Gamma irradiators are powered by Cobalt-60,
an isotope that produces gamma irradiation. Gamma Irradiation is a form of electromagnetic energy characterized by its deep penetration effectively killing microorganisms throughout the product and its packaging with very little temperature effect and no residues.
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Gamma irradiation is highly effective at treating a wide range of medical device, pharmaceutical, food and commercial products as well as improving the properties of many different types of materials.
Gamma sterilization with Cobalt-60 is backed by decades of well-developed science, technology, and standards, ensuring safety, reliability, and effectiveness.
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Demand for Cobalt-60 continues to grow due to increased use of sterilized medical products associated with population growth, aging demographics, advances in medical technologies, and improved access to healthcare in emerging markets, and bolstered by rapid growth in Single Use Systems for pharmaceutical production.
With a large global network and decades of industry expertise, Gamma irradiation remains an ideal sterilization technology for single-use medical devices, pharmaceutical drug products, food and other products.
More than 20 new irradiation facilities have been built in 10 countries since 2015. Our sister business Nordion, a leading provider of Cobalt-60 for more than 70 years, is involved in ongoing projects to build even more facilities as gamma capacity continues to grow alongside demand.
Nordion is making once-in-a-generation investments to increase domestic sources of Cobalt-60 supply, while expanding and diversifying our network. Throughout the history of the industry, Nordion and other providers of Cobalt-60 have continually brought on new sources of
supply to support growth. In 2024, Nordion was able to meet 100% of customers’ requirements for Cobalt-60. This stabilization of supply stemmed from Nordion’s ongoing investments in Cobalt-60 production expansion, as well as our optimization of our global network.
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At Sterigenics we are committed to addressing the growing need for sterilization solutions and partnering with our customers to eliminate threats to human health. We continue to make significant investments in our global network to meet our customers’ growing demand for sterilization capacity as a critical step in their product development processes.
Cobalt-60’s high density allows the radioisotope to be active in the field for roughly 20 years. Recycling programs allow more than 99% of the material to be returned from the field into new sources. With a lifespan of approx. 20 years, the carbon footprint of Cobalt-60 transport is minimal, with its imprint being amortized over the lifespan of the product.
Gamma sterilization has significant environmental advantages over other industrial sterilization technologies. Using Cobalt-60 as a source of ionizing radiation drives 15X less electrical power consumption and 12X less greenhouse gas emissions than X-Ray facilities which consume large amounts of electricity, often generated by non-renewable technologies.
Still have questions? Download the NEW eBook from the experts at Nordion. Inside you will find answers to 10 of the most frequently asked questions about the effectiveness, availability, and sustainability of Cobalt-60.
We are a leading global provider of outsourced terminal sterilization and irradiation services for the medical device, pharmaceutical, food safety and advanced applications markets as well as Expert Advisory Services. We can support all your needs from product design to commercialization to help ensure the safety of your product and your process.
