New powder processing assembly for GSK Cork facility
A high specification milling and sieving equipment package has been designed and installed at GSK"s Cork facility in the Republic of Ireland by Kemutec Powder Technologies.
A high specification milling and sieving equipment package has been designed and installed at GSK’s Cork facility in the Republic of Ireland by Kemutec Powder Technologies.
Among GSK’s requirements, was that the package needed to accommodate a multi-product process train. This was achieved by designing in quick change operating parameters, equipment speeds, type of grinding media and even the sieve and screen type.
The package consists of two RB100 screw feeders, which lead into two KEK Series 220 Under-Driven Cone Mills. These in turn feed into two KEK K650 Centrifugal Sifters. Mobile and sliding support mechanisms were developed to allow a milling or sieving operation to be added or removed from the process quickly and easily. The sifters are mounted on moveable structures, as GSK required them to be interchangeable with two existing flat-deck machines. The offset of the inlet flanges on the two types of sifter varied to a significant degree, and for this reason custom sections of tubing for the screw feeders were designed to adapt the position of the feeders in relation to the sifters.
The stairs in the centre of the assembly and the platform are also a bespoke design manufactured by Kemutec, and are moveable to allow maintenance to be carried out on the equipment.
Impressively, all machines used in the package are manufactured in C22 Hastelloy, thus accommodating the corrosive nature of materials and cleaning fluids. All of the machines were pressure designed to allow them to be fully flooded during CIP for product dissolution, providing an extremely effective form of cleaning.
Another factor that had to be considered was the space available, which was at such a premium that a significant proportion of the ceiling had to be cut away in order to accommodate the assembly.
Martin Thomson, sales director of Kemutec said: ‘This project continues our desire as a company to work with GSK, and to constantly develop and provide solutions for their unique demands.’