- Email: [email protected]
Pharmaceutical manufacturer benefits from compressed air systems
USTRIALNEWS 3i and Electra support management buy-out at Netlon
Chlorine-resistant membranes used in water purification system
Netlon Ltd, specialising in t h e development, m a n u f a c t u r e a n d licensing of Netlon a n d T e n s a r polymeric nets, m e s h a n d grids, h a s been b o u g h t by six of its c u r r e n t directors. The company's products have a diverse r a n g e of uses, from p a c k a g i n g n e t s for s u p e r m a r k e t fruit a n d vegetables, to Netlon's a d v a n c e d t u r f system, which stabilises grass root zones for i m p r o v e d s p o r t s surfaces a n d is n o w in u s e at t h e Hong Kong a n d Los Angeles race tracks a n d t h e Melbourne
U n d e r t h e t e r m s of a c o n t r a c t w o r t h h a l f a million p o u n d s , Elga is to u s e O p t i m e n chloriner e s i s t a n t reverse o s m o s i s m e m b r a n e s in a s y s t e m d e s i g n e d to provide high-purity process w a t e r for p h a r m a c e u t i c a l s m a n ufacture. I n c o r p o r a t i n g two special I n t e r c e p t Gemini m u l t i p l e - p a s s reverse o s m o s i s units, t h e elga w a t e r purification s y s t e m s will p r o d u c e US P h a r m a c o p o e i a quality w a t e r w i t h o u t t h e n e e d for aggressive r e g e n e r a n t chemicals. The Gemini u n i t s will o p e r a t e i n d e p e n d e n t l y a n d prod u c e 2000 1/h a n d 3000 1/h respectively of p h a r m a c e u t i c a l p r o c e s s water. The decision to u s e O p t i m e n RO m e m b r a n e s w a s t a k e n after t h e y h a d b e e n e v a l u a t e d by
Cricket Ground. The s u b s t a n t i a l b u y - o u t is s u p p o r t e d by a syndicate of i n s t i t u t i o n a l invest o r s led by t h e M a n c h e s t e r office o f i n v e s t m e n t c a p i t a l g r o u p 3i. The equity f u n d i n g w a s provided jointly by 3i a n d Electra Private Equity P a r t n e r s (EPEP), with I n t e r m e d i a t e Capital Group providing mezzanine funding. Senior d e b t a n d working capital facilities were provided by B a n k of Scotland. 3i plc, 91 Waterloo Road, London SE1 8XP, UK. Tel: + 44 71 928 3131.
Pharmaceutical manufacturer benefits from compressed air systems T h e s t a n d a r d s for o p e r a t o r respiratory air required in t h e p r o d u c t i o n of p h a r m a c e u t i c a l s , are c u r r e n t l y being met, for one of t h e UK's leading m a n u f a c t u r e r s , w i t h c o m p r e s s e d air purification equipment supp l i e d by u l t r a f i l t e r i n t e r n a tional. Both p r i m a r y m a n u f a c t u r e i.e. chemical processing for t h e p r o d u c t i o n of active i n g r e d i e n t s and secondary manufacture, t h e c o n v e r s i o n of t h e s e elem e n t s into finished p r o d u c t s s u c h as tablets, l i q u i d s a n d injection f o r m u l a t i o n s are involved, r e q u i r i n g h i g h s t a n d a r d s of respiratory air for u s e by operators. Quality limits specify clean, dry, oil free c o m p r e s s e d air with m a x i m u m levels for c a r b o n m o n o x i d e of less t h a n 5ppm, c a r b o n d i o x i d e of less t h a n 5 0 0 p p m a n d oil m i s t of less
t h a n 0.3 m g / m 3. O p e r a t o r b r e a t h i n g air also h a s to be free from all o d o u r a n d c o n t a m i n a t i o n by dust, dirt or metallic particles a n d t h e r e are c o n t r o l s on t e m p e r a t u r e a n d relative humidity. In addition to m e e t i n g air cleanliness s t a n d a r d s ultrafilter w a s able to s u p p l y a comp r e s s e d air dryer w h i c h u s e s s t r e a m as t h e power source. High v o l u m e s of p r o c e s s s t e a m are g e n e r a t e d from t h e p r o d u c t i o n of p h a r m a c e u t i c a l s a n d its u s e as a power source, to p r o d u c e clean, dry, oil free c o m p r e s s e d air, h a s proved to be of m a j o r i m p o r t a n c e in efficient site utilisation of energy. ultrafilter international, Pebble Close, Tamworth Business Park, Amington, Tamworth Staffordshire B 7 7 4RP, UK. Tel: + 44 827 58234, fax: +44 827 310166.
