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A VAST
RANGE OF POWDERS
- A
WIDE RANGE OF PROBLEMS...
TYPICAL
POWDER FLOW ISSUES
|
Powder
production should not
be a
stop-go business. |
Process Development
If yours is one of the millions
of companies using powders in a manufacturing process, you don't need
us to remind you how vital it is to keep your production line running smoothly.
The consequences of, for example,
consolidation during storage or transport or the formation of a
blockage in a hopper could be both very inconvenient and very costly.
Measurement of the flow properties
will enable objective accept/reject decisions to be made whilst the
knowledge of a powder's characteristics before and during its
processing will enable the formulation and key process steps to be
optimised when conveying, mixing, tabletting and storing the powders,
resulting in a more cost effective controlled operation of the process. |
|
You
don't even want a
spoonful
of trouble. |
Quality
Control - Batch and Source Variation
When a new supplier is
selected, or even when a new batch of product is delivered from the
usual supplier the variation in flow properties can lead to large
problems during storage and handling.
The Powder Flow Analyser allows
the quality control of the newly delivered items. Tests can be
carried out in a short time to generate a reading that tells an
operator whether the powder will handle/perform in an acceptable manner.
This philosophy allows users to
test powders in small volumes before deciding to fill up a silo or
start processing, thus leading to large savings in terms of time and
money usually resulting from unloading jammed silos.
|
|
Do
the powder properties
match
the optimum end
performance
requirements? |
Formulation
Development and
Quality Improvement
R&D teams need to optimise
the mixing of powders and addition of flow aids in order to make the
optimum performing final product without risking flow problems or
over-using expensive flow improvement additives which may cause end
product deterioration and costly waste.
The Powder Flow Analyser allows
product development teams to test out the flow properties of new
product recipes and mixes before running the powder through the
process or loading up a large container. You will be able to rank and
relate powder measures to process and end product features.
|
|
Substitution
- is it really
"the
same"? |
Product Substitution
During the course of a
product's life cycle cheaper alternative ingredients are likely to be discovered.
Whilst on the surface these
cheaper ingredients might appear to have the same specification they
may not behave "the same" as a product with the same name
can have a wide variation of properties. Confidence checks will need
to be carried out to ascertain whether they convey and flow after
storage in the same way, whether they are equally affected by, for
example, moisture and temperature, and whether these cheaper
ingredients would ultimately increase factory costs as a result of
having to spend time unblocking processes and silos. |
|
Learn
how to handle
your powders. |
Product Handling
Measurement of powder flow
enables assessment of behaviour when in Conveyors, Chutes, Silos, Air
lifts, etc. and when, for example filling packs, bottles and capsules
to a minimum weight.
During storage, conveying and in
transportation such issues as segregation, attrition and
agglomeration can occur.
Obtaining measures of cohesion,
caking, powder speed flow dependence means that powders can be
characterised by several numbers to create a "fingerprint"
rather than inadequately with a single value. The fingerprint can
then be investigated with reference to changing parameters such as
humidity, compaction pressure, particle size and shape (to name but a few). |
|
Don't
let your flow properties
control
your fill weight. |
Authority
Requirements - EMEA, FDA,
Weights and Measures
Measurement of powder flow
enables assessment of behaviour when for example filling packs,
bottles and capsules to a minimum weight.
Flow behaviour affects, for
example, tablet hardness and capsule fill weight, both of which
are likely to be strictly controlled to tight specifications.
Understanding and improving the variation in fill weights due to
tighter control of the flow properties of the powder, allows
reduction in waste and subsequently improves profit. |
Stable Micro Systems' Powder
Flow Analyser is an accurate and reliable method of measuring the
flow characteristics of powders. Manufacturers can assess and avoid
typical problems such as batch and source variation of ingredients,
caking during storage or transportation and problems with discharging
from hoppers or bins.
The Powder Flow Analyser is
supplied with library tests, so operators can start testing quickly
and conveniently after straightforward installation and calibration.
Users can, however, fully program the instrument to carry out
slicing, shearing, compressing, compacting and aerating cycles in any combination.
During the test, axial force, time
and distance are measured by a sensitive transducer and data is
displayed and analysed in real time by Exponent software.
Sample results can be ranked and compared to assess the impact of
external conditions including humidity and moisture content, surface
properties, electrostatic charge and particle or granule size, shape
and distribution.
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