CroNiMo Fluid Bed Dryers

CroNiMo Fluid Bed Dryers for Production, R&D, and Formulation Development

The name CroNiMo is an assemblage of letters derived from three of the basic elements usually found in high quality stainless steels and other exotic alloys (Chromium, Nickel and Molybdenum). As its name implies, CroNiMo is committed to producing machinery for the pharmaceutical industry that blends high quality European craftsmanship and their knowledge of working with Stainless Steel. This Austrian-Dutch family-run, Argentinean company has slowly and quietly built up a strong global customer base because of their commitment to quality and the competitive price position of its products. Their products include High Shear Granulators, Mills, Coaters and Fluid Bed Dryers as well as completely integrated systems.

In the pharmaceutical industry, fluid bed dryers are commonly used to dry batches of wet granules produced in a high shear mixer granulator.

Fluid bed dryers remove the moisture from the granules by suspending the granules in a heated air stream until dry. The movement of the granules in the heated air stream provides a relatively quick, efficient and uniform method of removing the liquids introduced in the previous wet mixing-granulation step. This process is called fluid bed drying (or fluidized bed drying) because the bed of granules suspended in the airflow is said to be fluidized.

Basic Description of Fluidized Bed Drying:

Fluid bed dryers consist of a hollow vertical chamber where dry, heated air enters the bottom of the chamber and exhaust air exits through the top or rear of the chamber. There is a perforated diffuser plate at the bottom to diffuse the upward flowing air which helps create a stable and uniform fluidized bed. The diffuser plate can also support the bed when there is no airflow. The heated, dry air acts as both a fluidizing and drying medium for the solids.

Fluid bed drying is a batch process so the amount of material that can be dried depends on the size of the fluid bed dryer and nature of the material. CroNiMo offers a line of fluid bed dryers with capacities ranging from 1 KG for R&D and formulation development up to production units with 350 kg capacities.

 

Fluid bed dryers used for removing solvents or non-water based binders must be designed in accordance with current explosion proof design standards as well as appropriate environmental regulations which can change depending on your location.

 

Spray Granulation:

Fluidized bed dryers can also be used for “spray granulation” which is a process where powders are agglomerated into granules while suspended in a fluidized bed hot air stream with the application of a liquid binding agent.

Features:

The CroNiMo R&D and production fluid bed dryers share the following features:.

• Mirror Finished 316 stainless steel product contact surfaces
• 304 stainless steel heater and for non-product contact surfaces
• Batch capacities ranging from 1 to 350 liters
• Compliance with GAMP IV document cycle
• Meets or exceeds GMP and FDA guidelines.
• Extraction systems with filters and fan
• Safety interlocked earth grounding to prevent buildup of static electricity
• Easy access of internal spaces for cleaning and inspection
• Side or top explosion vents or 10 bar explosion containment
• Suitable for use in CIP and WIP washdown situations
• Precision control of drying profile and accurately and reproduce ably achieves LOD targets for your granulation
• Tempered borosilicate glass observation window
• Quick change diffuser plate
• Sensors for product, inlet/outlet air temperature and airflow
• Dampers for inlet/outlet airflow control
• Removable bowl
• We can supply a completely integrated “granulation suite.” A granulation suite can include a granulator, sizing mills, a fluid bed dryer, vacuum transfer systems and a coater.

 

 

 

AC Compacting LLC
1577 Livingston Avenue, Post Office Box 7266
North Brunswick, NJ 08902-7266
Tel: 732-249-6900 / Tel: 800-524-0183 / Fax: 732-249-6909