Cartridge filters cut production losses A n e w a p p r o a c h to d u s t control is said to have curbed h o l d - u p s in p r o d u c t i o n f o r M a i n e t t i (UK) Ltd. T h e p r o b l e m of u n s c h e d u l e d s h u t d o w n s occurred at t h e c o m p a n y ' s Jedburch plant, which m a n u f a c t u r e s p r o d u c t s s u c h as pvc pipe for underground cables. The pipe is p r o d u c e d c o n t i n u o u s l y twenty-four h o u r s a d a y on n i n e i n d e p e n d e n t e x t r u s i o n lines fed p n e u m a t i cally from a c o m m o n s t a t i o n for t h e receipt, s t o r a g e a n d m i x i n g of pvc resin feedstocks. Dust-control s y s t e m s were installed t h r o u g h o u t t h e plant. However, for t h e m o s t p a r t t h e y were b a s e d on conventional bag filters or s m a l l single-element cartridge filters. They proved to h a v e i n s u f f i c i e n t c a p a c i t y to cope with t h e c o n t i n u o u s flow
670
of r a t h e r aggressive raw m a t e r i als. Mainetti decided to e x a m ine alternative filtration techniques and approached D u s t c h e c k Ltd. Initially, D u s t c h e c k replaced two of t h e bag filters, one of t h e m i x e r h o p p e r a n d a n o t h e r on one of t h e h o p p e r s serving a n e x t r u s i o n line. Silo v e n t filters i n c o r p o r a t i n g m u l t i p l e conically s h a p e d c a r t r i d g e filter e l e m e n t s were installed. The configuration and p l e a t e d m e d i a of t h e elements, c o m b i n e d with t h e reverse-jet filter c l e a n i n g m e t h o d , prod u c e d a n i m m e d i a t e improvem e n t in p e r f o r m a n c e w i t h i n c r e a s e d v o l u m e air flows. Dustcheck Ltd, Unit 2, China Street, Fenton, Stock-on-Trent, Sta~s ST4 3 N J, UK. Tel: + 44 782 599454.
Elga's design e n g i n e e r s working closely with technical specialists from membrane m a n u f a c t u r e r NWW A c u m e m . By e x a m i n i n g a s p e c t s of p l a n t design, o p e r a t i n g condit i o n s a n d cleaning regimes, t h e t e a m w a s able to d e m o n s t r a t e t h a t t h e m e m b r a n e s were capable of p r o d u c i n g t h e h i g h quality w a t e r d e m a n d e d by t h e application. U s i n g O p t i m e n RO m e m b r a n e s in t h e Gemini u n i t s e n a b l e s E l g a to m a i n t a i n a permanent chlorine residual u p s t r e a m a n d d o w n s t r e a m of t h e w a t e r purification plant, e n s u r i n g m a x i m u m microbiological protection at all times. Elga Ltd, High Street, Lane End, High Wycombe, Bucks H P 1 4 3 J H , Tel: + 4 4 4 9 4 881393, fax: + 44 494 881007.
Eriez launches new minerals and materials processing division Eriez Magnetics h a s f o r m e d a n e w division to provide equipm e n t a n d services for m i n e r a l s a n d m a t e r i a l s processing. Building u p o n t h e c o m p a ny's e x p e r t i s e in t r a d i t i o n a l m i n e r a l s processing, Eriez h a s developed capabilities in separating fine particles with h i g h e r m a g n e t i c field s t r e n g t h s desired for a p p l i c a t i o n s in t h e medical, optical, c o m p u t e r a n d defence industries.
The n e w division will focus on p r o v i d i n g e q u i p m e n t a n d services for t h e precise, costeffective p r o c e s s i n g of p o w d e r s a n d o t h e r r a w materials; particle separation; r e m o v a l of ferrous contaminants; and material movement. Eriez Magnetics, Asbury Road at Airport, PO B o x 10608, Erie, Pennsylvania 16514-0608 USA. Tel: + 1 800 345 4946, fax: + 1 814 833 3348.
