Container blending has long been established as the most efficient method of blending granules and powders in the pharmaceutical manufacturing process. Reduced loading and unloading times, reduced cleaning time of both machinery and room, improved containment and batch integrity have established IBC blending as the pharmaceutical industry’s technology of choice. Our “Pedestal” blender range allows blending in all volumes of IBC up to 3000L capacity.

 

Efficient Blending Process

Buck Systems (part of GEA Pharma Systems) have spent years researching and understanding the science of IBC Blending. Homogenous product blending is ensured through scientific design of the blending cage and the container geometry. The unique Prism™ technology is proven to shorten blending times. The additional shear that the Prism™ provides to the mixing process allows even cohesive poor flowing materials to be blended within the IBC.

Long working Life
A robust mechanical construction ensures a long working life for the Buck Blender. The 'clamping cage' securely clamps at both the top and the bottom of the IBC, which means that no stress from the rotation is exerted on the IBC, preventing premature damage.

Safety First
Air driven screw jacks ensure that the IBC remains clamped in the cage, even when utilities to the machine are lost. Positive IBC detection prevents blender operation unless the IBC is fully clamped. The cage rotation motor is a braked motor, preventing any movement of the cage if utilities are lost, and allowing for Emergency stop of the rotating cage.

Controls
The control system is simple and user friendly, with blend recipes easily loaded and completed batch information printed in an easy to read format. CFR 21 Part 11 compliant controls are available for electronic records and batch information. Blending speed is controlled through a variable speed drive.The control system is available in either Siemens or Allen Bradley versions.

Through the Wall Design
The Blender can be designed for installation with the main pedestal housed in a technical area and the clamping cage in the process area. An air tight wall plate is supplied as a barrier between the two rooms. The advantage of this installation is the processing room can be reduced in size there by reducing room cost and running cost. Technicians can access the pedestal from the technical side, without needing to go through the GMP production area.

Swinging Arms
The Swinging Arms feature allows a wider range of IBC volumes to be handled within the same blender. When a smaller IBC is loaded into the blender, the spacer arms are swung out into the path of the IBC, bridging the height difference of the smaller IBC. The spacer arms maintain the smaller IBC’s position at the centre of the rotation axis, and reduce the clamping time.

Process Analytical Technology (PAT) for IBC Blending

All of the Blenders available from Buck Systems can be fitted with Process Analytical Technologies such as Light Induced Florescence (LIF) or Near-Infrared (NIR) systems. Buck Systems use these technologies on its Blenders to allow the measurement of actual particle movement and conditions in real time as the IBC is blended. In the laboratory, the technology allows a better understanding of powder behaviour, improving the research and development times and enhancing the process through closer control. In the production environment, the PAT allows quicker validation of new products, improved productivity and superior containment. By having the results of the completed blend available at the end of the process, the batch can go immediately to the next process, without the need to take samples and analyse the results, saving time and money. The containment of the system is greatly improved because sampling, a task that directly exposes the operator to the product, can be avoided.

The Buck “Pedestal” blender range allows blending in all volumes of IBC up to 3000L capacity!

Benefits:

  • Reduced Loading and Unloading Times
  • No Product Clean-downs
  • Contained Blending
  • Efficient blending through off-set blending angle and IBC geometry

Features:

  • Prism™ Blending Technology
  • GMP Design
  • Fully enclosed pedestal and drive
  • Robust Mechanical Construction
  • Stress Free IBC Clamping
  • Fail safe Clamping System
  • Positive IBC Detection
  • Fortress Key Interlock
  • Light Beam safety curtain
  • No hydraulics
  • Pallet Truck Loading
  • Through the Wall design
  • Swinging Arms for multiple IBC heights
  • NIR Analysis
  • Variable Speed Drive
  • User Friendly Control System
  • Siemens PLC and HMI
  • Allen Bradley PLC and HMI
  • ATEX compliance
  • CFR 21 Part 11 compliant
  • Blend recipe storage
  • User access functionality
  • Validation Documentation in accordance to GAMP
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