NEWSLETTER
ISSUE
Jul to Sep, 2021 Volume 15
LATEST INNOVATIONS
Semi-Automatic Loading – Unloading system for Floor-mounted Sterilizer
Terminal sterilization is one of the essential processes in pharmaceutical manufacturing. Typically, a Super-heated water spray or Steam-Air mixture type sterilizer is employed to carry out terminal sterilization. The general application includes sterilization of HDPE/LDPE bottles, PVC multilayer pouches or glass bottles, large volume infusion solution in glass bottles & plastic bags. The volume of such load ranges from 2000 to 30000 Liters. Manual loading and unloading of such large volume loads in and out of the sterilizer chamber is a cumbersome & challenging task. Therefore, the process requires a user-friendly system that facilitates smooth loading-unloading of the products.
Terminal sterilizers are installed in two configurations, i.e., Pit-mounted installation and floor-mounted installation. Based on various aspects like safety and cGMP consideration, the pharmaceutical manufacturing facility selects a suitable configuration. Pharmalab has been regularly supplying a Loading-Unloading system for Pit-mounted sterilizers. However, based on customer requirements, Pharmalab has recently developed a unique Semi-Automatic Loading-Unloading system (SALUS) for floor mounted sterilizers. The system is designed with a VFD based elevator that connects the ground logistic system and elevated loading area that matches chamber loading height.
The loading-unloading system comprises of rail-based carriage logistic system at a ground level and set of turntables, VFD based elevator & servo-drive powered linear guide at loading & unloading side of the sterilizer. While loading, the carriages are filled with product at ground level and transferred to the loading station elevator. The rail-based logistic system offers the effortless movement of these heavily loaded carriages. Upon reaching the loading station, a VFD based elevator smoothly lifts this heavy carriage to the elevated platform, offering a safe transition from ground to an elevated platform. The carriages are then transferred to the automatic loading area through a turntable that matches the chamber loading height. The automatic loading area uses a servo-drive powered linear guide to load the carriages into the chamber without manual intervention.
Likewise, post sterilization, the servo-drive powered linear guide enables smooth unloading of the carriages from the chamber to the unloading station elevator. The elevator in the unloading station facilitates smooth & safe lowering of the carriages back to the ground carriage logistic system for further activities.
Thus, a SALUS with an elevator, rail-based logistic system and servo-drive based linear guide facilitates a safe, clean, user-friendly and efficient handling of large volume loads for sterilization.
