Pharmaceutical Technology Editors

ROSS FDA-3500 | © Charles Ross & Son Company

The ROSS line of Dual Shaft Mixers are robust, versatile systems with enough power to batch dispersions, suspensions, and emulsions with viscosities up to several hundred thousand centipoise. The custom-built ROSS FDA-3500 has a maximum working capacity of 3500 gallons, a two-zone stainless-steel dimpled jacket for heating/cooling, a 4-inch pneumatic discharge valve, and an explosion-proof load cell system rated for up to 20,000 lbs.

This multi-agitator system is equipped with independently controlled drives and is designed to efficiently produce good turnover and impart shear to a viscous batch. Powered by a 300 HP TEFC inverter duty motor, the High Speed Disperser runs at tip speeds up to 5000 ft. per minute, inducing high shear forces. Meanwhile, the 60 HP Three-Wing Helical Anchor Agitator feeds product towards the disperser blade and ensures that the mixture is constantly in motion. Teflon scrapers on the anchor wipe materials from the vessel wall, enhancing heat transfer from the jacket.

Articles

The ROSS line of Dual Shaft Mixers are robust, versatile systems with enough power to batch dispersions, suspensions, and emulsions with viscosities up to several hundred thousand centipoise. 

Dual Shaft Mixers Line

Serán, a contract development and manufacturing organization that provides a variety of solid oral dosage forms including tablets, capsules, granules, and powder-in-bottle, has expanded its early development capabilities with the SD-5, a new pre-clinical small-scale custom spray dryer. The SD-5 is the sixth custom spray dryer in operation at Serán, which aims to achieve high yields with batch sizes <50 mg of APIs. This capability enables rapid formulation screening of spray-dried dispersions with minimal API. The SD-5’s design minimizes equipment surface area on which unrecoverable product can build up and provides containment for potent pre-tox compounds. Lead formulations can then be scaled up on Serán’s SD-45 and SD-90 spray dryers to produce larger batches and process transfer into clinical manufacturing.

The SD-5 is the sixth custom spray dryer in operation at Serán, which aims to achieve high yields with batch sizes <50 mg of APIs. 

Pre-Clinical Small-Scale Custom Spray Dryer 

Grace Syloid FP and XDP Silica | © Univar Solutions

Univar Solutions' Grace Syloid FP and XDP Silica is a multifunctional excipient designed to solve powder flow and caking challenges in various pharmaceutical applications. Manufactured in the United States, Syloid silica is an engineered hydrated silicon dioxide produced under controlled conditions. It meets US Pharmacopeia, European Medicines Agency, Health Canada, and Brazilian Health Regulatory Agency requirements.

Syloid silica’s design combines adsorption capacity, particle size, density, and internal surface area to provide multifunctional benefits or to optimize an application. This is intended to help minimize the number of excipients used and simplify the complexity of formulations while expediting manufacturing and ultimately improving the efficacy of the final dosage form.

Univar Solution’s Grace Syloid FP and XDP Silica is a multifunctional excipient designed to solve powder flow and caking challenges in various pharmaceutical applications.  

Multifunctional Excipient for Pharmaceutical Applications

Fisher FIELDVUE DVC7K Digital Valve Controller | © Emerson

Emerson’s Fisher FIELDVUE DVC7K Digital Valve Controller is a new digital valve controller featuring Emerson’s Advice at the Device technology. Digital valve controllers are accessories for control and on-off valves are used to provide local analysis of valve data and digital communications with host systems, as well as other features. These features improve uptime by alerting personnel to developing problems, reducing maintenance costs by providing information required for proactive rather than reactive maintenance, and cutting troubleshooting time in the event of an issue by providing recommended corrective actions.

The DVC7K ‘s Advice at the Device technology contains embedded computing and real-time analytics that convert raw data into information with Bluetooth capability. This allows maintenance personnel to receive data via their phone, tablet, or computer wirelessly without having to be in a control room at the plant location. Information can be accessed wirelessly from one or more digital valve controllers from up to 30 ft, and the local user interface displays detailed information via LEDs.

Emerson’s Fisher FIELDVUE DVC7K Digital Valve Controller provides local analysis of valve data and digital communications with host systems, as well as other features.

Digital Valve Controller for Control and On-off Valves

BIOne 250 Bioprocess Controller | Image Credit: © Distek

Distek has released the BIOne 250 Bioprocess Controller, designed for microbial applications. It is a process-optimized version of the BIOne 1250 benchtop bioreactor system, offering an approachable solution to meet the nuanced requirements of advanced microbial bioprocessing. The controller retains the user interface of the BIOne 1250 via a remote personal computer or monitor, supporting the management of multiple bioreactors from a single central screen.

A standout feature of the BIOne 250 is its scalability, which accommodates the evolving needs of bioprocess applications, making it suitable for scale-down modeling, material generation, and process optimization. The controller is designed for reliability and precision, ensuring consistent and accurate results throughout experiments. The budget-friendly price for the BIOne 250 is intended to make advanced bioprocess control more accessible without sacrificing functionality and quality.

Distek has released the BIOne 250 Bioprocess Controller, designed for microbial applications.

Bioprocess Controller

Capable of processing viscous solutions, dispersions, suspensions, and emulsions with viscosities in the hundreds of thousands of centipoise, the ROSS line of VersaMix multi-shaft mixers are built for longevity, speed, and efficiency. The pictured ROSS VMC-100 is designed for vacuum operation up to 29.5”Hg and supplied with interchangeable 100-gal mix cans, each fabricated with a 50-psig American Society of Mechanical Engineers code-stamped jacket for heating/cooling via glycol. The custom electro-hydraulic system is engineered to fully raise the motor drive in 15 seconds.

The VMC-100 features three independently driven agitators, including a three-wing anchor agitator equipped with optional hinged sidewall and bottom Teflon scrapers to improve heat transfer across the jacketed vessel. The high shear mixer is capable of introducing powders sub-surface while the batch is low in viscosity. Through the ROSS solids liquid injection manifold (SLIM) technology, raw material additions are less dusty and lumps or fish eyes are avoided. The 8”-diameter high speed disperser continues to apply shear as the batch increases in viscosity.

The ROSS line of VersaMix multi-shaft mixers are built for longevity, speed, and efficiency.