In this completely revised and updated edition, application aspects and supplying criteria for the selection of laboratory or industrial processes are the focus of the book. The reader is getting information about plant and process automation, troubleshooting and upscaling, too. This completely updated and enlarged third edition of the classic text adopts a practical approach to describe the fundamentals of freeze-drying, backed by many explanatory examples. Following an introduction to the fundamentals, the book goes on to discuss process and plant automation as well as methods to transfer pilot plant qualifications and process data to production. An entire section is devoted to a large range of different pharmaceutical, biological, and medical products. New to this edition are chapters on antibodies, freeze-dry microscopy, TEMPRIS, microwave freeze-drying, spray freeze-drying, and PAT. Their many years of experience in freeze-drying enable the authors to supply valuable criteria for the selection of laboratory, pilot and production plants, discussing the advantages, drawbacks and limitations of different plant designs. Alongside guidelines for the evaluation and qualification of plants and processes, the author also includes a troubleshooting section. FUNDAMENTALS OF FREEZE-DRYING TECHNOLOGY Freezing Drying Storing PLANT TECHNOLOGY Plants for freezing Components of a freeze-drying plant Plants for batches up to 10 kg Large scale plant Food production plant PHARMACEUTICAL, BIOLOGICAL, AND MEDICAL PRODUCTS Proteins and hormones Viruses; serums, bacteria, yeasts Antibiotics Liposomes and nanoparticles Transplants Antibodies POINTS OF GENERAL INTEREST Norms and abbreviations Validation of processes and plant