Picoline® - Hosokawa Micron BV

PRESS RELEASE
DOETINCHEM -The Netherlands, 14-02-2012
Picoline®
the new mini equipment series for particle processing
In the early phase of developing new materials or active pharmaceutical substances,
it is very often the case that only extremely small samples of the product can be
synthesised at an acceptable financial and time outlay. These samples usually have
to go through one or more processing steps after their manufacture before they
exhibit the desired properties. And especially in the pharmaceutical industry – but also
in materials science, research and laboratory applications, the available amounts of
sample material are often only in the range of a few grams or decigrams. Added to
this are sometimes costs of several thousand euros per gram. The resultant demand
is obviously extremely small process volumes for treatment in processing machines.
Furthermore, the real challenge is homogeneous processing of the entire sample
amount to the highest possible degree in the machine and maximum recovery values.
On the sector of pharmaceuticals research, the demand is for yields of approx. 99%
of the charged material. Hosokawa Alpine responded to these demands by extending
its well-known machine series by a mini variant. The new Picoline covers a variety of
processing methods for dry powders and liquid suspensions.
The high sample recovery rate poses a great challenge for the machine design. Small
volumes, the complete avoidance of dead zones, the highest possible reduction of
surfaces jeopardised by deposits, a streamlined product routing and integrated
cleaning possibilities for product collectors are the most important criteria when
designing efficient mini machines. Another requirement is maximum mechanical
precision, which is all-important if fine tolerances are to be observed and where
components rotate at extremely high speed.
© 2012 Hosokawa Micron B.V. – Gildenstraat 26 – 7005 BL – Doetinchem – The Netherlands
info@hmbv.hosokawa.com – wwww. hosokawamicron.nl
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PRESS RELEASE
DOETINCHEM -The Netherlands, 14-02-2012
The example of the Picojet fluidised bed opposed jet mill with integrated classifier
demonstrates the systematic realisation of these specifications. Manufactured with
the utmost precision, the 20-mm classifying wheel runs at speeds of up to 60,000 rpm,
simultaneously maintaining the rinsing gap geometry with tolerances of just a few
micrometres.
Reinstallation of the classifying wheel after cleaning can be carried out so precisely
with no need for elaborate adjustment that all operation-critical tolerances are
reproducible.
It is crucial even with this mini machine that
all the relevant functional parts are
designed as exact mini versions of the
respective components in the productionscale
machines. This guarantees the
employment of a technology even in the
earliest development phase which realises
all process-relevant functions of the later
machines on a pilot and test scale. The
operating parameters of the productionscale
machine can also be investigated as
early as during material development. And
this serves to considerably simplify process
validation at all stages, from research right
up to production.
Besides the Picojet opposed jet mill which Hosokawa Alpine will present to the public
for the first time at the Powtech trade fair in Nuremberg, other mini machines
downscaled from the well-known standard machine range will gradually be added to
the Picoline series. For example, the classifier from the opposed jet mill can be
employed as an independent module in the Picozirk classifier mill or can be used on
its own as the Picosplit classifier. On the sector of dry powder processing, the range
is completed by the Picoplex fine impact mill and the Piconizer spiral jet mill. And for
grinding products in liquid suspensions, the mini agitated ball mill Picoliq with its
variable grinding chamber volume and modular wear protection is universal in use in
all branches of research. On the drawing board for the PicoLine series are the
Picobond powder reactor for the mechanochemical functional design of particles and
the Picocut, a mini version of our granulator to comminute soft products.
For just about every product and every application, Alpine's Picoline range offers a
suitable machine for processing mini product batches in research and development.
Contactinformation
Team Food/Pharma Team Chemicals/Minerals/Metals
Mr Mattijs Raadsen
e: m.raadsen@hmbv.hosokawa.com
t: +31 (0) 314 373 415
m: +31 (0) 6 51 277 153
Mr Menno Logmans
e: m.logmans@hmbv.hosokawa.com
t: +31 (0) 314 373 378
m: +31 (0) 6 46 307 383
© 2012 Hosokawa Micron B.V. – Gildenstraat 26 – 7005 BL – Doetinchem – The Netherlands
info@hmbv.hosokawa.com – wwww. hosokawamicron.nl
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