Optimised powder feeding for throughput improvements

Published: 2-Sep-2010
Manufacturing

Coperion has developed a means of increasing feeding capacity when processing powdered material

For a significantly increased feeding capacity when processing powdered material on twin screw extruders, Coperion GmbH, of Stuttgart, Germany, formerly Werner & Pfleiderer, has developed the so called Feed Enhancement Technology (FET).

The feeding zone is equipped with a porous, gas permeable wall section to which a vacuum is applied externally. Intermediate particle air is sucked out of the powdered bulk material through this section. This compacting of the loose material reliably raises the feeding capacity by a factor of two to three whilst maintaining unchanged high product quality.

FET is suitable not only for the feeding zone of the ZSK twin screw extruder, but also for the ZS-B twin screw side feeder that doses powder materials directly into the melt.

Advantages of FET for feed limited compounding processes are: Low investment cost; lower specific energy input; lower production costs through a move to non-compacted and therefore cheaper fillers; improved compound quality through gentler processing of sensitive products due to the higher utilisation of the available processing volume; and reduced dust levels, because back venting is not necessary.
See more

You may also like

Manufacturing

Pfizer integrates Coperion's K-Tron feeders into its German OSD manufacturing plant

Read more
Pfizer's contained facility in Freiburg, Germany now includes Coperion's K-Tron feeders, which will dose the correct amount of excipients and APIs required for each batch

Trending Articles

  1. Ultra-high potency and its impact on pharmaceutical outsourcing This article explores the emerging distinction between high and ultra-high potency APIs, highlighting the implications for pharmaceutical outsourcing and risk management in an evolving therapeutic landscape
  2. LYOVAC® ECO Mode: making pharmaceutical freeze-drying leaner and greener Following the recent announcement that GEA Lyophil has received third-party certification for the energy-saving credentials of its innovative algorithm for freeze-drying applications, Dr Kevin Robinson caught up with Senior Director of Lyophilization Technology Management, Thomas Beutler, to find out more
  3. PCI Pharma Services PCI Pharma Services: Your bridge between life-changing therapies and patients.
  4. New thermal inkjet printer expands AM Labels’ coding portfolio M2 system delivers high resolution variable data printing at production-line speeds
  5. Why aseptic processing is critical for microsphere drug manufacturing As microsphere-based drug delivery systems move from niche innovation to commercial reality, manufacturers face growing pressure to guarantee sterility without compromising product integrity. Aseptic processing has become essential to meeting both regulatory expectations and patient safety requirements

Upcoming event

From powder to granules: a deep dive into wet granulation methods

14 January 2026 | Virtual See all

You may also like

Manufacturing

Pfizer integrates Coperion's K-Tron feeders into its German OSD manufacturing plant

Pfizer's contained facility in Freiburg, Germany now includes Coperion's K-Tron feeders, which will dose the correct amount of excipients and APIs required for each batch
Manufacturing

Schenck Process FPM becomes Coperion

Effective August 1, 2024, the company will officially transition its name under Coperion, whilst also providing more resources and broader technology capabilities to customers
Manufacturing

Coperion offers new pharma extruder design with maximum flexibility

The ZSK 18 MEGAlab extruder offers higher efficiency and uniformity than batch processes
Manufacturing

Sixty years of ZSK twin screw extruders

The ZSK twin screw extruder, the ‘forefather’ of all twin screw extruders, celebrates its 60th anniversary this year
Manufacturing

Coperion K-Tron announces new pharmaceutical feeder design

A highly accurate feeding solution for growing demands of continuous processing, which will be displayed at Powtech 2017
Manufacturing

Hillenbrand agrees purchase of Coperion

The €408m deal is expected to close by 31 December
Manufacturing

IMA Life-Sharp Sterile Manufacturing partnership strengthened with aseptic technology facility

Sharp's expanded facility in Massachusetts will include the installation of a fully automated IMA Life isolated filling line for Ready-To-Use (RTU) vials, addressing demand for US-based aseptic fill-finish services
Subscribe now