New dust extraction and filtration plant installed To cope with c h a n g e s in material, M r P l a n t s Ltd (APL), UK h a s installed a n e w d u s t e x t r a c t i o n a n d filtration p l a n t at Alfred Hulme, a t i m b e r i m p o r t e r processor in t h e UI~ In order to m i n i m i s e prod u c t i o n l o s s e s , APL a c c o m p l i s h e d t h i s installation with j u s t one a f t e r n o o n of s h u t d o w n .
The mill w a s closed early on Friday a n d over t h e w e e k e n d APL r e m o v e d all t h e old equipment and installed the new system. On M o n d a y m o r n i n g t h e shift w a s able to s t a r t on t i m e as usual. A i r Plants Ltd, 295 Aylestone Road, Leiceister LE2 7PB, UK. Tel: ÷ 44 533 833581.
Microfiltration process to treat wastewater Pacific Power of A u s t r a l i a h a s selected Memtec's c o n t i n u o u s microfiltration (CMF) technology to t r e a t w a s t e w a t e r t a k e n from a sewage pipeline for r e u s e in t h e rearing power station. The project will provide u p to 3.5 m i l l i o n 1/day of p r o c e s s w a t e r a n d reduce d i s c h a r g e s to t h e ocean. The s c h e m e is believed to be t h e largest w a t e r r e c l a m a t i o n project in A u s t r a lia. T h e p r o j e c t will c o n s e r v e m o r e t h a n 3 million l i t r e s / d a y of fresh water as well as
p r o v i d i n g s a v i n g s in i n v e s t m e n t in p i p e l i n e s a n d associated capital w o r k s s u c h as dams. Memtec's CMF p r o c e s s employs m i c r o p o r o u s hollow fibre m e m b r a n e s w h i c h provide barrier filtration down to 0.2 microns, capable of removing p a r t i c u l a t e BOD, bacteria a n d viral o r g a n i s m s w i t h o u t t h e n e e d for chemical disinfection. Memcor Ltd, Derby Road, Wirksworth, Derbyshire DE4 4EP, UK. Tel: ÷ 4 4 629 823811, fax: + 4 4 629 825169.
November 1994
Filtration & Separation
Chlorine-resistant membranes used in water purification system
Netlon Ltd, specialising in t h e development, m a n u f a c t u r e a n d licensing of Netlon a n d T e n s a r polymeric nets, m e s h a n d grids, h a s been b o u g h t by six of its c u r r e n t directors. The company's products have a diverse r a n g e of uses, from p a c k a g i n g n e t s for s u p e r m a r k e t fruit a n d vegetables, to Netlon's a d v a n c e d t u r f system, which stabilises grass root zones for i m p r o v e d s p o r t s surfaces a n d is n o w in u s e at t h e Hong Kong a n d Los Angeles race tracks a n d t h e Melbourne
U n d e r t h e t e r m s of a c o n t r a c t w o r t h h a l f a million p o u n d s , Elga is to u s e O p t i m e n chloriner e s i s t a n t reverse o s m o s i s m e m b r a n e s in a s y s t e m d e s i g n e d to provide high-purity process w a t e r for p h a r m a c e u t i c a l s m a n ufacture. I n c o r p o r a t i n g two special I n t e r c e p t Gemini m u l t i p l e - p a s s reverse o s m o s i s units, t h e elga w a t e r purification s y s t e m s will p r o d u c e US P h a r m a c o p o e i a quality w a t e r w i t h o u t t h e n e e d for aggressive r e g e n e r a n t chemicals. The Gemini u n i t s will o p e r a t e i n d e p e n d e n t l y a n d prod u c e 2000 1/h a n d 3000 1/h respectively of p h a r m a c e u t i c a l p r o c e s s water. The decision to u s e O p t i m e n RO m e m b r a n e s w a s t a k e n after t h e y h a d b e e n e v a l u a t e d by
Cricket Ground. The s u b s t a n t i a l b u y - o u t is s u p p o r t e d by a syndicate of i n s t i t u t i o n a l invest o r s led by t h e M a n c h e s t e r office o f i n v e s t m e n t c a p i t a l g r o u p 3i. The equity f u n d i n g w a s provided jointly by 3i a n d Electra Private Equity P a r t n e r s (EPEP), with I n t e r m e d i a t e Capital Group providing mezzanine funding. Senior d e b t a n d working capital facilities were provided by B a n k of Scotland. 3i plc, 91 Waterloo Road, London SE1 8XP, UK. Tel: + 44 71 928 3131.
