Packaging
Flexicon Liquid Filling: Interpack Product Overview
Wednesday 20. April 2011 - Flexicon Liquid Filling Systems, part of the Watson-Marlow Pumps Group, will showcase its world-class aseptic liquid filling and capping systems on Stand A24 at Interpack 2011.
Company Overview
Customers all over the world use reliable, accurate and hygienic liquid filling and pumping technologies from the Watson-Marlow Pumps Group. The company is comprised of six business areas; three of which are represented at Interpack:
Flexicon Liquid Filling Systems manufactures a range of products from stand-alone units for hand filling, through semi-automatic systems, to fully automatic filling, stoppering and capping machines. Flexicons systems are designed for small to medium sized batch production. The fully automatic systems are customised to fill any container, be it a vial, bottle, test tube or non-self-standing micro-tube.
MasoSine manufactures sinusoidal pumps which are ideal for many food and pharmaceutical products filling applications thanks to their impressive suction lift and low shear.
Watson-Marlow is the worlds largest manufacturer of peristaltic pumps and tubing. Peristaltic pumps are used in a range of packaging, transfer and filing applications.
The following products and systems will be on display at Interpack 2011:
The FPC50W is a flexible aseptic filling system with integrated full or partial stoppering and crimp capping of vials.
The new FF30 aseptic filling and capping machine delivers a consistent level of production quality which is impossible to maintain by manual assembly of bottles and caps.
Flexicons FF15 semi-automatic bottle handling system is designed for intensive use as well as applications where space is limited.
MasoSine pumps positive displacement pumps which can be used for a variety of transfer and filling applications.
Peristaltic pumps, such as the 520 Series pump range, have a number of advantages over other pump types making them ideally suited to filling applications
PRODUCT OVERVIEWS:
FPC50W Fully automatic Aseptic Filling System
The FPC50W, which is a new version of the popular FPC50, is a flexible aseptic filling system with integrated full or partial stoppering and crimp capping of vials. The system can deliver fill volumes ranging from 0.1ml to 100ml and a filling accuracy of ± 0.5% which is check-weighed throughout the filling batch, with adjustments made automatically if required.
The FPC50W is ideally suited to applications involving small batches such as contract fillers and research and development trials and environments where cross contamination must be avoided. For example, the use of sterile, disposable tubing and filling needles ensures the minimal human contact with the filling operation. In addition, the entire fluid path is contained for single-use making cleaning and validation extremely simple.
As well as check-weighing 100% of the vials filled, the FPC50W also permits fast change-over between the various batches of liquids to be filled. This helps to eliminate time consuming and costly logistic procedures related to having product or volume dedicated pumps in stock.
The system is available with new asepcticsu single-use filling accessories comprising, silicone transfer tube, filling nozzle and fluid bag.
FF30 Tabletop Filling and Capping Machine
Ideal for caps which cannot easily be mounted automatically, the new FF30 aseptic filling and capping machine delivers a consistent level of production quality which is impossible to maintain by manual assembly of bottles and caps. The speed of FF30 can be easily adjusted to match the working speed of the operator and liquids can be filled automatically in volumes from 0.1ml to approximately 100ml.
The FF30 ensures clean produc¬tion without risk of cross-contamination; a consistent cap torque prevents any leakage of liquid, while a bottle/cap change takes a maximum of just five minutes, thus helping improving uptime and productivity.
The machines small footprint makes it ideal for use in laminar air flow units or bio-safety cabinets. Offering a capacity of up to 1200 bottles per hour (depending on filling volume and operator), key application areas include the diagnostic industry, hospital pharmacies, R&D departments, essential oil manufacturers, cosmetics producers and general subcontract filling/finish companies.
A user-panel featuring intuitive software is supplied as standard on this IP52-rated, predominantly stainless-steel structured machine. Optional fillers include the PF6 or 520Di peristaltic fillers. A customised version of the machine is available for crimp capping of aluminium caps.
FF15 Compact Vial/bottle Handling Machine
Flexicons FF15 is a rotary vial/bottle handling system designed for up to 2,000 bottles/hour and applications where space is limited. With a depth of only 500 mm/19.7 inches, the FF15 is ideally suited for use inside Laminar Air Flow units, fume cabinets or bio-safety cabinets.
When used in conjunction with a peristaltic filler – such as Flexicons PF6 system – the FF15 provides very high levels of filling accuracy. Peristaltic filling also prevent cross contamination between liquids. [The PF6 or other filling units from the Watson-Marlow Pumps Group are sold separately].
Semi-automatic capping with screw caps or crimp caps is possible by using a separate system such as the FC10 or a FS10. This will ensure capping of a consistent quality and also protects operators from repetitive strain injuries.
MasoSine Sanitary and Industrial Positive Displacement Pumps
MasoSine pumps positive displacement pumps can be used for a variety of transfer and filling applications. With an exclusive sinusoidal rotor which overcomes the limitations of conventional rotary lobe pumps, MasoSine pumps produce powerful suction with gentle handling capability.
The gentle, low shear product handling characteristics of MasoSine pumps – such as the SPS model – will be of particular interest to customers in the pharmaceutical and food industries. The wave-like action of the MasoSine models combines with a single rotor design to offer very low propulsion, while large pumping chambers help preserve and maintain product integrity.
Because of their simple design (one rotor, one shaft, one seal), economical in-line maintenance and cleaning is also easily achieved.
Watson-Marlow Peristaltic Pumps
As the worlds largest manufacturer of peristaltic pumps and tubing, Watson-Marlow will also showcase its core technologies at Interpack 2011. Widely accepted as the worlds fastest growing pump type, peristaltic pumps have no valves, seals or glands, and the fluid contacts only the bore of the hose or tube, eliminating the risk of the pump contaminating the fluid, or the fluid contaminating the pump.
Peristaltic pumps, such as the 520 Series pump range, have a number of advantages over other pump types making them ideally suited to filling applications: they provide superior flow rate stability and metering accuracy; facilitate aseptic and sterile processes; have extensive chemical compatibility; and are inherently hygienic and safe to run.