23 MAR 2009
Buck® containment technology will be exhibiting at ACHEMA 2009 showing its range of containment interfaces for the pharmaceutical industry. The company, which has recently moved from its home in Müllheim, Germany to the GEA Pharma Systems facility in Bubendorf, Switzerland, will be exhibiting on the GEA Group / GEA Pharma Systems (GPS) stand, showing its Buck® MC Valve and Hicoflex® systems for the safe transfer of active ingredients and chemicals between IBCs (Intermediate Bulk Containers).
 
 
Only passive valves
The Buck® MC Valve uses only passive valves (with no drive units) so is entirely compatible with the valves fitted to most IBCs. Until now it has been necessary to use split valve technology to discharge product from an IBC safely. This works well when discharging to the process line however, if ingredients are to be transferred from one IBC to another, or from an IBC to a double cone dryer for example, it has always been necessary to use an active to active unit in between as an interface. This is no longer necessary with the Buck® MC Valve.
 
No vacuum needed
The Buck® MC Valve is a simple method of transferring bulk chemicals that eliminates the need for a vacuum between the discs. It has very few moving parts, needs no lubrication and the product-touching parts can be released quickly by hand with a simple tool. Reducing the number of moving parts and standardising the components has allowed Buck® to reduce the cost of the Buck® MC Valve compared with competitive products.
 
A new MC passive valve will be launched at ACHEMA that can be disassembled without the need of any tools making it very easy to take apart for cleaning.
 

Hicoflex®

The choice of some of the world’s largest generic manufacturers

 
Hicoflex®, is the world’s first flexible coupling that allows highly sensitive or toxic powders, that would traditionally have been fed from rigid IBCs, to be fed directly from FIBCs, sacks and Big Bags. This allows manufacturers to consider supplying these materials in flexible transport containers to help keep costs under control.
 
Self-locking for better containment
The Hicoflex® SL is a self-locking version that operates using a split coupling principle, similar to the Buck® Valve technology. Two complementary half couplings are docked to each other, forming a combined coupling, which then opens and closes together for the contained decanting and undocking process. It is inexpensive, operates automatically and is designed for operation in areas requiring up to 1-10 mcg/m³ dust emission containment. The new Hicoflex® SL extra, on show at ACHEMA, can even be used in areas requiring up to 0.1-1 mcg/m³ dust emission containment. It can be fitted to a flexible bag and can be kept or disposed of after use with the bag itself.
 
These products and more will be on show at ACHEMA and GEA Pharma Systems will have experienced sales and technical staff on hand to handle customers’ enquiries.
Also during the week of the show experts from GPS will be presenting seminars and sharing their knowledge on the key subjects that are vitally important to the needs of today’s pharmaceutical solid dosage manufacturer: continuous processing, containment, compression, freeze drying including ALUS® (Automatic Loading and Unloading System) and FlexStream™. These are likely to be very popular so it’s essential for visitors to pre-register.
 
Visit Buck® and all the GPS companies on the stand in Hall 4 stand D13 – G22.
 
“You can count on us…”
 
END
 
All business enquiries to:
Svenn Ryberg
Director of Buck® Sales
GEA Pharma Systems AG
Tel: +41 61 936 3690
Email: svenn.ryberg@geagroup.com
 
For further editorial information contact:
Kris De Baere
Marketing Manager
GEA Pharma Systems
Tel: +32 3 350 12 41