Pharmaceutical manufacturer benefits from compressed air systems T h e s t a n d a r d s for o p e r a t o r respiratory air required in t h e p r o d u c t i o n of p h a r m a c e u t i c a l s , are c u r r e n t l y being met, for one of t h e UK's leading m a n u f a c t u r e r s , w i t h c o m p r e s s e d air purification equipment supp l i e d by u l t r a f i l t e r i n t e r n a tional. Both p r i m a r y m a n u f a c t u r e i.e. chemical processing for t h e p r o d u c t i o n of active i n g r e d i e n t s and secondary manufacture, t h e c o n v e r s i o n of t h e s e elem e n t s into finished p r o d u c t s s u c h as tablets, l i q u i d s a n d injection f o r m u l a t i o n s are involved, r e q u i r i n g h i g h s t a n d a r d s of respiratory air for u s e by operators. Quality limits specify clean, dry, oil free c o m p r e s s e d air with m a x i m u m levels for c a r b o n m o n o x i d e of less t h a n 5ppm, c a r b o n d i o x i d e of less t h a n 5 0 0 p p m a n d oil m i s t of less
t h a n 0.3 m g / m 3. O p e r a t o r b r e a t h i n g air also h a s to be free from all o d o u r a n d c o n t a m i n a t i o n by dust, dirt or metallic particles a n d t h e r e are c o n t r o l s on t e m p e r a t u r e a n d relative humidity. In addition to m e e t i n g air cleanliness s t a n d a r d s ultrafilter w a s able to s u p p l y a comp r e s s e d air dryer w h i c h u s e s s t r e a m as t h e power source. High v o l u m e s of p r o c e s s s t e a m are g e n e r a t e d from t h e p r o d u c t i o n of p h a r m a c e u t i c a l s a n d its u s e as a power source, to p r o d u c e clean, dry, oil free c o m p r e s s e d air, h a s proved to be of m a j o r i m p o r t a n c e in efficient site utilisation of energy. ultrafilter international, Pebble Close, Tamworth Business Park, Amington, Tamworth Staffordshire B 7 7 4RP, UK. Tel: + 44 827 58234, fax: +44 827 310166.
Cartridge filters cut production losses A n e w a p p r o a c h to d u s t control is said to have curbed h o l d - u p s in p r o d u c t i o n f o r M a i n e t t i (UK) Ltd. T h e p r o b l e m of u n s c h e d u l e d s h u t d o w n s occurred at t h e c o m p a n y ' s Jedburch plant, which m a n u f a c t u r e s p r o d u c t s s u c h as pvc pipe for underground cables. The pipe is p r o d u c e d c o n t i n u o u s l y twenty-four h o u r s a d a y on n i n e i n d e p e n d e n t e x t r u s i o n lines fed p n e u m a t i cally from a c o m m o n s t a t i o n for t h e receipt, s t o r a g e a n d m i x i n g of pvc resin feedstocks. Dust-control s y s t e m s were installed t h r o u g h o u t t h e plant. However, for t h e m o s t p a r t t h e y were b a s e d on conventional bag filters or s m a l l single-element cartridge filters. They proved to h a v e i n s u f f i c i e n t c a p a c i t y to cope with t h e c o n t i n u o u s flow
670
of r a t h e r aggressive raw m a t e r i als. Mainetti decided to e x a m ine alternative filtration techniques and approached D u s t c h e c k Ltd. Initially, D u s t c h e c k replaced two of t h e bag filters, one of t h e m i x e r h o p p e r a n d a n o t h e r on one of t h e h o p p e r s serving a n e x t r u s i o n line. Silo v e n t filters i n c o r p o r a t i n g m u l t i p l e conically s h a p e d c a r t r i d g e filter e l e m e n t s were installed. The configuration and p l e a t e d m e d i a of t h e elements, c o m b i n e d with t h e reverse-jet filter c l e a n i n g m e t h o d , prod u c e d a n i m m e d i a t e improvem e n t in p e r f o r m a n c e w i t h i n c r e a s e d v o l u m e air flows. Dustcheck Ltd, Unit 2, China Street, Fenton, Stock-on-Trent, Sta~s ST4 3 N J, UK. Tel: + 44 782 599454.
