Allentown Equinox Walk-In Cage and Rack Washer

Overview

The Allentown Equinox Walk-In Cage and Rack Washer is an industrial-grade, high-throughput cleaning and disinfection system engineered specifically for biomedical research facilities operating under stringent animal welfare, biosafety, and quality assurance requirements. Designed and validated by BetterBuilt — a Canadian manufacturer with over 70 years of specialization in vivarium cleaning equipment — the Equinox integrates precision fluid dynamics, thermal management, and programmable logic control to deliver reproducible, audit-ready cleaning cycles for IVC cages, rack systems, feeders, water bottles, and associated husbandry hardware. Its operation is grounded in validated thermal and mechanical cleaning principles: detergent-assisted soil removal via controlled high-pressure spray (≥3.5 bar), multi-stage hot-water rinsing (up to 93°C), and rapid forced-air or steam-assisted drying — all calibrated to meet internationally recognized performance benchmarks including AK KAB certification for cage washer validation.

Key Features

• Ultra-Fast Cycle Time: Full wash-dry cycle completed in approximately 6 minutes — among the shortest in class — enabling >120 rack cycles per 8-hour shift without compromising cleaning efficacy.
• 160-Point Precision Spray System: Dual-zone nozzle array comprising 160 stainless-steel fixed-position nozzles and 10 rows of oscillating bottle jets (5 per side) ensures complete volumetric coverage of stacked racks and nested cages.
• Dual-Mode Jet Control: Intelligent switching between simultaneous bilateral spray (for uniform load distribution) and alternating sequential spray (for energy optimization and targeted residue removal).
• Triple-Pump Architecture: Dedicated high-capacity wash pump, dual rinse pumps (pre-rinse + final rinse), and independent drain/air-dry blower — all constructed from 316 stainless steel for chemical resistance and longevity.
• 7-inch Color HMI with Omron PLC Core: Supports 16 fully customizable programs, real-time cycle parameter monitoring, alarm logging, and timestamped event history with CompactFlash data export capability.
• Full-Stainless Construction: Welded 304/316 stainless steel chamber, rounded internal corners, and seamless floor pan eliminate harborage points for biofilm formation and simplify GLP-compliant decontamination verification.

Sample Compatibility & Compliance

The Equinox is validated for cleaning and thermal disinfection of standard and custom-sized rodent and rabbit caging systems (including Allentown IVCs), rack frames, polycarbonate and stainless-steel feeders, glass and PETG water bottles, sipper tubes, valves, and bedding dispensers. It complies with AK KAB Standard 2022 for automated cage washer performance validation and supports compliance with ISO 14644-1 (cleanroom air classification), USP (sterile processing), and FDA 21 CFR Part 11 when integrated with Allentown’s APM-certified data management protocols. Optional thermal disinfection cycles achieve ≥log₆ reduction of Bacillus atrophaeus spores per EN 15581:2015, satisfying EU Directive 2001/83/EC Annex 1 requirements for barrier facility equipment.

Software & Data Management

Equinox firmware includes embedded audit trail functionality compliant with ALCOA+ principles (Attributable, Legible, Contemporaneous, Original, Accurate, Complete, Consistent, Enduring, Available). All cycle parameters — temperature profiles, pressure logs, dwell times, detergent dosing events, and alarm triggers — are time-stamped and stored locally on removable CompactFlash media. Remote diagnostics via Ethernet enable predictive maintenance through Activ P&ID (Process & Instrumentation Diagram) visualization and Activ PM (Preventive Maintenance) scheduling. Optional integration with laboratory information management systems (LIMS) or facility SCADA platforms is supported via Modbus TCP or OPC UA protocols.

Applications

• High-volume rodent and non-rodent vivariums requiring daily turnover of >500 cages
• GLP- and GMP-regulated preclinical research facilities performing toxicology or pharmacokinetic studies
• Academic core facilities serving multiple PI labs with heterogeneous caging configurations
• Contract research organizations (CROs) maintaining AAALAC-accredited animal programs
• Biotech manufacturing sites requiring validated cleaning of reusable process support hardware

FAQ

What validation documentation is provided with the Equinox?
All units ship with Factory Acceptance Test (FAT) reports, IQ/OQ templates aligned with ASTM E2500-13, and AK KAB-compliant performance qualification protocols.
Can the Equinox be integrated into a pass-through barrier wall configuration?
Yes — dual-interlocked door variants are available for ISO Class 5–7 clean corridor integration, maintaining differential pressure integrity during loading/unloading.
Is hydrogen peroxide vapor (HPV) decontamination supported?
The system includes dedicated ports and PLC I/O for seamless integration with third-party HPV generators, with cycle sequencing managed through the HMI.
What maintenance intervals are recommended for critical components?
Pump seals and spray nozzles require inspection every 6 months; full calibration and thermal mapping are advised annually per ISO/IEC 17025 guidelines.
Does Allentown provide installation and commissioning support?
Yes — certified APM (Allentown Project Manager) engineers lead turnkey deployment, including infrastructure assessment, utility tie-in, validation protocol execution, and operator training.