Vibroflow™ Solves a ‘Sticky’ Problem for Pharmaceutical Processors.
Vibroflow™, from Buck Systems in Birmingham, UK, allows IBCs (intermediate Bulk Containers) to be discharged smoothly even when handling poor-flowing products and sticky pharmaceutical ingredients. The system improves productivity, reduces waste and ensures both a reliable and repeatable product discharge. Vibroflow™ is also a major contributor to effective containment as it avoids the need for operator intervention to clear blockages.
Vibroflow™ is applicable to primary API and secondary plants wherever highly cohesive or sticky products need to be transferred between IBCs or from an IBC to the process. Vibroflow™ is a spiral structure that sits inside the IBC and emits a low-frequency vibration to promote mass flow of the product. The vibration prevents cohesive products from ‘bridging’ by destroying the ‘keystone’ of the bridging product.
Vibroflow™ also allows airflow to percolate through the powder bed to the top of the IBC thereby avoiding the build up of a vacuum that can inhibit the flow of product and eliminating the need for venting that would compromise containment.
The system is essentially maintenance free as it has no moving parts within the process flow: the vibration is applied by a single pneumatic actuator mounted externally. The modular design allows it to be fitted only to those IBCs that are discharging poor-flowing products e.g. raw materials being handled at the pre-granulation stage. When processes or products change the unit can be removed and refitted as necessary.
Vibroflow™ is simple but effective materials handling technology that allows users to maximise productivity and efficiency and ensures that the system is sufficiently flexible to meet the needs of unknown requirements in the future.
All business enquiries to:
Phil Gabb
Buck Systems
E-mail: pgabb@buck-systems.com
Direct: +44 (0)121 765 5816 Fax: (FAO Phil Gabb) +44 (0)870 622 0923