Call Holland for the Hard Stuff

January 28, 2012

In dealing with many pharmaceutical companies, we are asked if we know where to find specialty items to aid in manufacturing of product.

Custom Stainless Steel Pliers

Recently, Holland was asked to fabricate a pair of reverse acting, spring loaded pliers that could be used inside an isolator to easily moved filled vials.  The pliers had to be manufactured from stainless steel and had to be able to be used in an isolator with the use of gloves.  After an extensive search by our client, we were asked to fabricate this device.

 

The Holland Fabrication Group quickly came up with an acceptable design.  We fabricated a set of reverse acting, spring loaded, stainless steel pliers with a custom hook device, with removable silicone inserts so that the pliers will not scratch or damage the vials while they are being moved from one piece of equipment to another.  The pliers were developed to be able to remove the vial from a rack and also from a table top.  The “hook” design was has a multiple bend radius so that this is possible with one tool.

 

From concept, to quote, to drawing, to a final product, the entire project lasted two weeks.  Currently, these pliers are being trialed by several people in the production facility and there will be several more sets of pliers that will be fabricated.  This set of pliers will be used on 13mm vials and there are discussions on developing similar pliers for other size vials, syringes, and ampoules.

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A Sanitary PD Pump That Is Easy to CIP

January 4, 2012

Bornemann Twinn Auger Sanitary Pump

Ever try to use a Sanitary Positive Displacement (PD) Pump to pump product then CIPsolution?  Most PD pumps are capable of pumping product, but are not capable of pumping enough Clean In Place (CIP) solution to achieve proper cleaning in the sanitary pipeline downstream of the pump.  The speed in which the PD pump can run limits its capability to achieve the high flow rates needed to clean downstream piping.  Thus most food processing facilities have to put bypass lines around their PD pumps and use an additional centrifugal or a supply pump to achieve proper flow rate/velocity for good cleaning.

The Bornemann Twin Screw Pump is however one type of PD pump capable of pumping both product and CIP solution without the use of a bypass line around the pump and without the use of a secondary centrifugal pump.  The Bornemann Twin Screw Pump can be ran at lower speeds for products that may be shear sensitive, viscous or require low flow rates.  It can then be turned to nearly 3000 RPM to achieve higher flow rates with CIP solution for cleaning downstream piping.  The capability of running at these higher RPM’s gives the Bornemann Twin Screw Pump the advantage over many types of PD pumps now on the market.

Other advantages of the Bornemann Twin Screw Pump include –

  • Capability of being run at speeds to 3000RPM means not having a gear reducer as most PD Pumps require – the Bornemann can be direct driven with a standard motor
  • Capable of running dry – the Bornemann can be ran dry without damage for a number of minutes unlike many other types of PD pumps
  • Capable of pumping Multi-phase solutions – air entrained water or product will not cause cavitation in the Bornemann Twin Screw pump
  • Capable of running two directions – top inlet / side discharge  OR  side inlet / top discharge….it doesn’t matter and can be changed simply by reversing the motor

Twin Auger Design

Visit our website to learn more about the Bornemann Twin Screw Pump and to see videos of the pump working.

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DO YOU HAVE HYGIENIC EQUIPMENT PROCESSING REQUIREMENTS?

October 12, 2011

Holland has been designing and building custom processing systems and skid’s for over 40 years.

Whether you need a simple Pump and Tank Wash Skid for cleaning or a turnkey Pharmaceutical Process System, to a basic Pump Cart, Holland has the Design Engineering Capability to help Execute your project smoothly.

With our :

  • Process Knowledge,
  • Ease of Doing Business
  • Quality

Design/Engineering Capabilities

  • P&ID Generation/modification
  • Process Design (3D Model)
  • Project Management
  • Factory Acceptance testing

 Manufacturing Capability

 Welding

  • Machining
  • Metal forming
  • Polishing

 

ASK US HOW WE CAN HELP EXECUTE YOUR PROCESS EQUIPMENT REQUIREMENTS.  CALL US AT 800-800-8464.

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Votator Scraped Surface Heat Exchangers.

September 23, 2011

Votator II Scraped Surface Heat Exchanger

For more than 60 years, Votator scraped surface heat exchangers have been replacing slow, inefficient batching operations with more uniform, controllable and repeatable continuous processing.  The Votator II incorporates the most popular features of the Thermutator and Votator lines, making it extremely easy to maintain.

The Votator II and the Extra Heavy Duty Votator II replace the Thermutator and standard Votator units, and is also available as a vertical unit.

Typical applications are heating and cooling cheese sauce, pudding, caramel, deboned meat, pet food, and fruit products.

