The present invention relates to a configuration system for configuring and ordering a chemical separation system, which configuration system comprises a configuration tool, a database comprising data relating to chemical separation hardware modules and the linkage of said hardware modules. Said configuration system enables a user in real-time to obtain a customized configuration of the chemical separation system. The present invention also relates to a method of selling a customized chemical separation system using said configuration system. The present invention system and method considerably shorten the time required for customizing a chemical separation system.