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May 27, 2023

New Granulation Unit Combines Mixing, Granulating, Drying

Apr 23, 2015 Developed by the Bosch subsidiary Hüttlin GmbH, the GranuLean

Apr 23, 2015

Developed by the Bosch subsidiary Hüttlin GmbH, the GranuLean combines the process steps of mixing, granulating, and drying for the manufacturing of pharmaceutical granules."The name GranuLean stands for a lean and compact machine, which can be easily integrated into production rooms and focuses on the basic requirements of pharmaceutical producers," said Fritz-Martin Scholz, product manager at Bosch Packaging Technology. "By concentrating on the essential basic functions within fixed dimensions, we have developed an especially efficient granulation solution."Simplified Construction, Uniform Human Machine InterfaceAs opposed to tailor-made granulation lines, the most important functions of GranuLean are installed by default. "The high level of standardization now enables us to fulfill customer demands for a complete and quickly available system at the accustomed high quality," said Scholz. Thanks to the easy alignment of machine components on site, the granulation unit can be installed quickly and easily. All process and cleaning steps can be controlled via recipes. The operator interface is a 21-in. touchscreen with user-friendly navigation.Smooth Product Flow through Integrated Wet MillThe process for manufacturing pharmaceutical granules begins by pneumatically filling the high-shear mixer. The mixing device Gentlewing, which is driven from below, mixes and granulates the active ingredients and excipients. The high-shear mixer is emptied via the equally newly developed, integrated wet mill.Communication between the mill and Gentlewing ensures that only as much product is emptied as the mill is able to process, which prevents the mill from clogging. A pneumatic transfer pipe subsequently transfers the wet product to the GranuLean fluid bed module, where it is dried through the inflow of the proven Diskjet distribution plate. The function of process filters is crucial to obtain high yields. For this reason, Bosch has developed a new process filter, where the elements are serially cleaned with compressed air pulses. At the end of the drying process, the product is emptied by a dry mill.Apart from the high-shear mixer, granulation can also take place in the fluid bed by using a tangential or top spray process. GranuLean is available for a containment level of up to OEB3 (Operational Exposure Band). The machine remains closed during operation, while inflatable seals on the product containers provide for an optimum draught-proofing. Moreover, the integrated cleaning system ensures an even easier handling.Tablets and Capsules in LineSuitable handling equipment makes it possible to combine the new granulation unit to a compact line, for instance with the new tablet presses of the Manesty TPR range. Alternatively, the granule can be filled into stick packs or capsules, for example with the new GKF 2600 capsule filling machine from Bosch.

Bosch Packaging Technology, Waiblingen, Germany +49 7622 6884-131 www.boschpackaging.com

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