  • 3A, ASME,and PED Certified
  • One-Piece Mechanical Seal
    • Hard Faces offer more durability for longer life
    • Fewer parts allow for easier maintenance
  • PEEK™ Blades
    • 100% PEEK™ – no filler or insert – provides longer life and no stress separation
    • Can be used on any heat transfer tube, with any product at most process temperatures
    • FDA compliant
  • Integral Gear Motor Drive
    • Gear drive is directly coupled to the mutator shaft eliminating the need for a secondary drive shaft and bearing block
    • Overall length of heat exchanger is reduced by 20 – 25%
    • Easy to maintain and self-aligning
    • Available with up to 30 horsepower for handling the most viscous products
  • Removable Heat Transfer Tube
    • Can be serviced without disturbing the utility piping or the drive motor
    • Flange bolted to the jacket on the non-driven end allows for quick removal
    • Reliable double o-ring seal on each end eliminates the need for an expansion joint
  • Heat Transfer Area
    • Units are available with up to 11 sq ft of heat transfer area (6 X 84)

Please contact a Holland representative for additional information.

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Multi-Purpose UHT Pilot Plant

September 14, 2011

SPX UHT Pilot System

Many of our customers have an R&D division where they can test various food products.  A Multi-Purpose UHT Pilot Plant can be utilized in their facility to accomplish many of these tests using just one piece of equipment.  Holland Applied Technologies can offer assistance in the specifications, design and installation of this type of UHT system.

The UHT Pilot Plant System is designed many times for a variable rate between 75-150 Liters/Hour  (approx 0.3 to 0.6 gallons per minute) and an approx batch size of up to 25 Liters.  The system is perfect for product trials before scaling up to commercial full scale production.  It has a relative small footprint and comes pre-assembled as a skidded unit already factory tested.

The UHT Pilot Plant offers the following options –

  1. Indirect Heating via plate/frame heat exchanger, type SIH
  2. Direct Infusion heating with flash cooling, type SDH
  3. Direct Injection heating, type SDI
  4. Pasteurization and hold tube
  5. Homogenization
  6. Aseptic capability
  7. Scrape surface heat exchanger

Please contact us at Holland Applied Technologies if you have any questions or would like to learn more about UHT systems.

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Holland Custom Valve Modification Saves Customer Time and Money

September 9, 2011

Recently a large Food Manufacturer contacted the Holland sales representative to replace some obsolete and improperly performing actuated ball

A Sample of a Holland Custom Valve Modification

valves which were being used for throttling/ shut off service in a dispensing production line process. The product was a Sugar Icing used in cookie production

The existing valves were over 20 years old, were jacketed and had special end connections.  Additionally the valves were in a very tight space and finding a valve with the same dimensions for a drop in replacement was not an option available.  The customer had a short window of time to replace the valves as the production line is running 6 days a week and 2 shifts per day.

The customer was concerned with both turnaround time and cleanliness in the production area.  Having a contractor do the modifications on site to modify and install the new valves could be a problem.

The Holland representative suggested pre-purchasing valves and modifying at Holland with the correct end connections and face to face dimensions to accommodate the existing piping and the customer maintenance dept could do the valve install on the regularly scheduled down day during the week.  The customer liked the Holland solution and placed the order for the valves and modifications.   Holland ordered the valves.  The Holland rep measured all the piping face dimensions on the old valves.

Holland’s sanitary stainless steel fabrication shop did all the fabrication to modify the valves ahead of time and they  were dropped in during a short shutdown.  The customer was retrofitted with new valves, up and running without any impact on the production schedule and at a significant cost savings over field piping.

Let Holland take a look at your difficult fabrication challenges.

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New Bio-Simplex Polypropylene Carboys

September 6, 2011

Holland Applied Technologies now offers the new Saint Gobain Bio-Simplex™ Polypropylene Carboys for advanced liquid handling and solution

Bio-Simplex 40 Liter Polypropylene Carboy with Spigot

storage for many pharma applications. Saint-Gobain offers four popular sizes of carboys: 5 L, 10 L, 20 L and 40 L manufactured from high quality polypropylene, which is resistant to chemicals . Many times, users autoclaving plastic carboys experience deformities/collapsing from elevated temps. Not with these. The Bio-Simplex carboys can withstand sterilization temperatures up to 275°F (135°C)

The carboy’s body includes design features that allow the user to easily hold, lift, fill, and pour while the versatile Container closure technology provides interchangeable and leak-proof topconnections. The Bio-Simplex carboys are available with or without an autoclavable spigot. They also feature easy-to-read certified graduation marks with ± 5% accuracy, large molded marks for clearly identifiable volume and material. The Bio-Simplex system–carboy, cap, and spigot is autoclavable.

Additionally, a Bio-Simplex Container Closure can be added to create a complete container assembly when combined with cap and container. This economical assembly, designed for single use, can successfully replace stainless steel closures and eliminate costs such as cleaning, validation and assembly, and the contamination from repeated use.

See the video below for more details on the Bio-Simplex Polypropylene Carboys.

 

To request more information on the Bio-Simplex Polypropylene Carboys click on this link.

To join our mailing list to recieve more new product updates click on this link.

