Gentle Size Reduction and Grinding of Pharmaceuticals in a Single Device

Related Vendors

Frewitt fabrique de machines SA

Glatt Ingenieurtechnik GmbH

Italvacuum, Srl

An Old Dilemma Resolved

Preliminary experiments were conducted with the newest generation of Frewitt equipment, with positive results. These positive results led to the integration of the DelumpWitt, the newly developed crushing and milling unit, as the key component in the process of the Novartis facility, uniting two process steps in a single unit.

For standard deagglomeration and grinding processes, the user needs two machines. Compared to the single machine solution, this leads to higher investment costs, more laborious cleaning processes, and greater losses of product powder. With Frewitt’s 2-in-1 process of the new DelumpWitt, the company turns these disadvantages into its advantages: with deagglomeration and grinding combined in just one device.

The unit’s compact design facilitates the integration in new or existing installations. Also the breaking of agglomerates is faster and gentler, powder losses are reduced, and the device is easier to clean, Frewitt states. An old dilemma has thus been resolved: it is now possible to break down agglomerates into freely flowing powder in a single step.

This new technology is a contribution to the improvement of production processes: the freely flowing powder is more easily further processed and results in homogeneous mixtures, and the active substance is uniformly distributed in the subsequent process of compression into tablets.

Before and After

In the standard system, the product went through three processing stages: Crushing, grinding and blending. The bulk goods were packaged and delivered on pallets, raised by a lifting column up to the infeed hopper of the lump crusher, where they were fed in manually. The pre-ground product flowed from the lump crusher outlet into a container underneath (crusher). The filled container was set on a second lifting column and docked above a milling unit. The product ground in the mill flowed into another container beneath the unit (grinding). Other processing agents and additives were added manually, and the container was set on a third column for mixing (blending).

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