K-Tron/Dinnissen Pandora end of line mixing system

REMBE Q-ROHR-3

Flameless venting
Germany. Dust explosion containment utilising indoor flameless venting was brought to the market by REMBE in the late 1980s.
   The third generation Q-ROHR flameless vent and second generation Q-BOX are passive devices which guarantee indoor dust explosion containment at an affordable cost. They provide economic benefits compared to active suppression systems which may need frequent and ongoing expert maintenance, says REMBE.
   Units consist of either a rectangular or circular explosion vent panel with an integral signalling device incorporating a cabled IP65 housing with electronic service and alarm display. Explosion wave venting is efficient and controlled, extinguishing the flame and rapidly dissipating heat via energy transfer within the stainless steel mesh filter inlet.
   The result is a reduction of the expanding gas volume as it extinguishes the flame and the mesh filter guarantees that no dust (burnt or otherwise) passes through to the outside of the unit. Additionally, the pressure rise and high noise level normally associated with a free vented dust explosion are reduced to harmless negligible levels.
   Used in dust applications with a Kst value up to 350, Q-ROHR-3 and Q-BOX II are ATEX approved and certified, can be serviced in the field and are reusable after cleaning and replacement of the vent panel.
Tel: 0800 232 1821 or email: info@rembe.co.uk
   |   10:09 18/03/2010

Malvern Instruments Insitec system

Supporting manufacturing efficiencies
UK. Specialists from Malvern Instruments are presenting papers and posters on particle characterization at WCPT6 and the company is also exhibiting at Powtech.
   There is a particular focus on Insitec on-line, at-line and in-line particle size analyzers for process applications, increasingly used to gain greater process efficiency and lessen environmental impact.
   Laser diffraction-based Insitec units are designed to provide real-time data to enhance process control and enable manufacturers to achieve optimal performance. Energy intensive industries such as cement production are employing Insitec systems to drive down energy consumption and simultaneously improve product quality and consistency, enabling greater use of cost-efficient, environmentally benign, replacement materials.
   The six podium presentations will cover a variety of topics including: discussion of the links between rheology and particle parameters; particle characterization using automated image analysis; optimum detectors for wide dynamic range laser diffraction measurements; high concentration zeta potential measurement; dispersion of metal powders; and spectroscopic approaches for chemical analysis of tablets.
   Non-destructive evaluation of manufacturing process changes using near infrared chemical imaging is detailed in a poster presentation. Other posters cover nanoparticle measurement using dynamic light scattering, aspects of laser diffraction performance, and determining the particle size distribution of CeO.
www.malvern.com
   |   20:18 08/03/2010

Hygienic bagging
Germany. Chronos BTH is presenting its recently developed hygienic open-mouth bagging system, responding to growing demand from the food Industry for hygienic machines and systems.
   The system concept was developed in accordance with EHEDG (European Hygienic Engineering & Design Group) guidelines. EHEDG's role is to promote hygienic conditions during food processing and packaging and recommend guidelines for hygienic machine design.
   As a member of this group, CHRONOS BTH has established an in-house hygiene task force to devise and implement food Industry specific machine design criteria. Equipment is now being refined for the demands of the infant food packaging sector.
   The new dust-proof, bottom-up filling technology is designed to ensure high accuracies during filling and features include closed bag-top transport, quick and simple cleaning, fast changeover times and minimised dust emission. Stainless-steel versions are available and designs are ATEX compliant. Nitrogen purging is also an option.
www.chronosbth.com
   |   15:49 18/03/2010

Freeman Technology's FT4 Powder Rheometer

Powder characterisation systems
UK. Freeman Technology specialises in systems for measuring powder flow properties and is exhibiting at the exhibition as well as contributing to the WCPT6 (World Congress on Particle Technology) programme. 
  Members of the team are presenting a series of papers and posters covering powder characterisation, and the FT4 Powder Rheometer will be displayed at the exhibition. 
  FT4 is a universal powder tester that quantifies powder properties in terms of flow and processability. By correlating data with processing performance, users can optimise powder processes. 
  Presentations at the congress include: ‘The application of advanced powder characterisation techniques to pharmaceutical quality by design protocols’ and ‘Evaluation of dry powder blending using positron emission tomography and the relationship between powder bulk properties and process parameters’. 
  In addition, Dr David Morton, Monash University, Australia outlines the use of the FT4 to investigate the influence of dry powder coating methods, including mechanofusion, on flow properties of inhalable grades of lactose monohydrate.
  Poster sessions by Freeman include: 'The quantification of particle shape and size using image analysis and its effect on the flow properties of various forms of lactose' and 'The characterisation of the physical properties of wet masses'.
www.freemantech.co.uk
   |   20:18 08/03/2010