 

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Aflex Teflon Hoses at Holland

August 30, 2011

Aflex Pharmaline Hose

Holland Applied Technologies now stock the full line of Aflex Pharmaline hoses.  This includes both the standard GP hose and the Anti-Static hose.  Both Aflex hoses are FDA approved and have been Class VI tested.  The Anti-Static hose would be used in chemical transfer and also when steam is present.

When steam flows through a hose, especially PTFE hose, a static charge can build up.  Once this charge has gained enough  there will be a discharge.  This electric discharge can be strong enough to blow a microscopic hole in the PTFE liner.  Once this happens, steam can leak through the PTFE liner and create a bubble under the silicone OD liner.  To combat this issue, Anti Static PTFE liners can be used.

The full line of Aflex hoses, both the standard GP and AS liner hoses, are fabricated at Holland.  Holland stocks 0.5” to 2” hose and end connections and these can be crimped to the length that you need.  A multitude of end connections are available from Tri-Clamp to JIC swivel to meet you process needs.  In most instances, these hose assemblies can be built within a one to two days.

For more information regarding Aflex hoses contact us via our website by clicking on this link.  To join our mailing list click on this link.

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Making the Right Choice for Biopharmaceutical Tubing

August 19, 2011

Over the last 6-7 years, the emerging question on the mind of everyone moving fluid through flexible tubing in the biopharm industry is: which tubing material is correct for my application?  Unfortunately, it’s a loaded question.  There are a large number of factors to consider when deciding between silicone tubing, TPE tubing, Teflon tubing, etc.  Please read through the checklist below and see if you can easily answer these questions.

1)      What media will I be moving through my tubing?

2)      What size (ID/OD) is the biopharm tubing we’re currently using?

3)      Will there be any pressure spikes associated with backflow from a peristaltic pump, coming out of a pressurized tank, recirculation loop, etc.?

4)      If there is peristaltic or other pump involved, how long does the cycle last?

5)       What is the range of temperatures the media/biopharm tubing will see?

6)      What other properties of your silicone/TPE tubing are you looking to see achieved (absorption, long pump life, sealing/welding, aseptic connections, etc.)?

As you can see, there’s a lot of answer to the original question.  There simply isn’t a tubing made to accomplish every single thing your line needs.  That’s why so many formulations of silicone and TPE tubings exist.  Everyone wants to achieve something a little different.

At Holland, our goal is to ensure you select the right biopharmaceutical tubing – the first time.  We have a rich history of tailoring solutions to customers in high purity applications and tubing is no exception.  Whether it’s SaniTech silicones, C-Flex TPE’s or PharmaFluor Teflon – Holland has something to match your needs.

Please call us today at 800-800-8464 and get your questions answered.

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Sanitary Seat Valves

July 26, 2011

Waukesha Valve Manifold

Sanitary Seat Valves have been used in the Food and Pharmaceutical Markets for many years.  More recently however, this type of valve has undergone changes and upgrades to allow for even more types of applications amongst both Food and Pharma applications.  Below are just a few of the various Seat Valve options available through Holland Applied Technologies.

Body type – Today, with the help of 5 axis CNC machines, Sanitary seat valves can be made from bar stock and have many different body configurations.  Shut-off, Divert, Mix-Proof,  Aseptic, Y-body,  Zero- Deadleg, Tangential, and Throttling type Sanitary Seat Valves are now available.  Shut-off and Divert are the most common however now there are now Non-Slamming Divert valves that can be purchased as well.  Aseptic type valves include either a stem “flush” or the newer style Bellows type Aseptic configuration requiring no steam to the valve.  Y-body seat valves provide for large, straight through full port flow for viscous products or ones with particulates. Mix-Proof valves allow our customers to process on one line while Clean In Place procedures are happening on another line connected to it, all without the possibility of CIP fluid ever reaching the product being produced.   Tangential and Zero-deadleg type valves provide solutions for applications where complete drainage is often difficult with a Seat valve.  Buyer beware – Some valve manufacturer’s have much larger “Dead-legs” or hard to clean areas than others….Holland Applied Technologies personnel can illustrate the differences.

Actuators and Control Tops – With the many types of body styles, increased line sizes and increased line pressures in the industry, Actuators have also transformed through the years.  Standard air to open/spring to close type actuators dominate most applications however there are now Air to Air, Heavy Duty Spring, Two Position Type, Throttling and various spring/actuator sizes on the market today.  Each has its place with different applications such as the Two Position where product flows at a high rate of speed up to a certain point where it then partially closes and “dribbles” flow until a certain product level is achieved.  Control tops now include not only micro or proximity type switches but everything from As-i Fieldbus, DeviceNet, and Set/Forget type to name a few.

Stem and Seat – Today’s stem/seat combinations are much improved.  Old style complete rubber coated plug seats have now been replaced by either special oring type or Teflon/Peek type seats in the Sanitary Seat Valve market.  Gone are the days where rubber chunks could break off from the stem seat only to end up in the product downstream.

If you have an application for a Sanitary Seat Valve in your future, please give us a call, we can help.

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