Vortex Valves Gains ATEX Approval

Salina, KS -- Vortex Valves is celebrating a double success, after gaining new accreditations in safety and quality. ATEX approval for explosive environments and ISO9001 quality systems certification now support the company's range of valves for dry bulk solids handling.

The complete range is now ATEX approved for Group II, Category 2 - zones 1 and 21 plus Group II, Category 3 - zones 2 and 22. ATEX-approved accessories and control packages are also available for Group II categories and applications. Both achievements have come in little over a year since Vortex Valves Europe was launched in the UK by its US parent company.

"This certification is a great bonus, as, in the first 12 months we have focused on introducing people to the valves, through our mobile demonstration service. This approach works because engineers get a clear, first-hand appreciation of how the designs overcome problems associated with conventional valves." Jon Naylor, Managing Director said. "We have now taken a step further and issued a nationwide challenge. This invites anyone with a troublesome, expensive valve on a solids handling line to have it replaced by a Vortex Valve, free of charge."

In further news, the company has launched a new, multi-functional website dedicated to UK and European customers at http://www.vortexvalveseurope.com/

Source: http://www.vortexvalves.com/

Malvern acquires Viscotek Corporation

Malvern, UK -- Materials characterization company Malvern Instruments has acquired Viscotek Corporation, a leading provider of chromatography solutions for the characterization of natural and synthetic polymers and proteins.

Malvern Instruments is a world-class supplier of systems for the characterization of particulate materials, providing complete application solutions across a broad range of industries. The acquisition of Viscotek brings new and complementary technologies and expertise into the company, adding Gel Permeation Chromatography (GPC), Flow Injection Polymer Analysis (FIPA) and Dilute Solution Viscosity (DSV), and extending the range of characterization solutions offered.

Paul Walker, Managing Director of Malvern Instruments said, “Viscotek has a long-established reputation for innovation and quality, and there is a close and complementary fit between the Viscotek product range and Malvern’s, for both protein and polymer applications. This acquisition will increase the characterization capabilities of Malvern’s existing nanometrology product lines.”

Viscotek Corporation, headquartered in Houston, Texas, was founded in 1984 by Dr. Max Haney, inventor of the four-capillary differential viscometer detector.

“Since its inception, Viscotek has pioneered innovative technologies and products for gel permeation chromatography of natural and synthetic polymers and proteins, and determination of dilute solution viscosities,” he said. “In recent years Viscotek has experienced exciting growth. The powerful alignment of Viscotek’s products with the Malvern range will provide even more opportunity to comprehensively meet a broad range of customer needs. I am delighted that the company has become part of Malvern Instruments, where I am confident of further development and a thriving and expanded business.”

Expanding on the complementary nature of the two companies’ product ranges, Paul Walker went on to say, "In the biomolecular arena the addition of Viscotek systems alongside our existing product range will further inform physical biochemists of the structure-function relationship of proteins, important in determining disease mechanisms for example. In the field of industrial and pharmaceutical polymers, Malvern will now be able to offer complete characterization solutions, essential in the development of new functional polymers that meet the demands of increasingly complex drug delivery systems and stringent environmental requirements."

Through Malvern’s global sales organization, customers worldwide will have access to the full range of solutions, all backed by the company’s extensive technical and applications support network.

Viscotek’s present management team will continue to lead the business, which will operate as Viscotek Corporation, a Malvern Company.

For further information visit: http://www.malvern.com/

Bohle's New Laboratory Tablet Coater

Warminster PA - To face the challenge of ever-increasing safety requirements and operator protection from active pharmaceutical ingredients, L.B. Bohle has designed the Bohle BFC 5 laboratory coater for contained coating applications. The BFC 5 coater’s versatile design allows for simple integration of isolator technology (glove box) thereby ensuring operator safety during the handling of toxic/potent substances. For applications where the product is not hazardous, the BFC 5 can be used without an isolator.

The BFC 5 includes two different sized coating pans (for either 5 or 10 kg batches) which are easily interchanged. With the optional divider plate installed, batches as small as 500 grams are possible.

The BFC 5 laboratory coater provides secure scale up results to all larger LB Bohle machines like the Bohle Film Coater BFC or the Bohle Tablet Coater BTC. The BFC 5 is a mobile coating unit that contains all technical modules, such as the complete air handling system and electrical cabinet, in its housing.

Using a patented, through-the-tablet-bed air flow design within the coater, the BFC 5 significantly minimizes spray drying and the loss of coating suspension resulting in a highly efficient and effective coating process. The geometry of the coating pan and the integrated double-helix mixing spirals lead to superior mixing of the cores with the gentlest handling possible. The design allows for a fully automated discharge cycle, resulting in no tablets left in the pan.