Spray drying innovations
Denmark. GEA Niro is exhibiting a number of state-of-the-art technologies in the field of spray and fluid bed drying.
   On display is the SDMICRO™, a small spray dryer for use with both water and organic solvent based formulations. Equipped with the smallest possible spray drying chamber, it retains the same air flow pattern as a large-scale spray dryer, enabling small scale tests to be conducted for product and concept evaluation purposes.
   The company’s DRYNETICS™ method allows drying parameters to be established by studying just one droplet of a substance. The technique allows measurements, such as drying time and stickiness of a given feed, to be incorporated into CFD simulations. The method can be used to investigate product formulations and to optimise spray drying plant designs for both new or existing plants.
   A new set of 3D animations is also displayed showing a GEA Niro spray dryer with heat recuperation, CONTACT FLUIDIZER™ fluid bed dryer and SWIRL FLUIDIZER™ dryer in operation.
www.niro.com
   |   20:18 08/03/2010

Particle size analysis standards
UK. Whitehouse Scientific is exhibiting its new opaque standards for particle size analysis.
   MD Dr Graham Rideal is also presenting a lecture at WPCT6, focusing on the latest trends in particle size standards, from sub-micron multimodal standards to image analysis standards up to 2 mm in size.
   Whitehouse's new silver-coated opaque standard covers the 19 to 190 micron size range and has been the subject of a recent exercise involving examination by leading particle sizing laboratories and instrument manufacturers. 
  Importantly, the new standard has been analysed within the Quality Audit Scheme of independent company LGC Standards, producing the best ever repeatabilites seen by laser diffraction analysers, says the company.
www.whitehousescientific.com
   |   08:33 10/03/2010

Metal separators
Germany. S+S Separation and Sorting Technology GmbH specialise in equipment for the detection/separation of contaminants, product inspection and sorting of material flows.
   Their focus at the exhibition is on the Rapid series of metal separators for separating magnetic and non-magnetic metal particles from free-falling bulk materials.
   The Rapid Vario metal separator is suitable for simple applications with separate detection and separation units, allowing adaptation of the fall height and separation unit (180 degrees rotatable). Low overall height allows integration into existing lines. 
  Rapid 4000 metal separator is similar in design and function to the Rapid Vario but for applications requiring higher scanning sensitivities.
   Rapid 5000 is geared to the hygienic requirements of the food, chemical, and pharmaceutical industries, where the reject mechanism is easily accessible and can be quickly cleaned.
   Rapid 6000 removes metallic contamination by using a swivel hopper, with only short interruption of the conveying flow, and is suitable for coarse grained, flaky, light, fibrous, brittle and lumpy bulk materials.
   The new, compact Rapid 8000 metal separator is designed for high throughput capacities and can be used for inspecting a wide range of powdery, fibrous or granular products and features a dust proof reject outlet. 
  The Rapid Dual metal separator is suitable for badly pouring bulk materials such as foil chips, wood pellets, etc, or large mass flows in free falling conveyor pipes.
www.se-so-tec.com
   |   13:05 09/03/2010

Separators and nano technology
Taiwan. Guan Yu Machinery Factory Co Ltd and its subsidiary, Full-Win Technology are sharing a stand at the show.
   Guan Yu specialises in vibratory separators and magnetic separators with headquarters and a research centre in Taiwan, manufacturing plants in Taiwan and China and European office in the UK.
   Full-Win Technology specialises in nanopowder technologies. Newly developed high performance Eddy flow crushing technology has been successfully utilised for crushing metal, non-metal, vegetable fibre, herbs and biological products into sub-micron size particles. Using herbs as an example, the crushing process is said to achieve an average diameter of 500 nanometre (0.5 micron). 
  Importantly, energy consumption for producing sub-micron powder at the rate of 50 kg per hr is around 20 kw per hr, which the company says is negligible compared with microwave extraction methods.
   One successful application for Eddy flow crushing technology is pulverising coal into very fine particles for use in coal fired burning to increase both calorific value and reduce CO2 emissions.
www.gy-1000.com.tw
   |   09:20 10/03/2010

Milling and drying
UK. The Atritor Dryer-Pulveriser has been in continuous manufacture for 80 years, with pulverising occurring predominantly by attrition.
   The Atritor Micronising Mill is a classical spiral jet mill utilising compressed gas to produce superfine materials by autogenous comminution. Compressed air is most commonly used but steam or inert gases can offer advantages in certain applications.
   Pharmill Technology Ltd is a joint venture company of Atritor Ltd and PMT Jetmill GmbH, developing the Pharmill CSJ 1-2-3, a spiral jet mill with internal classifier wheel.
  Its unique feature is that 1, 2 or 3 classifier wheel modules can be mounted in the same mill body, doubling the mill capacity factor each time. www.atritor.com
   |   09:30 11/03/2010