Elga's design e n g i n e e r s working closely with technical specialists from membrane m a n u f a c t u r e r NWW A c u m e m . By e x a m i n i n g a s p e c t s of p l a n t design, o p e r a t i n g condit i o n s a n d cleaning regimes, t h e t e a m w a s able to d e m o n s t r a t e t h a t t h e m e m b r a n e s were capable of p r o d u c i n g t h e h i g h quality w a t e r d e m a n d e d by t h e application. U s i n g O p t i m e n RO m e m b r a n e s in t h e Gemini u n i t s e n a b l e s E l g a to m a i n t a i n a permanent chlorine residual u p s t r e a m a n d d o w n s t r e a m of t h e w a t e r purification plant, e n s u r i n g m a x i m u m microbiological protection at all times. Elga Ltd, High Street, Lane End, High Wycombe, Bucks H P 1 4 3 J H , Tel: + 4 4 4 9 4 881393, fax: + 44 494 881007.
Eriez launches new minerals and materials processing division Eriez Magnetics h a s f o r m e d a n e w division to provide equipm e n t a n d services for m i n e r a l s a n d m a t e r i a l s processing. Building u p o n t h e c o m p a ny's e x p e r t i s e in t r a d i t i o n a l m i n e r a l s processing, Eriez h a s developed capabilities in separating fine particles with h i g h e r m a g n e t i c field s t r e n g t h s desired for a p p l i c a t i o n s in t h e medical, optical, c o m p u t e r a n d defence industries.
The n e w division will focus on p r o v i d i n g e q u i p m e n t a n d services for t h e precise, costeffective p r o c e s s i n g of p o w d e r s a n d o t h e r r a w materials; particle separation; r e m o v a l of ferrous contaminants; and material movement. Eriez Magnetics, Asbury Road at Airport, PO B o x 10608, Erie, Pennsylvania 16514-0608 USA. Tel: + 1 800 345 4946, fax: + 1 814 833 3348.
New dust extraction and filtration plant installed To cope with c h a n g e s in material, M r P l a n t s Ltd (APL), UK h a s installed a n e w d u s t e x t r a c t i o n a n d filtration p l a n t at Alfred Hulme, a t i m b e r i m p o r t e r processor in t h e UI~ In order to m i n i m i s e prod u c t i o n l o s s e s , APL a c c o m p l i s h e d t h i s installation with j u s t one a f t e r n o o n of s h u t d o w n .
The mill w a s closed early on Friday a n d over t h e w e e k e n d APL r e m o v e d all t h e old equipment and installed the new system. On M o n d a y m o r n i n g t h e shift w a s able to s t a r t on t i m e as usual. A i r Plants Ltd, 295 Aylestone Road, Leiceister LE2 7PB, UK. Tel: ÷ 44 533 833581.
Microfiltration process to treat wastewater Pacific Power of A u s t r a l i a h a s selected Memtec's c o n t i n u o u s microfiltration (CMF) technology to t r e a t w a s t e w a t e r t a k e n from a sewage pipeline for r e u s e in t h e rearing power station. The project will provide u p to 3.5 m i l l i o n 1/day of p r o c e s s w a t e r a n d reduce d i s c h a r g e s to t h e ocean. The s c h e m e is believed to be t h e largest w a t e r r e c l a m a t i o n project in A u s t r a lia. T h e p r o j e c t will c o n s e r v e m o r e t h a n 3 million l i t r e s / d a y of fresh water as well as
p r o v i d i n g s a v i n g s in i n v e s t m e n t in p i p e l i n e s a n d associated capital w o r k s s u c h as dams. Memtec's CMF p r o c e s s employs m i c r o p o r o u s hollow fibre m e m b r a n e s w h i c h provide barrier filtration down to 0.2 microns, capable of removing p a r t i c u l a t e BOD, bacteria a n d viral o r g a n i s m s w i t h o u t t h e n e e d for chemical disinfection. Memcor Ltd, Derby Road, Wirksworth, Derbyshire DE4 4EP, UK. Tel: ÷ 4 4 629 823811, fax: + 4 4 629 825169.
November 1994
Filtration & Separation