Everything about solids handling

Global leading equipment suppliers, Fitzpatrick, Quadro and Steridose, opened their new Technology Centre based in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada on 5th May. This new facility, which extends to over 3,600 square feet, consists of 3 self-contained and fully equipped Test Labs and an Analysis Area, alongside comfortable meeting rooms in which to discuss test results. The new Technology Centre is set up as a space in which researchers, developers and manufacturers can come and develop customized test matrices, trial batch sizes from small to large quantities using the range of equipment which spans Lab, Pilot, and full Production scale models. Valuable feasibility and scale-up trials with the latest technologies will help customers in reducing integration and commissioning times. Commenting on the launch, Wilf Sanguesa, IDEX Pharma Research & Technology Manager said: The team is excited to apply our collective ingenuity and internationally leading expertise to help our customers improve their manufacturing processes, speed up timelines and provide a clear pilot-to-mass-scale manufacturing blueprint. This new lab enables us to do even more testing with customers, while at the same time having space to do our own research and development. The Test Lab Cells are well-resourced with equipment from Quadro, Fitzpatrick and Steridose including: • Quadro & Fitzpatrick – solids milling & screening with the SLS, SDx mid-scale and production scale models, Overdriven Comils. • Fitzpatrick Roller Compaction – LCS Lab-scale, CCS320 and CCS720 production-scale models. • Quadro Liquids – Y0 jet mixer, HV0/HV1 high shear homogenizers, Z1 high shear emulsifier and ZC0/ZC1 high speed powder dispersers • Steridose – small to mid-scale liquid batch mixing. The Analysis Area contains a comprehensive array of equipment that will enable complete solids and liquids particle size characterization, including: • Particle Size distributions through Laser Diffraction • Particle Shapes via 1000x binocular microscope • Powder Flowing evaluations (Rheometer) and Bulk & Tapped Densities • Compacted ribbon densities from a Volume & Density Analyzer   All test results are professionally presented in a customized report with recommendations on the equipment & set up parameters, which can be transferred to the manufacturing environment, back at site. If you can’t make it to a test, then video conferencing and streaming enables customers to be there virtually. The new technology centre is also home to a training academy which will offer practical and theoretical sessions on the latest technology, trends, and applications. "The launch consolidates our commitment to provide customers with world-leading solutions and industry-changing technologies. This will enable us to work more collaboratively with customers, partners and researchers to solve the challenges of today and prepare for the opportunities of tomorrow," said Brad Besse, IDEX VP MPT Processing Technologies. The centre is open from Monday to Friday, 8:00am – 5:00pm and the team are ready to welcome you to conduct your own testing. To learn more or schedule a visit, contact us at: Fitzpatrick – Dry Granulation and Hammer Milling https://www.fitzpatrick-mpt.com/technology-centre Quadro Engineering - Milling and Particle Size Reduction https://www.quadro-mpt.com/technology-centre Quadro Liquids – High Shear Mixing, Powder Dispersion and Homogenization https://www.quadroliquids.com/technology-centre Steridose - Biopharmaceutical and Pharmaceutical Mixing Equipment https://www.steridose.com/technology-centre Located in Canada, Quadro, Fitzpatrick, Steridose are Business Units of IDEX MPT, Inc. They are original innovators and trusted partners of the majority of the world’s top pharmaceutical, chemical, nutraceutical and biotech companies.

Design. Preview. Print. All from your phone with the brand new M211 Label Printer. Brady Corporation's new M211 Label Printer is a lightweight, sturdy and wearable device that prints both pre-sized and continuous labels to identify cables and components. It can create even complex labels that can all be designed, printed and previewed from your phone. • Label with your phone The new M211 Label Printer can easily be clipped to any belt. It connects seamlessly to smartphones via Bluetooth and is driven by Brady's Express Labels App. The app allows to quickly design, preview and print labels and to integrate data from spreadsheets. No other phone driven label printer today matches the label design possibilities of the M211. In addition, designs can be saved and shared between colleagues, either in the field or at the office. • Tested, quality labels Quite unique for an entry-level portable label printer, is the M211's ability to print on both continuous and pre-sized labels. Brady offers M211 users 90+ different label cartridges to choose from. These include general purpose and dedicated labels, designed for reliability in specific applications. Brady has technical data sheets with label test results that evaluate adhesion to various types of flat and curved surfaces, and label print resistance to humidity, abrasion, heat, cold, weathering and other influences. • Resilient and easy to use The new M211 Label Printer prints up to 300 labels on a single battery charge. Yet the system weighs only 0.5 kg, and has a compact design to make it extremely wearable. At the same time, the M211 is a tough device. Tests indicate the tiny printer survives 1.8m falls, 110 kg crushes and military specification shocks. Next to its ability to survive almost any job site, the M211 features 'drop-lock-print' label cartridges designed for swift 'on-the-job' consumable switching.

