Interphex 2019 will take place April 2–4 at the Jacob Javits Convention Center in New York City. Focused on biotechnology and pharmaceutical manufacturing, Interphex will feature a large exhibit hall and a technical conference with session tracks covering flexible manufacturing, process optimization, risk management and more. For the first time, Interphex will collaborate with Integrated Project Ser-vices, LLC (IPS; Blue Bell, Pa.; www.ipsdb.com), a provider of engineering, procurement and construction management (EPCM) services, to debut Innophex, a new event dedicated to innovation and technology commercialization. Co-located with Interphex, Innophex will bring its own exhibitors and technical content to showcase a variety of emerging technologies for gene therapy and cell processing, including robotics, 3-D printing, augmented reality and other Internet of Things (IoT) technologies. The following is a small selection of the products and services that will be showcased at Interphex 2019.
This modular milling system has nano-scale capabilities
The FreDrive-Lab is a modular milling system for research, formulation and analytical laboratories in the pharmaceutical, cosmetic, fine chemical and food industries. This patented system integrates six different milling processes into one system, enabling the user to produce a wide variety of particle sizes ranging down to a lower particle-size distribution spectrum of D 90 < 10µm. The latest addition to the FreDrive-Lab product family, the NanoWitt high-performance bead mill (photo), expands the range’s capabilities for particle-size reduction, enabling wet nano-milling down to 50 nm. Booth 2865 — Frewitt USA Inc., Hillsborough, N.J.
Lab-scale filtration and drying in one step
The GFD range of laboratory filter dryers (photo) combines filtration, solids isolation, cake washing and vacuum drying into a single step. The GFD range has recently been expanded with two new models: the GFD Lab and GFD Lab PLUS, which provide additional configuration options in terms of vessel capacity and automation. Stainless-steel vessels are offered for high-pressure applications. The vessel has a heated jacket for efficient drying and a removable filtration basket for simplified product collection. The GFD can be integrated into fume hoods while maintaining process visibility, batch homogeneity and reduced product exposure. The GFD Lab PLUS model includes a digital display and touchscreen to show realtime values and graphs, as well as recipe inputs and sequencing. The GFD is compatible for microsphere separation or purification. The agitated Nutsche-filter dryer technology and distinctive agitator design enable effective cake agitation in many applications, including production of dyes and paints, wastewater treatment and pharmaceutical production. Booth 2322 — Powder Systems Ltd. (PSL), Liverpool, U.K.
Turnkey solutions for complex production environments
The MultiUse line of automated processing machines are highly flexible and fully automated to handle very specialized or valuable products in different delivery formats. The filler machine from the MultiUse product line is suitable for laboratory applications, as well as small- to medium-batch operations, and can be quickly converted for processing different product formats and container types, says the manufacturer. The company also offers a variety of turnkey services for complex production systems (photo), including filling and closing technologies, isolation and freeze drying. This includes digitalized planning, from the integrated factory acceptance test (iFAT), site management and the site acceptance test (SAT) and comprehensive services utilizing engineering technologies, such as flow visualization. Also on display will be the new CS freeze dryer, which is tailored to products that are new to the market and are initially produced in small and medium quantities. The space-saving CS freeze dryer is optimized for installation in existing buildings. Booth 3013 — Optima Pharma GmbH, Schwäbisch Hall, Germany
Smart valve monitoring for hazardous locations
This company has achieved hazardous-area certification (Class 1 Zone 0 and Class II/III Zone 21) from the Canadian Standards Association (CSA) for its Verifi smart-monitoring hub (photo). The Verifi system monitors usage of this company’s split butterfly valves (SBVs), which provide containment during manufacturing processes and are designed to increase sterility assurance for ingredient and small-component transfers in aseptic processing. Verifi continuously records valve use and provides data to proactively manage and maintain containment solutions, which helps to improve operator safety and risk management. The Verifi system already holds atmosphere explosive (ATEX) and International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) explosive (Ex) certifications, allowing the use of Verifi in hazardous environments in Europe. Booth 3033 — ChargePoint Technology Inc., Forked River, N.J.
These flow sensors provide many measurement parameters
FLOWave sensors (photos) are operated using the patented surface acoustic wave (SAW) technology. With SAW-enabled flowmeters, there are no installed fittings or constrictions, which also means that there are no empty spaces in the measuring tube. In addition, there is no contact between the sensor elements and the medium, making the process appropriate for hygienic applications. Incorporating various measurement parameters into one sensor reduces the number of contamination-prone screw connections in the plant. In addition to flow measurement, these sensors provide integrated gas-bubble detection, which ensures fast response in the event of process faults. A density factor enables the quick identification of fluid changeovers, and viscosity compensation facilitates precision with high-viscosity fluids. Booth 3553 — Bürkert Fluid Control Systems, Ingelfingen, Germany
Filling and closing machines for ready-to-use vials
The Dara NFL/2-RDL aseptic filling and closing machine for ready-to-use vials (photo) handles nests of pre-sterilized vials and avoids the crimping required with traditional aluminum closures. This fully servo-driven system streamlines packaging operations to minimize equipment footprint and changeover time. The Dara NFL/2-RDL can be used from scaleup through small-batch commercial manufacturing. Utilizing ready-to-use vials simplifies small-scale production by eliminating the need for a washer and depyrogenation tunnel, according to the manufacturer. NFL/2-RDL systems are designed to seal vials with ARaymondlife’s patented RayDyLyo caps, which are pre-assembled plastic closures featuring a rubber stopper within the cap to minimize the “pop-off” effect and eliminate the risk of stoppers adhering to freeze-dryer plates. RayDyLyo closures come in 13- and 20-mm sizes. Booth 2353 — NJM Packaging, Lebanon, N.H.
This modular feeder design enables fast process adaptation
The new K3-PH line of loss-in-weight screw feeders (photo) is designed for continuous processing applications in the pharmaceutical industry. The new feeder features a modular concept with a drastically reduced overall footprint thanks to a new, smaller platform scale that incorporates the patented Smart Force Transducer (SFT) weighing technology. The modular quick-change design allows the easy exchange of feeder types and sizes, as well as hoppers or agitators using the same scale and drive for fast adaptation to new processes and formulations while also ensuring easy cleaning and maintenance. The new device is suitable for multi-feeder clustering in a variety of continuous processes, including direct compression, continuous extrusion, wet and dry granulation and continuous coating, as well as traditional batch processes. Booth 2558 — Coperion K-Tron, Sewell, N.J.