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Interphex 2015 Show Preview

| By Mary Page Bailey

Highlighting technology and innovations in the sectors of pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical manufacturing, Interphex 2015 is taking place April 21–23 at the Jacob Javits Convention Center in New York City. Over 12,000 professionals are expected to visit the event’s workshops, networking sessions and exhibit hall. The following product descriptions represent a small selection of the more than 600 exhibitors who will be showcased at Interphex 2015.

 

These strainers handle both coarse and fine-particle filtering

Newark Wire Cloth

Newark Wire Cloth

The SaniClean line of strainers are specifically designed for use in processing applications where cleaning is critical, such as those requiring coarse straining or fine-particle filtration in the pharmaceutical, food, dairy and beverage industries. The strainers are suitable for both continuous production cycles and small-batch runs. A variety of capacities are available, ranging from low creeping flowrates to high-volume production outputs. The strainers can be integrated into existing or new piping configurations. The standard material of construction is 316L stainless steel (photo), but other corrosion-resistant alloys are available. Booth 3370 — Newark Wire Cloth Co., Clifton, N.J.

www.sanicleanstrainers.com

 

Positively validate materials with this handheld Raman analyzer

Rigaku Raman

Rigaku Raman

The Progeny line of handheld Raman analyzers (photo) is designed for quick, non-destructive material validation, allowing for immediate rejection of non-conforming materials and fewer quarantined shipments. The raw-material identification provided by Raman spectroscopy helps to ensure that manufacturing standards are met, and that final products meet specifications and comply with regulations. With a design inspired by smartphones, Progeny analyzers feature touchscreen user interfaces, an integrated digital camera and large-sized display buttons. Also included are a 1,064-nm excitation laser and a built-in, adjustable nose cone, which allows measurement even through thick polymer materials or dark glass. Booth 2878 — Rigaku Raman Technologies Inc., Wilmington, Mass.

www.rigakuraman.com

 

This compact tablet counter accommodates four modules

NJM Packaging

NJM Packaging

The Cremer Model CFS-622*4 four-module tablet counter (photo) can count almost any kind of tablet or capsule, and fill almost any kind of plastic or glass bottle, including those with round, oval or rectangular shapes. The small-footprint design allows for simple integration into new or existing lines, and its transparent enclosure provides accessibility. A vision-inspection feature allows for the detection of broken and rogue tablets; when a faulty container is detected, the CFS-622*4 will reject it. Other standard features include a central product hopper, a touchscreen control panel and a servo-driven feedscrew. A central dust-extraction mechanism, a product eject system and an ionizer to eliminate static electricity are optional add-ons. Booth 2353 — NJM Packaging, Lebanon, N.H.

www.njmpackaging.com

 

This isolator system features a fast decontamination process

The Pharmaceutical Safety Isolator L-Flange (PSI-L) system is a modular isolator system outfitted with an L-shaped flange. The unique flange design enables equipment to be changed quickly, and the possibility of using an empty flange plate provides maximum flexibility. The system’s short (less than 20 min) decontamination cycle and a return air filter create a sterile environment for aseptic or highly active pharmaceutical products. Booth 3055 — SKAN AG, Allschwil, Switzerland

www.skan.ch

 

Constant-pressure processors that ensure uniform handling

This company’s Microfluidizer family of high-shear fluid processors enables uniform particle-size reduction, bottom-up crystallization and efficient cell disruption, and can be used in the development of nano-enabled medicines, chemicals and consumer products. The key to the Microfluidizer’s uniform material-handling capability is its ability to maintain a consistent process pressure within the system. Suitable for a variety of applications, including both laboratory use and full commercial production, these processors provide size reduction and disruption in the sub-micrometer range, and numerous scaleup options are available. Booth 1653 — Microfluidics International Corp., Westwood, Mass.

www.microfluidicscorp.com

 

Forming, filling and sealing for multi-product manufacturers

Adaptive_Manufacturing_Technologies

Adaptive Manufacturing Technologies

The QuickPouch Vertical (photo) is a compact, customizable machine designed to form, fill and seal pouches. The system can handle package sizes of up to 6 in. in width and 9 in. in height. The machine’s simple design is advantageous to manufacturers with multiple products; changeovers are simple, taking as little as 15 min. The QuickPouch Vertical is available with many options, including printing, automatic loading, liquid or powder filling, die-cutting and more. Applying a hot die to imprint the pouch form, the cycle-on-demand system is equipped with time, pressure and monitoring functions. Pouch materials include foil laminate, paper laminate and plastic laminate. Booth 3857 — Adaptive Manufacturing Technologies, Ronkonkoma, N.Y.

www.amtautomation.com

 

