Pharma Technology Inc (PTI), a Belgium-headquartered manufacturer of innovative tablet dedusters and capsule polishers combined with metal detectors and loading systems for solid dose production, has added an integrated bin filling hopper to its PharmaFlex family of tablet dedusters. The hoppers, which come in sizes of 50 or 100 litres, allow for the accumulation of tablets until in-process weight, thickness, and hardness control checks have been completed.
PTI can now integrate these hoppers into its PharmaFlex 1200, 1300 and 1500 tablet dedusters, each of which are also offered in dust-tight and high-containment WIP versions. The tall spirals of these three machines sufficiently raise dedusted tablets for discharge to the hopper and, eventually, to a bin underneath it. However, the hoppers also are offered as retrofits to any existing PharmaFlex deduster by adding extra stackable spiral segments.
A 4in flexible valve allows discharge from the integrated hoppers into subsequent bins without risk of damage to tablets, and an optional back up sensor can be added to detect possible jams in the hopper inlet tube. Through PTI’s FlexConnect silicone connection system, a design configuration allowing for sanitary, quick and easy integration of process equipment, a metal detector can be positioned at a customer-preferred point along the tablet run.
The PharmaFlex family of tablet dedusters is a series of turnkey flexible peripheral devices which are said to meet superior standards for output and quality of dedusting. PharmaFlex’s signature segmented deduster spiral is composed of FDA-approved high-tech pressure moulded polymer segments or 316-litre stainless segments with a vertical height of 500mm.