Gentle dust-free conveying
UK. UniTrak Powderflight aeromechanical conveyors offer dust tight conveying and complete batch transfer without separating blended products.
   TipTrak™ bucket elevators feature a gentle handling action with a low maintenance requirement. Interlocking buckets eliminate spillage and systems are able to handle friable, abrasive and corrosive materials, with food grade and metal detectable buckets available.
www.unitrak.co.uk
   |   09:11 11/03/2010

Detects powder impurities
UK. Branscan has a long standing pedigree in image analysis originating in the flour milling industry.
   Today its quality control technology is employed globally within the food, chemical, pharmaceutical and paper Industries.
   Systems provide laboratory or online real time production monitoring equipment using high speed cameras and a special lighting setup which, when combined with in-house software, allows the detection of impurities in powder.
   Systems are already proven on flour, semolina, casein, PVC, starch and infant formula applications.
www.branscan.com
   |   09:36 15/03/2010

Grinding, classifying and drying
UK. Bradley Pulverizer Co has served the mineral industries for more than a century.
   The Hercules airswept mill system allows grinding, classifying and drying to take place simultaneously. Pulverized material from the grinding zone is carried by the air stream to a separator mounted directly above the mill from where product size material is transferred to a collection cyclone, with oversize particles rejected and recycled for further grinding. Conveying air can be heated to flash dry the material being ground.
   Hercules screen mills have been the workhorses of the quarrying industry for more than 90 years. They can grind feeds as large as 60mm down to desired fineness in a single operation without auxiliary sizing equipment. For a given feed, product size can be altered by changing the internal screen - from 90 per cent passing 10 mesh to 60 per cent passing 200 mesh.
   The latest development is the Windsifter which uses the company’s proven Mill Separator (MS) rotor to provide rugged and reliable air classifiers for efficient and economic operation.
www.bradleypulverizer.co.uk
   |   09:26 15/03/2010

Innovative butterfly technology
UK. ChargePoint Technology design innovative split butterfly valves and docking systems for transferring active pharmaceutical ingredients and potent products in drug manufacturing processes.
   Suppliers to the top global pharmaceutical and biotech organisations for over 10 years, ChargePoint's equipment operates on the split butterfly valve principle with the ability to charge or dispense under pressure or vacuum.
  The Vortex system offers an advanced level of high containment performance at the nanogram containment level and removes the requirement for cleanrooms and personal protective equipment.
   The extraction ring system provides contained powder transfer from 1µg per cu m to nanogram level and can be retrofitted to existing ChargePoint valves.
   PowerDock is an automated docking system with lateral mis-alignment correction for repeatable docking accuracy. A simple pneumatic raise and lower operation allows the ChargePoint valve to be docked, opened and closed via a local operator control panel.
www.thechargepoint.com
   |   14:32 16/03/2010

Standard and customised solutions
Germany. Jacob Pipework System are demonstrating the variety and possibilities provided by its modular pipework system.   
  There is a presentation of components and connection options in the 60 to 800 mm diameter size range as well as customised bespoke fabrications.
   Improvements to the product range include two way distributors, shut off valves, pipe regulators and gates and an innovation in system components that are certified shock explosion proof to 10 bar overpressure. 
  Jacob's modular pipework system is used in practically all sectors of industry for bulk materials pipes, dust extraction and exhaust air pipes.
www.jacob-rohre.de
   |   14:43 16/03/2010

New generation of membranes
UK. Donaldson Membranes is a worldwide manufacturer of expanded microporous PTFE membranes, films and laminates.
   A comprehensive portfolio of filter media featuring Tetratex® ePTFE membranes has been created to extend filter life and save energy. Four high performance membranes can be bonded onto a range of substrates enabling the most suitable filter media to be tailor made for a particular market sector.
   Tetratex EXTREME is a new generation of ePTFE membranes for optimised baghouse performance, featuring reduced pressure drop, increased air flow and high permeability. The structure of the membrane ensures that particulate emissions can be maintained at near zero levels for the operational life of the media, says the company.
www.donaldson.com
   |   16:24 17/03/2010

Particle analysis
UK. Endecotts is a leading manufacturer of laboratory test sieves, sieve shakers, filters and related laboratory equipment.
   A cyclone air sizer is the latest addition to its product range featuring an integral bench top unit, fluidisation by a cyclonic jet of air to separate the sample and standard 200 mm diameter test sieves. The unit is suitable for electrostatic materials.
www.endecotts.com
   |   16:30 17/03/2010

