L.B. Bohle Innovativ 01/2019 EN

The Bohle Uni Cone BUC ® is a specially slotted
air distributor plate with a conical displacement
cone. The design allows for completely fluidized
particles.
Since the fluidized particles or granules move tangentially
at relatively low fluidization height, they do not require
a high-volume expansion. This reduces the required
installation height, saving costs and production space.
Another advantage of the tangential design in plants
from L.B. Bohle in Thorsten Wesselmann’s opinion is “that
granulation, coating and drying can be carried out in a
single system without altering the equipment setup.”
L.B. Bohle developed the BFS fluid bed system with
tangentially mounted spray nozzles and the patented
Bohle Uni Cone BUC ® , a specially slotted air distributor
plate with a conical displacement cone for batches of
1 to 500 kg. Its pressure shock resistance of up
to 12 bar makes the BFS the ideal choice for organic
methods. Short product transfer times and efficient
cleaning procedures offer additional potential savings
in production time and cost. The geometrically similar
structure simplifies scaling-up.
A newly developed, protected multi-purpose valve
directly above the distributor plate facilitates the dustfree
suction and draining of the product container. The
result for Wesselmann is “clear benefits with regards to
ergonomics and cleaning that make the BFS stand out
significantly from other fluid bed systems on the market.”
Single-Pot Granulation
Single-Pot granulation has been used in the pharmaceutical
industry for many decades. With the VMA
granulator, the mixing, high-shear wet granulation and
drying (vacuum drying, carrier-gas drying, or drying by
microwave heat) are all carried out in one container.
Single-Pot granulators offer the following benefits:
• Secure production within a closed container
in a vacuum
• High mixing and granulation efficiency (even
for low doses of active agents at < 1%)
• Drying at low temperatures
• Small product contact surface for fast, easy
cleaning and fast product changeover
• Efficient solvent recovery through cooling water
• Compact footprint for low space requirements
The VMA product range includes classic mixer granulators
with agitator and chopper units and a top-drive system.
Two stirrers produce a shearing action and loosen the
product. This helps to prevent clumping and ensures that
the resulting granule is of optimum quality. According
to Wesselmann, the GMP-compliant process tank with
double jacket is “the heart of the VMA.” The main units
are integrated in the granulation pot’s lid (Top-Drive). The
process tank is emptied through a cone-shaped sieve
(BTS 200) via the floor outlet into a container (IBC).
Formula-controlled cleaning is carried out automatically.
The VMA produces batch sizes from 20 to 960 litres and
can be installed in potentially explosive environments.
6 INNOVATIV 1 | 2019