For biotech plants, the time is ripe for the use of disposable plastic equipment as a replacement for stainless-steel tanks, mixers, reactors, and piping. For instance, plastic tubing (typically platinum-cured silicone) can replace steel pipes and plumbing; expandable bags can substitute for stainless steel vessels; and pinch or side clamps can be swapped for valves. Increasingly, pharmaceutical manufacturers are looking at the whole process - upstream, downstream, and in the fill area, to close the gaps and replace capital-intensive unit processes with disposable systems. Meanwhile, equipment manufacturers are gearing up to meet the upward demand.