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