A compact filling and closing machine with 10 filling positions

Optima Packaging Group

Optima Packaging Group

This company’s H4 filling and closing machine (photo) can process nested vials, syringes and cartridges, and also allows for the pre-manufacture of certain modules, providing cost savings and flexibility for a number of diverse applications. Even within a compact footprint, the H4’s transport system achieves a high output rate of 24,000 objects/h, which can be expanded to 36,000 objects/h with certain retrofitting options. The H4 comes equipped with a ten-position filling system. For filling flexibility and simple format changes, rotary-piston pumps, as well as peristaltic or time-pressure filling systems can be added at any time. Further customizations are available through the addition of upgraded in-process controls and the insertion of vacuum stoppers. Booth 3103 — Optima Packaging Group GmbH, Schwäbisch Hall, Germany

www.optima-packaging-group.de

 

Safeguard sensitive connections with this tool

Boccard Life Sciences

Boccard Life Sciences

The BocLock intelligent connection system (photo) safeguards process connections in mechanical and automated systems, and is specifically designed for flow-transfer panels with frequent connections. Suitable for very sensitive processes, the system features a multicolored indicator light that continuously informs the operators of the connection status. This includes notifying the operator if the connection is awaiting action, or if the connection is dirty, clean or incompatible. The BocLock’s stainless-steel construction allows for in-situ cleaning, and the system comes equipped with an integral passage with a standard hygienic seal. Booth 3168 — Boccard Life Sciences, Inc., Sugar Land, Tex.

www.boccard-bls.com

 

Cloud-based temperature and humidity monitoring

The OneVue intelligent platform is a cloud-based system that monitors critical temperature and humidity data. With its responsive design, the OneVue platform can be configured on any tablet, smartphone, laptop or desktop computer. Alert routing rules can be set up to deliver notifications via email, text message or phone. According to the company, the platform is unique in that the data generated by sensors are tied to the room, physical equipment (such as refrigerators) or inventory (such as pharmaceuticals) being monitored, rather than to the sensor itself, creating historical data trails. Booth 1015 — Primex Wireless, Lake Geneva, Wisc.

www.primexwireless.com

 

Single-use fluid-path components designed for bioprocessing

Watson-Marlow Pumps Group

Watson-Marlow Fluid Technology Group

This company’s BioPure family of single-use fluid-path components is manufactured specifically for bioprocessing applications, and includes the following products: BioClamp plastic quick-release tri-clamps (photo); BioBarb hose-tail to tri-clamp adaptors; FlatBioEndCap connectors for endcaps, BioEndCaps, which are designed to permanently terminate a disposable manifold until an in-process new sterile connection is to be made; BioY equal-barbed Y-connectors; and BioValve restriction flow-control and shutoff valves for silicone tubes. These fully traceable components are intended to emulate over-molded products. Featuring full-through bore diameters, these components are designed to reduce dead spots in processes. Booth 2833 — Watson-Marlow Fluid Technology Group, Wilmington, Mass.

www.watson-marlow.com

 

Filter bags designed with safety and security in mind

Sefar

Sefar

This company’s Pharma-Grade Filter Bags (photo) for fluid-bed dryers are constructed in a dedicated cleanroom to ensure high standards of purity and detail. The bags have been developed to avoid possible contamination from staple fibers. A microporous membrane laminated on polyester or polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) provides efficient filtration. An antistatic version of the bags is available, with an incorporated high-conductivity stainless-steel matrix, which provides excellent explosion protection. Booth 2137 — Sefar, Inc., Depew, N.Y.

www.sefar.com

 

These dry granulators have sensor-controlled rollers

L.B. Bohle Maschinen + Verfahren

L.B. Bohle Maschinen + Verfahren

BRC 25 dry granulators (photo) process powders into free-flowing granules. Fed via a dosing unit, the powder is compacted between two rollers and discharged as flakes. The gaps between the rollers are controlled and monitored with sensors, and can range from 1 to 6 mm. Sensors also monitor the forces on the rollers. Below the rollers is a chopper unit, where the flakes are processed into granules. A built-in conical sieve with exchangeable sieve units allows control over particle size. Within the machine, the axes are mechanically stable so that elastic deformation is prevented, eliminating the need for complete axis control. Booth 2811 — L.B. Bohle Maschinen + Verfahren GmbH, Ennigerloh, Germany

www.lbbohle.de

 

 Achieve precise wet milling and emulsifying with this system

The HV model combination emulsifier and wet mill is designed for precise emulsifying in a single pass, and is capable of wet milling some active pharmaceutical ingredients to the 10–20µm range. Operating at an extremely high rotational velocity, tooling tip speeds of up to 70 m/s are achieved, providing more than 55 times the shear-energy input compared with conventional rotor-stator systems, says the company. This performance envelope fills the gap between existing rotor-stator technologies and high-pressure homogenizers. The HV emulsifier and wet mill is available in three models with scalability ranges for laboratory, pilot and production volumes. Booth 1653 — Quadro Engineering, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada

www.quadro.com

 

Mary Page Bailey