Screening and processing
UK. Kason’s Vibroscreen® circular vibratory screeners range in diameter from 460 - 2540mm.
  They are offered with single or multiple screening decks, separating particles in one to five predetermined sizes ranging from 50 mm to 37 microns. There are gravity fed and inline pneumatic models for batch or continuous operation.
   Centri-Sifter centrifugal sifters are designed for gravity fed applications and for sifting inline with pneumatic conveying systems. There are single and twin models and low profile units, offered in a range of standard, modified, and custom configurations, and with belt or direct drive variants.
   Other offerings include skid mounted fluid bed processors and static scalping sieves.
www.kason.com
   |   10:43 29/03/2010

Complete solutions
UK. Kemutec Powder Technologies Ltd is a complete powder processing solutions provider, supplying the food, pharmaceutical, fine chemicals and powder coatings industries.
   The product range includes: PPS air classifier mills: KEK fine grinding universal mills; Kek cone mills; Gardner mixers; and Mucon iris diaphragm valves.
www.kekgardner.com
   |   11:06 29/03/2010

Flow and texture
UK. Stable Micro Systems offer powder flow analysers and texture analysers.
   The powder flow analyser uses the test frame and vertical drive system provided by the texture analyser, adding additional rotational drive and software functionality.
   The company’s product testing laboratory provides an advisory service to customers, generating application studies and liaising with those at the forefront of texture analysis research.
   The software department develops new versions of firmware and software to make them easier to use and more powerful for routine measurements or fundamental research purposes.
www.stablemicrosystems.com
   |   15:13 02/04/2010

Tablet presses
UK. Riva GB Ltd provides European sales and service for Riva SA, a leading manufacturer of tablet presses for pharmaceutical research and development.
   Minipress is Riva´s smallest tablet press, a table top eccentric single punch press for small batch production and designed to cGMP standards. Precompress offers great power and performance, designed to comply with cGMP standards and to work under extreme conditions with great mechanical strength. Quick and easy changeover and cleaning make it suitable for middle size production batches.
www.riva-europe.co.uk
   |   14:27 02/04/2010

Versatile range
UK. Portasilo manufacture a range of standard and bespoke storage vessels.
   These include: bespoke silos - individually tailored shop-built or site-assembled silos, to suit the requirements of a plant or product; horizontal silos - easily transportable storage vessels for temporary storage requirements; M-type standard silos - standard range of sizes offering a cost-effective solution with reduced lead times; and mixing tanks.
   In addition, there are a selection of mechanical, vibratory or aeration dischargers, pneumatic and mechanical conveying systems, loading spouts and silo safety products.
www.portasilo.co.uk
   |   14:19 02/04/2010

Effective weighing solutions
UK. Thames Side Sensors range of load cells, weighing assemblies and instrumentation offers a cost effective solution to a range of industrial and process weighing applications.
   The company acquired the process weighing activities of ThamesSide-Maywood Ltd In October 2006.
   LeverMount® is the latest development in load cell weighing assemblies, offering capacities from 20 to 5000 kg and approved to 3000 divisions OIML R60 Class C. ATEX approved versions are available.
   MasterMount® is primarily designed for easy, safe, simple installation and removal of the load cell without specialist tools, jacks or other equipment. A patented lever and cam mechanism enables the top plate of the loading assembly to be raised and lowered with a 180-degree turn.
www.thames-side.com
   |   15:24 02/04/2010

Drying and grinding
Germany. The Nara Machinery range of products covers three unit operations.
   Drying machines are suitable for wet and moist powders as well as filter cakes and suspensions with dried particles sizes from below 1 µm up to 3 mm with moisture content from 80 per cent down to 0.01 per cent and capacities from 100 grm up to 30 tph.
   Grinding mills fulfill cGMP conditions with average particle sizes from 100 µm down to 5 µm. These can operate as open or closed systems for isolation or containment purposes and minimal operator exposure limits are down to below 1 µg at capacities up to 300 kg per hr.
   For wet grinding or mechanical pulping Nara offers a wet mill that can be used as a reactor for micro reaction if necessary.
   Nara’s Hybridization system enables users to create particles with new topological, physical or chemical characteristics. Hybridization is a novel patented process, where micro scale particles are coated with particles down to 10 nanometer without the need for further additives to promote the coating process. 
  The Laser Ablation system is a wet and dry process for nano production and nano coating while the Nebulasizer optimises the particle size distribution of granulates.
www.nara-e.de
   |   18:15 17/04/2010