Pneumatic transport with Dinnissen's new Aeolus system delivers 8-12% more production days. Dinnissen presents an innovation in pneumatic transport: The Aeolus Pneumatic Lactose Transport System. This smart, patented design of bends and switches prevents accumulation of lactose during the production process, reducing the need for cleaning (up to 12 times). This drastically reduces downtime while improving product quality and hygiene. The Aeolus Lactose Pneumatic Transport System in brief • Prevents accumulation of lactose in pneumatic transport • Up to 12 times less cleaning required • 8-12% more production time each year • Enormous savings on labor costs • Maximum product flow at all times due to retained outlet diameter • Continuous product quality due to elimination of product contamination • Longer system life due to less abrasion as a result of smooth product flow • Reduced risk of system damage due to mechanical removal (with hammers) of accumulated lactose • Reduced risk of contamination and bacterial growth as systems need to be opened and cleaned less frequently • Wide range of applications for pneumatic transport of different products Want to know more about how the Aeolus Lactose Pneumatic Transport System works? Please contact one of our experts.

“Gpi De Gouwe is a reliable partner, supplies quality and helps to shape the desired process from start to finish” The wish of The Hague-based Menken Orlando – namely to produce chocolate-coated nuts and dried fruit at a single location – was recently granted. Their logistical and production processes were further harmonised after a plot of land was purchased on an industrial site near the outskirts of Boskoop. A challenging project, where speed was of the essence, but with a fantastic final result! The biggest challenge at Menken Orlando, which produces chocolate-coated snacks amongst other things, was the comprehensive nature of the project. It involved constructing new premises, purchasing new chocolate process equipment, and recruiting new employees. And because there had to be harmony between the various facets, the whole process had to be carefully devised in advance. “When we came up with a plan to build new premises, we quickly realised that we wanted to integrate the chocolate factory into the new building” says Ad-Willem Slings, who responsible for improvement and investment projects at Menken Orlando. “My colleague Laurens Bouwmeester, who is production manager for processing and engineering, has a great deal of experience when it comes to chocolate, and his expertise allowed us to take the production of chocolate-coated products to the next level at our new location.” They were jointly responsible for realising the whole project. Laurens took care of the technology side of things, while Ad-Willem was the point of contact for all construction-related matters. After a tender process involving several parties, they immediately had a good feeling about Gpi De Gouwe, adds Ad-Willem. “Gpi invited us to meet the people at Gpi De Gouwe, showed us around the production area, and advised us to deploy Starcker for all pipework. All this – and the fact that Gpi can respond quickly because it is located near our site in Hazerswoude-Dorp – made the offered total solution particularly appealing and resulted in us opting for Gpi De Gouwe” states Ad-Willem. “Gpi De Gouwe helped us with their ideas and put us in touch with the companies that we needed; this was greatly appreciated and gave us real peace of mind” say both men. Gpi supplied various chocolate tanks measuring 15 and 25m3 as well as several buffers kids – storage tanks on a frame – measuring 200 litres. The double-walled insulated tanks feature agitators that were produced in-house by Gpi, and have motors that are powered from above. According to Menken Orlando, the decision to use riveted stainless steel panels was made because stainless steel is stronger than e.g. aluminium and offers a more high-grade finish. Tailor-made stainless steel process equipment for chocolate Menken Orlando already possessed stainless steel chocolate processing equipment and thus already knew about the positives and negatives of its existing chocolate machines. “We worked with Gpi to see what could be upgraded and improved” explains Laurens. “And although we had to make a few concessions, these concessions are easily outweighed by the possibilities that the equipment now offers us. Thanks to our collaboration with Gpi De Gouwe and the secondary party they introduced, our equipment has now undergone innovative and user-friendly improvements, and the ‘problems’ that we faced with our old equipment are now a thing of the past.” “The new chocolate process equipment not only has a hygienic design (including wires being concealed within the frame) and is reliable, but user convenience has also been improved considerably compared to the old equipment” according to Laurens, who is more than satisfied. Both men confirm that the collaboration with Gpi was very pleasant. “Gpi is a reliable partner, supplies quality and helps to shape the desired process from start to finish. We were able to communicate effectively and smoothly, which also helped to establish a good relationship. The whole process – from engineering to execution and cooperation with third parties, including Gpi De Gouwe – resulted in this fantastic production facility for high-quality products.” About the customer Menken Orlando is an international family business that develops and supplies innovative food concepts in the field of snacks, nuts, seeds, dried fruit and chocolate-coated products for retail and food service customers throughout Europe. From when it was founded in 1952 until this very day, Menken Orlando has been offering high-quality products (under a private label or as in-house brands) that help to enrich the lives of consumers. Their products are developed in accordance with the strictest norms, in terms of food as well as safety, and always incorporate the latest trends and developments in the market.

Mixing powder is a core task for the chemical, pharmaceutical, food, and cosmetic processing industries. Dec’s revolutionary mixing technology – PTS Batchmixer – allows to swiftly mix powders with diverse characteristics to a very high blend homogeneity while reducing overall process time in a highly contained way ensuring operator safety and promoting production efficiency. After mixing, the blend can be completely emptied and automatically transferred to the next stage in production to minimize downtime in manufacturing. Unique Features of PTS Batchmixer • Systems from 2 to 6000 liters allowing to vary product volumes from 10 to 100 % • No moving or rotating parts, minimal maintenance, and full clean in place (CIP/SIP) • Highly efficient, gentle mixing with reduced mixing times • Automatic extraction of powder from/to different containers or process equipment • Full discharge by gravity or active transfer to the next process step To learn more about Dec’s PTS Batchmixer technology, please visit our website https://www.dec-group.net/pts-batchmixer