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Modularity for bio business growth
12
Applications
WORLD PUMPS
April 2011
Pharmaceuticals
Modularity for bio business growth Interchangeable technology from Flexicon Liquid Filling, a business division of Watson-Marlow Pumps Group, has helped family-run diagnostic reagent manufacturer, Hart Biologicals Ltd, to accommodate business growth with the recent upgrade to a tabletop bottle filling and capping machine. A peristaltic dispensing pump is crucial for success.
A
t Hart Biologicals, an existing PF6 peristaltic dispensing pump has been incorporated into a new Flexicon Liquid Filling bottle filling and capping machine with minimal effort/downtime, ensuring worry-free continuity of production and significant cost savings for new equipment. Although only established in 2002, Hart Biologicals' wide range of diagnostic reagents is proving increasingly popular for in-vitro laboratory applications such as the detection, prevention and monitoring of a number of medical conditions related to haemostasis and platelet function. The company’s products are based upon whole-blood or blood plasma clotting technology, or whole-blood and platelet-rich plasma aggregation and platelet function test principles. This represents
technologies available in almost all pathology laboratories worldwide. Hart Biologicals' success in this field has attracted partners ranging from start-up companies and universities, to large multi-national corporations. Today the company is a supplier of key pathology lab services to the NHS.
Reagent filling The new Flexicon FF30 tabletop bottle filling and capping machine is used to fill vials with reagents and cap them on completion. Some reagents are freeze-dried and then capped; other liquid reagents are capped immediately after filling. The machine was installed in November 2010 and replaced a Flexicon FF20, which did not feature capping functionality.
Hartlepool-based Hart Biologicals is engaged in the research, development, manufacture and marketing of a range of in-vitro diagnostic products for use in the detection, prevention and monitoring of a number of medical conditions.
www.worldpumps.com
“With a recent increase in throughput, we became aware of the physical duress that comes with tightening caps day-in, day-out,” explains Malcolm Pattison, Production Manager at Hart Biologicals. “Fingers inevitably suffer in this situation and to address the issue we contacted Flexicon to enquire about an upgrade to the system. We also knew that having the automated capping facility of the FF30 would allow us to ensure that caps are secured tightly, time-after-time, not to mention the gains in efficiency.”
Peristaltic pump With Flexicon systems, upgrades are very simple. The existing PF6 peristaltic dispensing pump incorporated could simply be transferred to the new FF30 with minimal effort/ downtime, ensuring production continuity and new equipment cost savings. Peristaltic pumps have no valves and seals, and also have no mechanical parts in the product stream, so are ideal for this type of application. The fluid only comes into contact with the inside of a low cost, low maintenance hose or tube element. A peristaltic pump's operation is very simple. The ‘wetted end’ simplicity is in contrast to the complexity of a diaphragm pump, where correct materials selection for the pump housing, diaphragm, ball checks and seals is essential to prevent failure through corrosive attack. Acids, caustics, solvents – and of course liquid reagents - are no problem for peristaltic dispensing pumps, and the PF6’s technology allows aseptic filling, ideal for process applications such as pharmaceutical, diagnostic and biological.
WORLD PUMPS
Applications April 2011
The new Flexicon FF30 tabletop bottle filling and capping machine fills vials with reagents and caps them on completion.
Easy changeover The Flexicon FF30 machine facilitates high accuracy filling (±0.5%) and easy product changeover without any issues of crosscontamination or cleaning validation. The product only contacts the FDA approved pump tubing and the filling nozzle. The modular bottle handling and tightening system accepts bottles between 12 mm and 50 mm in diameter, with a capacity around 1,200 units/hr. A complete bottle and product changeover can be performed in less than 10 minutes. Ease of cleaning is another benefit,
At Hart Biologicals, an existing PF6 peristaltic dispensing pump has been incorporated into the new FF30 Flexicon Liquid Filling bottle filling and capping machine.
as all format parts are mounted using finger screws, and all surfaces in contact with the bottles are made from stainless steel and approved plastics. “With growth there is responsibility to evolve processes accordingly,” says Pattison. “We knew that by introducing greater automation into these operations we would improve accuracy and consistency, as well as ensure the ongoing health and safety of our employees. We’ve had extremely encouraging feedback from our operators regarding the FF30.”
