September 2011 Editor's Picks: Products from Lechler and National Bulk Equipment

Lechler
Air nozzle provides chemical resistance
Lechler’s WhisperBlast air nozzle is made of polypropylene, a chemical that complies with FDA regulations for materials used in pharmaceutical applications. The polypropylene model provides more chemical resistance than Lechler’s other air nozzles and can withstand contact with harsh acids. The unit is appropriate for applications such as blowing off rejected product, cooling blister packs, drying containers before the labeling process, and other operations that require compressed air.

Like Lechler’s other air nozzles, the polypro version is built with 16 distinct air channels into which inlet air is directed from the nozzle-inlet end. The unit can create a blowing force equal to that generated by other methods, but at lower inlet air pressures, thus reducing operating costs. The nozzle blows with directed force and is designed to be quieter than most compressed-air sprayers. The nozzle’s flat configuration allows operators to use it individually or alongside other nozzles on a header to create an air curtain.

National Bulk Equipment
Dry bulk-material handling system increases process efficiency
National Bulk Equipment offers a bulk-bag unloading system designed and built for applications in regulated process industries. The system’s angled-plane framework with rounded radii reduces material accumulation and speeds moisture removal during washing in place. Operators can access the system’s component enclosures easily, which simplifies validation and inspection. In addition, the system’s process controls and automation comply with the specifications of the International Organization for Standardization.

A bulk-bag conditioner is integrated directly into the bulk-bag unloader’s structural framework. This design eliminates the repetitive loading and unloading that freestanding bag conditioners require and reduces the process to a single load–unload cycle. During an 8-h shift, the system’s integrated bag conditioning can increase the total number of bags processed from 12 to 16, according to the company.

The bulk-material handling system is built to handle free-flowing and fine materials, which are common to the pharmaceutical industry. Its dry and liquid product contact areas are constructed of 304–2b stainless steel.