Manitowish Waters, WI - The Institute for Briquetting and Agglomeration (IBA), now in its 54th year as a professional organization devoted to the science and application of size enlargement methods, announces its 28th Biennial Conference, to be held September 14-17, 2003, at the historical landmark hotel, LaFonda, in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Emphasis will be on all aspects of particle size enlargement (agglomeration) by methods such as briquetting, pelletizing, granulation, extrusion, spray-drying/granulation, tableting, and flaking. Ancillary processes of mixing, drying, cooling, and sintering will also be featured.

IBA invites papers by potential presenters from the powder, bulk solids processing field. Abstracts can be submitted to:

Mr. Thomas N. Feldkamp
Executive Director
Institute for Briquetting and Agglomeration (IBA)
P.O. Box 297
Manitowish Waters, WI 54545
Telephone: 847-229-6126
Fax: 847-541-8947
E-mail: tnfeldkamp@aol.com.

Due date for abstracts is June 30, 2003.

IBA and its predecessor, the International Briquetting Association, has held regular biennial conferences since 1949. Its proceedings have become standard reference source in diverse industries, i.e. minerals, mining, coal, fertilizer, metals, bulk and specialty chemicals, as well as food and pharmaceuticals. In recent years, increased emphasis has been placed on an inter-disciplinary approach and fundamentals of fine particle size enlargement.

For information on IBA, consult our website: www.agglomeration.org.

WEST MALLING, England--(BUSINESS WIRE) -- Phoqus Pharmaceuticals, a leading edge drug delivery company, has announced an agreement with Cardinal Health, the leading provider of drug delivery technologies, to locate the first Phoqus manufacturing machine at Cardinal Health's advanced facility in Swindon, England.

The new Phoqus machine is capable of producing 75,000 tablets per hour to GMP standards. It is the world's first to use principles based on photocopier technology for 3-dimensional coating and loading of active drug compounds onto tablets.

Phoqus' unique electrostatic deposition process coats each tablet with precise amounts of finely-powdered drug compounds and coating polymers, in a method similar to that used in office photocopiers and laser printers. The coating is then gently heated to fix and stabilize it.

According to Phoqus, its unique process meets ever-increasing demands within the pharmaceutical industry for process scalability and batch flexibility. It delivers greater dosing range and accuracy, as well as enabling easy modification of drug release properties. Phoqus' process also enables manufacturers to produce tablets with more distinctive branding and markings, making it an effective measure against drug counterfeiting.

Dr Frank Armstrong, CEO of Phoqus, said, "The agreement with Cardinal Health will enable us to provide world class manufacturing services for our customers, and is a tremendous advance in building our business as a leading-edge drug delivery company. I believe it will deliver major new business opportunities for Phoqus, for Cardinal Health and for pharmaceutical manufacturers."

About Phoqus Pharmaceuticals

Phoqus, based in Kent, England, holds multiple patents on its advanced drug delivery technology and provides clients with a comprehensive drug delivery service, from formulation, feasibility studies and development programs, through to clinical trials manufacture and full-scale production.

Web site:  http://www.phoqus.com/

Jordi Model RC 600 takes part of a new family of manipulators for palletizing, developed to satisfy the high and medium requirements of production, since 400 to 1200 bags/hour. with the maximum robustness, efficiency and economy. According to the most actual demands of automation it is intelligent, modular and adjustable to the particular needs of each production line.

In this kind of machine, the arms are moved through three Cartesian axles and rotate on the vertical axles. The bags are caught one by one from the rollers conveyor to the designed point by the control program. This process has no limit for the type of bags, filling degree of the bags, or kind of material.

The RC 600 is equipped with a PLC for the control system that allows a complete automation of the movements and an automatic positioning of the mechanic components that maneuver with bags and pallets. The bags dimensions, the number of bags per cape and the position of the coordinates can be memorized and saved as a number of program.

One simple call to this number of program through the interactive screen allows the charge of the memorized format and the automatic adjustment of the machine. This system simplifies the programming and reduces the configuring time. The intuitive commands in the tactile screen make easier the programming and adjustment of the robot, also, gives a detailed information of all the incidences with the diagnostic program.

For more information contact:
Jordi Instrumentacion, SL
Pol. Ind. De Torrefarrera
16 E 25123 Torrefarrera (Lleida)
Spain
Telephone:  +34973 75 17 83-84
Fax:  +34973 75 17 85
E-mail: jordins@jordins.com
Web site:  http://www.jordins.com

NAMA : Urging FDA to Increase Food Security Without Sacrificing Foreign Trade

WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 9, 2003--In recent comments to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on a proposed regulation requiring a prior notice for all imported foods, the North American Millers' Association (NAMA) raised concerns about several provisions that would unnecessarily impede foreign trade.

