11/11/2009Containment in a RIVA table press

Active Product Tablet Press Isolator 

The Isolator is designed to be suitable for handling product with an OEL (Operator Exposure Level) of 0.1µg/m³, in a non-hazardous area.

Telstar Ace, the containment technology section of the Telstar group recently completed the manufacture, installation and commissioning of another bespoke isolator to contain a fully automated Riva tablet press.

The Riva Tablet Press is a 10 station rotary unit for low production and designed to be utilised in development plants and for small batch production up to 60,000 tablets per hour. Working on an isolator program, Riva identified the need to enclose one of their Piccola tablet presses to protect the operators to 0.1 microgram/m3 containment levels from potent active products.

The process of integrating the tablet press within the isolator started with an ergonomic model being constructed and built around the press in the pre-engineering phase, this enabling the client and Telstar ACE to maximise the area's most important for operator production and maintenance. Particular emphasis was given to the strip down and cleaning of the tablet press head and die's used in the production phase. It was also at this stage Telstar ACE introduced the client to the ACE CTS 150 transfer port, (Contained Transfer Port) to allow the introduction of tools, replacement parts and cleaning agents all within a contained manner.

The units double stage filtrated system operates during normal running conditions under a negative pressure air atmosphere, and in the event of a containment breach, this negative pressure is increased by controlling the fan speeds to keep the operator protected at all times. Considerations for air calculations were also made due to a permanently attached de-dusting unit which was supplied by client.

Taking all the above into account, the unit has a dedicated ‘On Board' control and instrumentation system to specifically control this air handling requirement, the system  also incorporates specific indicators and alarms for safe operation. The Isolator is designed to be suitable for handling product with an Operator Exposure Level (OEL) of 0.1µg/m³, in a non-hazardous area.

The single chamber isolator was manufactured using 316L grade stainless steel which incorporated a sloped wash sink base, this having a mounting plinth set in the middle to house the tablet press keeping the press level. The unit was also fitted with 2 internal spray balls and a wash wand to aid with the internal cleaning of parts. To aid the drying cycle of these washed parts, (without breaking containment) a compressed air operated hand nozzle was also incorporated within the isolator.

Successful integration of this specific unit has resulted in the purchase of 2 further units of which Telstar ACE are highly delighted, Telstar group's containment section plant manager, Steve Sweryda stated, "We like nothing better than a challenge and excel in this type of project, as the world's leading containment specialist we enjoy our expanding role as supplying containment solutions and bespoke units to end user and OEM suppliers".