Free pharma and biopharma process layout blocks for AutoCAD (DWG): bioreactors, tanks, CIP, freeze dryers, filling lines

About the sizes

There is no standard for the plan footprint of process equipment. The sizes are typical footprints of common equipment, for example a stainless 2000 L bioreactor on a skid of 2800 x 2300 mm or a production freeze dryer of 4000 x 2400 mm, and they differ between suppliers and between models. The equipment that you really install, its footprint, service space and utility connections come from the supplier data.

The blocks are our own drawings, simplified to what matters on a plan, not supplier drawings, and the library is not certified. It helps to draw and list a process room for a concept layout or a space study, it does not show that a design meets GMP or any other rule. Check the rules and the quality requirements that apply to your project and have the final design reviewed by a competent person.

Frequently asked questions

Which items are in the library?

Bioreactors and cell culture, tanks and vessels, downstream purification, utilities and CIP, fill and finish, sterilization and washing, solid dosage and packaging, storage and cold chain, process room layouts and layout markers. The page above lists every group with its count.

Are the sizes the sizes of a real supplier?

No. They are typical footprints, drawn so that a layout is realistic, but a real machine of a given volume or capacity differs by supplier and model. Use the blocks for the concept and the space study, and replace them with the supplier drawing or change the size when the equipment is chosen.

Can I use the symbols in commercial projects?

Yes. They are free to use and modify in your own projects, including commercial ones. They are provided as is, without warranty.

Can I use the blocks for a P&ID?

No, these are plan blocks with real footprints. For piping and instrumentation diagrams use the P&ID equipment library and the instrumentation library. The tags and utility points here match a plan, so a layout and a P&ID can use the same equipment tags.

Can I change a symbol or add attributes?

Yes. Open the DWG, edit a block with BEDIT to change it or add attributes, and save. To update drawings that already contain the block, run ATTSYNC or replace the block. Make a backup first: attribute values can be lost if ATTSYNC is used carelessly.

Where do I find a ready-made set of these symbols for AutoCAD?

AutoCAD itself ships only a small set of sample blocks, so a full symbol set has to come from a library. Download the ZIP on this page and open the DWG: every symbol is a block. Insert one with INSERT (Blocks palette, Libraries tab, then pick the DWG) or drag it from DesignCenter (ADCENTER). You can also download a single symbol on its own.