The regulation is mandated under the Public Health Security and Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act of 2002 that was signed by President Bush in July. NAMA commended FDA for its increased focus on food security after the tragic events of September 11, 2001.

John Gillcrist, NAMA Chairman and President of Bartlett Milling Company stated, "NAMA and its members are committed to maintaining a safe domestic food supply, but also in maintaining secure and open borders to facilitate trade."

He went on to explain, "Many U.S. millers rely on the importation of certain grains that U.S. farmers do not produce in significant quantities to satisfy commercial demand. For this reason it is important to the milling industry that international trade not be unduly restricted through the implementation of new regulations."

NAMA presented five main recommendations the Association wants addressed in the final regulation.

• Allow the exporter to submit the prior notice of import

• Provide 24/7 staffing at the ports of entry to limit the amount of time necessary for prior notice and ensure timely inspections

• Shorten the period of time required for submission and consider the mode of transport

• Clarify the grower "if known" requirement as it relates to bulk grain shipments

• Establish procedures for the resealing of inspected shipments.

"NAMA believes that with the inclusion of our recommendations and some other modifications the FDA can better secure the U.S. food supply against a potential terrorist event without sacrificing free and open foreign trade," said Gillcrist.

NAMA has 46 member companies operating 170 wheat, corn, oat and rye mills in 38 states and 150 cities. Its membership represents about 95% of the total U.S. capacity.

To view NAMA's comments, go to:
http://www.namamillers.org/Bioterror_Comments.html

Web site:  http://www.namamillers.org/

People post their requests for help and offer their suggestions to others in our open forum.

Mr. Lee needs a contract grinder in Australia:

I am looking to find a contractor to produce around 5,000 tonnes+ per annum of 250 micron powder from 50mm rock in Australia.

If anyone can assist I would be most grateful.
(Click here to post a reply)

Regards,
Julian Lee
julian@meleevm.com

Mr. Wolbert needs to silence a "honking" silo:

We have a problem with silo's that makes a sound like a horn of a truck. As the silo's ( 16m. high;3 m. diameter and material aluminum) are filled with PET granulate and it becomes granulate take off for production PET bottles, then arise it sounds equally a horn of a truck (+/- 350 Hz) and it produce a dB value that the standard far exceed.

Who knows this problem?  What happens here and who knows a solution? (Click here to post a reply)

A. Wolbert
Universiteit Twente
a.g.m.wolbert@ctw.utwente.nl

Click here to share your expertise with others in our Help Forum.

FOR SALE: LCI Spartan Mixer/Granulator RMO35

Product contacting parts in 304 stainless steel, except anti-wear treatment for chopper rotor, mixing arm, and set nut.  Unit has 35 liter working volume.  Chopper rotor speed controlled by mechanical variable speed drive.  Unit in a mild steel chassis and cabinet with painted surfaces on cabinet.  Price:  $50,000

Do you have new, used or refurbished equipment for sale?
List your equipment and/or services in our E-Classifieds.  Its quick, simple and inexpensive.  You can even include a photograph with your ad! 

Sales Person needed for packaging industry

We are an importer/distributor of FIBCs (bulk bags, big bags, supersacks) based in NYC and looking for a sales person who is self motivated to learn and achieve. It is expected to start and create a sales territory by cold calling and outside sales.

A packaging industry background is preferred. base salary + commission.

Please contact Cindy by email at info@dinobags.com

Dino Bags
4216 28th Ave.
Long Island City, NY 11103
Telephone:  718-721-1343
Web site:  http://www.dinobags.com/

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Joseph Taylor, Editor
Powder and Bulk Dot Com Newsletter
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We have interesting news about tableting and agglomeration.  Also, we had 63,000 visitors last month in March, amazing!  Thank you.

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The Wiley Encyclopedia of Packaging Technology
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Paperback, 2nd edition, January 1997

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Constitutive Modeling of Granular Materials
by D. Kolymbas (Editor)
Hardcover, January 2000

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Dense Phase Milling - Is It For You?
Guest article by Don Erkkila & Charlie Regenhard, CCE Technologies

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This weeks photo is of an Atlantic Coast Crushers' Flow Smasher Crusher, processing 15,000 pounds per hour of magnesium sulfate, reducing the particle size to less than 1/4" output size at a major chemical processing plant. Flow-Smasher is a heavy-duty, high torque, high capacity crushing machine capable of reducing large chunks of friable bulk materials to a consistent, free-flowing size.

Photo courtesy of Jim Herdman of Atlantic Coast Crushers.

Send us your photos:  We would love to have your photo of a bulk materials process, packaging, conveying or handling "action shot" for our home page.  Send your photograph and description to: news@powderandbulk.com