our customers, their employees, their facilities and their product is of the utmost importance. Both the chemical and biological hazards associated with the use of EtO are well known and there is no better safeguard against undue risk than thorough, hands-on, immersive training on the actual equipment in the controlled, risk free environment of our facility.
At the point where customers begin to use our equipment, they want every possible assurance that they are maintaining the prescribed/validated cycle that ensures sterility of their product, i.e. they want to know they have a capable process. Although we have every confidence that our equipment will do just that, that assertion is predicated on the fact that the equipment is being properly operated. Again the value of having accumulated experience operating a sterilizer before our customers’ product and business interests are at risk, is invaluable. Long before the point where there is real product and real capacity being committed, they have built, completed and verified cycles in the safe, low risk, security of our training facility.
Of no small consequence to our customer is the security of their business interests and their sterilizer throughput from continuous, constant and reliable operation. It is not likely the best use of capital dollars and facilities’ capacity to use their equipment as a real time training platform. That’s why we at Vacudyne feel that each hour of training and operation in our facility is of immeasurable value to the security of our customers’ overall business interests.
Interested in learning more about the Vacudyne Sterilizer Training Academy? Vacudyne’s training specialists are here to help you learn more about our immersive Sterilizer Training Academy. Call 708-607-9670 to get started and schedule your hands-on training.