Helping growth Facilitating the success and growth of companies such as Hart Biologicals requires modular equipment that can be upgraded quickly and easily with minimum disruption. Watson-Marlow Pumps Group and Flexicon Liquid Filling are using their combined experience to bring developed technology to the process market, where it is best placed to serve customers demonstrating ambition for growth. www.watson-marlow.co.uk
www.worldpumps.com
13
Applications
WORLD PUMPS
April 2011
Pharmaceuticals
Modularity for bio business growth Interchangeable technology from Flexicon Liquid Filling, a business division of Watson-Marlow Pumps Group, has helped family-run diagnostic reagent manufacturer, Hart Biologicals Ltd, to accommodate business growth with the recent upgrade to a tabletop bottle filling and capping machine. A peristaltic dispensing pump is crucial for success.
A
t Hart Biologicals, an existing PF6 peristaltic dispensing pump has been incorporated into a new Flexicon Liquid Filling bottle filling and capping machine with minimal effort/downtime, ensuring worry-free continuity of production and significant cost savings for new equipment. Although only established in 2002, Hart Biologicals' wide range of diagnostic reagents is proving increasingly popular for in-vitro laboratory applications such as the detection, prevention and monitoring of a number of medical conditions related to haemostasis and platelet function. The company’s products are based upon whole-blood or blood plasma clotting technology, or whole-blood and platelet-rich plasma aggregation and platelet function test principles. This represents
technologies available in almost all pathology laboratories worldwide. Hart Biologicals' success in this field has attracted partners ranging from start-up companies and universities, to large multi-national corporations. Today the company is a supplier of key pathology lab services to the NHS.
Reagent filling The new Flexicon FF30 tabletop bottle filling and capping machine is used to fill vials with reagents and cap them on completion. Some reagents are freeze-dried and then capped; other liquid reagents are capped immediately after filling. The machine was installed in November 2010 and replaced a Flexicon FF20, which did not feature capping functionality.
Hartlepool-based Hart Biologicals is engaged in the research, development, manufacture and marketing of a range of in-vitro diagnostic products for use in the detection, prevention and monitoring of a number of medical conditions.
www.worldpumps.com
“With a recent increase in throughput, we became aware of the physical duress that comes with tightening caps day-in, day-out,” explains Malcolm Pattison, Production Manager at Hart Biologicals. “Fingers inevitably suffer in this situation and to address the issue we contacted Flexicon to enquire about an upgrade to the system. We also knew that having the automated capping facility of the FF30 would allow us to ensure that caps are secured tightly, time-after-time, not to mention the gains in efficiency.”
Peristaltic pump With Flexicon systems, upgrades are very simple. The existing PF6 peristaltic dispensing pump incorporated could simply be transferred to the new FF30 with minimal effort/ downtime, ensuring production continuity and new equipment cost savings. Peristaltic pumps have no valves and seals, and also have no mechanical parts in the product stream, so are ideal for this type of application. The fluid only comes into contact with the inside of a low cost, low maintenance hose or tube element. A peristaltic pump's operation is very simple. The ‘wetted end’ simplicity is in contrast to the complexity of a diaphragm pump, where correct materials selection for the pump housing, diaphragm, ball checks and seals is essential to prevent failure through corrosive attack. Acids, caustics, solvents – and of course liquid reagents - are no problem for peristaltic dispensing pumps, and the PF6’s technology allows aseptic filling, ideal for process applications such as pharmaceutical, diagnostic and biological.
WORLD PUMPS
Applications April 2011
The new Flexicon FF30 tabletop bottle filling and capping machine fills vials with reagents and caps them on completion.
Easy changeover The Flexicon FF30 machine facilitates high accuracy filling (±0.5%) and easy product changeover without any issues of crosscontamination or cleaning validation. The product only contacts the FDA approved pump tubing and the filling nozzle. The modular bottle handling and tightening system accepts bottles between 12 mm and 50 mm in diameter, with a capacity around 1,200 units/hr. A complete bottle and product changeover can be performed in less than 10 minutes. Ease of cleaning is another benefit,
At Hart Biologicals, an existing PF6 peristaltic dispensing pump has been incorporated into the new FF30 Flexicon Liquid Filling bottle filling and capping machine.
as all format parts are mounted using finger screws, and all surfaces in contact with the bottles are made from stainless steel and approved plastics. “With growth there is responsibility to evolve processes accordingly,” says Pattison. “We knew that by introducing greater automation into these operations we would improve accuracy and consistency, as well as ensure the ongoing health and safety of our employees. We’ve had extremely encouraging feedback from our operators regarding the FF30.”
Helping growth Facilitating the success and growth of companies such as Hart Biologicals requires modular equipment that can be upgraded quickly and easily with minimum disruption. Watson-Marlow Pumps Group and Flexicon Liquid Filling are using their combined experience to bring developed technology to the process market, where it is best placed to serve customers demonstrating ambition for growth. www.watson-marlow.co.uk
www.worldpumps.com
13