World premieres and technology highlights await pharma professionals
From May 7 to 13, interpack in Düsseldorf will once again open its doors to professionals from the processing and packaging industries. L.B. Bohle will once again exhibit together with KORSCH AG – this time at a larger, more centrally located booth, 16B41.
“Alongside ACHEMA, interpack is the leading trade fair for our industry and a permanent fixture in our exhibition planning,” says Tim Remmert, Executive Director Sales, emphasizing the importance of the event.
More space, more exhibits
Above all, the new booth offers one thing: more space. “We are delighted that we can now present our technologies across a total of 514 m²,” says Remmert. With its established two-story booth design and proven communication and catering concept, L.B. Bohle will provide ideal conditions for a successful trade fair visit and in-depth discussions about its exhibits and technologies.
“Given the expanded exhibition space, we are naturally increasing the number of exhibits as well,” adds Thorsten Wesselmann, Executive Director Technology. With a total of eight exhibits covering five process steps in tablet manufacturing, L.B. Bohle will provide a comprehensive overview of its broad product portfolio.
Premiere for the new PM 1000 bin blender
With the PM 1000 bin blender, L.B. Bohle is presenting a technically optimized version of one of the company’s best-selling systems in a new design. “Our PM blenders, featuring the blending element integrated into the bin lid and successfully developed and patented by Lorenz Bohle, were the first catalyst for the company’s growth,” recalls Wesselmann. From the very beginning, these blenders have used an electromechanical drive and continue to stand out not only for their versatility and durability, but above all for their efficiency.
The systems can be used in pharmaceutical manufacturing across a wide scale range, depending on the process, from 14 to 12,000 liters. As standard, blending bins up to 2,400 liters are designed as exchangeable bins. Effective blending can be achieved at fill levels between 20 and 85 percent and with bulk densities from 0.2 to 1.2 kg/dm³.
“With the new PM, the updated appearance is immediately noticeable,” says Wesselmann. The entire electrical system is integrated into the machine itself, resulting in a smaller footprint and eliminating the need for an external control cabinet. “Particularly striking are the signal lights on the left and right sides of the lifting column, which indicate the machine status to the operator,” he adds.
The design team has also modified the rotary drive, making it more maintenance-friendly. Lubrication is now based on operating hours rather than performed automatically. In addition, the lifting drive is now equipped with a frequency converter as standard, providing greater process control, enhanced safety, and reduced wear.
The blending motor complies with IE4 energy-efficiency class. Compared with IE3 motors, IE4 motors reduce energy losses by approximately 15 percent, lowering operating costs while improving the machine’s overall energy performance.
Focus on continuous wet granulation, fluid-bed granulation, and dry granulation
In the pharmaceutical industry, granulation processes are increasingly evaluated from the perspective of higher efficiency and lower manufacturing costs.
“We offer one of the industry’s broadest portfolios for wet and dry granulation applications,” says Burkhard Schmidt, Sales Director. With machines and processes for both conventional batch production and continuous manufacturing, L.B. Bohle is particularly well positioned in this area.
BFS fluid-bed system with tangential spray
“The BFS fluid-bed granulator will certainly be one of the visual highlights of the show,” Schmidt says confidently ahead of the event. At interpack, L.B. Bohle will present the BFS 240, a system that enables wet granulation, drying, and pellet coating without the need for mechanical conversion.
The system operates with a tangential spray process and therefore offers advantages over top-spray systems. “The tangential nozzles are positioned in the lower wall of the product container and spray the particles precisely where they have the highest velocity and, due to their circulating movement, the longest drying path. This reduces total granulation time because spray times are shorter and drying efficiency is improved. In addition, granulation liquid can be saved,” Schmidt explains.
Another advantage of BFS fluid-bed technology is its ease of operation and maintenance. The process container can be fully pivoted open, providing direct floor-level access to the filter baskets.
A benchmark in dry granulation
With the BRC 25, L.B. Bohle will present a dry granulator that is highly regarded worldwide.
For the drive system, L.B. Bohle relies on an electric motor. The electromechanically driven rollers operate with exceptional precision and require only minimal maintenance. By contrast, other dry granulators on the market use hydraulic systems. “That means regular oil changes and potential issues in the cleanroom,” explains Wesselmann. In addition, the oil must be cooled, which increases energy demand. The oil also changes its properties over time, which can negatively affect system precision.
With features such as assembly and disassembly in less than ten minutes, fast screen changes, and a standard WIP system, the BRC rapidly became a global success.
QbCon® 1: flexibility for R&D and small-batch production
At interpack, L.B. Bohle will also present QbCon® 1, its solution for continuous wet granulation and drying. “Whether in research and development or in pilot and small-batch production, QbCon® 1 offers our customers numerous practical advantages,” says Schmidt.
Valid process results can be generated within minutes. “Tests with very small material quantities starting at just 50 grams are also possible, which is particularly important in R&D,” he adds.
QbCon® 1 ensures process control to maintain quality at all times. Through the in-line use of Process Analytical Technology (PAT), product quality can be monitored continuously throughout the process. Deviations are detected immediately and can be corrected at once. As a result, entire batches do not have to be discarded in the event of an error, less out-of-specification (OOS) material must be rejected, and product variability is reduced.
Real-time analysis of both process and product also opens the door to real-time release testing for pharmaceuticals. This creates the opportunity to establish 100 percent non-destructive inspection of all manufactured products.
BFC 5 laboratory coater delivers maximum flexibility
With the BFC 5, L.B. Bohle will showcase its laboratory coater, first introduced to industry professionals at ACHEMA 2024.
The laboratory coater can be operated with three different drum sizes. As standard, the coater is equipped with two drums enabling batch sizes of 2 to 6 liters and 5 to 13 liters, respectively. Using a partition insert, the smaller drum can also handle batch sizes of 0.5 to 3 liters. Scale-up is fully ensured.
A modular spray arm with up to four nozzles, depending on the application, provides both flexibility and excellent coating results.
BTM 150 hammer mill and BTS 200 screening unit
L.B. Bohle will also present the BTM hammer mill, a compact and versatile solution for research, development, batch production, and continuous manufacturing.
Operating at speeds from 600 to 6,000 rpm, the BTM achieves throughput rates of up to 1,500 kg/h. An automatic feeding device ensures uniform feeding into the milling chamber, prevents overfilling, and reduces heat generation. Different screen inserts enable particle sizes down to below 100 µm. Thanks to a rotor with both impact and knife sides, the system can process hard, crystalline, as well as sticky products.
L.B. Bohle will also show the technically optimized BTS 200. The BTS is used for particle-size calibration of dry or wet products and enables sieving, lump breaking and control screening. Greater operator convenience, optimized CIP cleaning, and reduced product loss through improved paddle geometry distinguish this new flexible system.