The spray arm containing the spray nozzle assembly is mounted to the front door. By opening this door, the two nozzles are easily accessible for inspection or maintenance. The spray gun angle and bed distance can be adjusted without opening the front door of the coater. A completely welded housing minimizes edges and corners to ensure easy cleanability.

The isolator (glove box), supported by a frame with castors, is easily implemented into the BFC 5. The isolator is equipped with four (4) gloves, made of FDA-approved materials, for ergonomic handling within the chamber. A rapid transfer port (RTP) is incorporated on the isolator to facilitate contained material transfer to and from the isolator and coater.

Adjustments to the coater (nozzles, sampling, and all other manual actions during coating) can be done via the isolator. An internal spray wand is provided in the isolator for cleaning / rinsing of the isolator inner surfaces. In conjunction with the internal isolator spray device, the BFC 5 can be equipped with a simple washing system to wet all surfaces inside the pan and pan housing. After washing the coater and isolator, the isolator can be simply disconnected and removed for further cleaning of both devices if required.

Web site: http://www.lbbohle.com/

K-Tron to exhibit at Interphex 2008

PITMAN, NJ -- K-Tron will exhibit the latest feeding and conveying equipment for pharmaceutical processing applications at Interphex 2008, Philadelphia Convention Center, Philadelphia, PA, booth 1317. Operational and static demos on display include the following: MT12 Micro-ingredient Feeder, KT20 Pharmaceutical Feeder on 24 kg scale with integrated Premier Pneumatics P10 receiver, and Premier Pneumatics P30 Pharmaceutical receiver.

K-Tron MT12 Microfeeder: For Low Rate Micro-ingredient Feeding

The MT12 micro-ingredient feeder is available in both pharmaceutical and industrial models, for accurately feeding free flowing to difficult to handle powders at rates as low as 20 grams / hour and as high as 2000 grams/ hour. Both loss-in-weight (model KCL-SFS-MT12) and volumetric (model KCV-MT12) feeder models are available for continuous or batch operation, with loss-in-weight model on display. The compact feeder is designed for ease of disassembly, allowing fast and easy cleaning, with options available for automatic refill. Typical applications include feeding jet mills, tablet presses, continuous extrusion processes and any application where expensive micro ingredients require accurate feeding.

KT20 Twin Screw Pharmaceutical Feeder: New and Improved Ingredient Feeding

K-Tron has implemented a number of design enhancements to the Pharmaceutical KT20. Engineering design improvements include: Seal design improvement by adding O Ring on screw shafts; standard purge fittings on both models PH-KT20 and PH-KT35, assuring no movement of product to bearing area and providing positive purge for inerting; angled machine face on agitator mating surface to bowl for drainage; new scale design featuring internal wiring of motor cables and internal air routing for purging feeder seals; and intrinsic safe option for European ATEX 2GD and U.S. Class I Div 1 hazardous area applications.

K-Tron has also engineered specialty designs for glove box integration—with the feeder mounted both inside and outside of glove box walls. Unit on display includes a Pharmaceutical KT20 on a SFS-24 kg platform scale with continuous refill via Premier Pneumatics P10 sanitary receiver.

Premier Pneumatics P-Series Receivers: Custom Solution for Difficult Applications

The Premier Pneumatics P-Series receivers provide a sanitary, custom solution for difficult conveying applications. The sanitary design features include steep cone angles to ensure excellent discharge and band clamps for quick disassembly. Typical materials include tablets, capsules, flakes, and free-flowing to poorly flowing powders, specifically materials that need gentle conveying. The material conveying principle includes pneumatic, vacuum, dilute phase, and dense phase conveying. Conveying rates vary depending on model, product characteristics and conveying distances. Models on display include an operational P10, and a static P30 unit, in mirror finish.

For more information, contact:
K-Tron Process Group
Routes 55 and 553
Pitman, NJ 08071
Email: info@ktron.com
Web site: http://www.ktron.com/

I

Gradex : Fully Automatic Sieve Analysis The Gradex® 3000 Particle Size Analyzer provides reliable, fully automatic sieve analysis.

Bulk08 : Call For Papers
The MHEA's Bulk08 are seeking papers for their upcoming conference in Blackpool, England.

AccuRate : Control made easy using Bluetooth There is no need to run long cables from the control enclosure for changing parameters or viewing the operation of the feeder.

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