Hoppers for bulk pharmaceutical material handling
In the world of escalating labor costs, increasing number of pharmaceutical companies are opting for reusable plastic hoppers for collecting, storing and transporting tablets, granulations and powders manufactured so as to do away with manual handling and ensure the benefits of bulk material handling.
However, choosing the best pharmaceutical hopper for you involves a bit of introspection and also a bit of analysis by some qualified container consultant.
To start with, the hopper to be selected should be made of FDA-approved polyethylene. Additives such as pigments and anti-static agents, for example, must also meet FDA standards.
Plastic hoppers have an added advantage over stainless steel as they are lightweight and cost-effective and can also be stacked or racked to make efficient use of floor space. They are gentler and quieter on expensive floors compared to metal containers. Also, lightweight polyethylene hoppers that detach from their bases are easier to handle, clean and sanitize than heavy metal containers. Plastic hoppers with smooth, seamless interior surfaces are ideal for complete, rapid cleaning.
Determine the slope for the hopper’s interior cone on the basis of the size, weight, coating and shape of the tablet – or the consistency of the powder or granular ingredients that are being processed.
If tablets manufactured have a tendency to break or crumble easily, opt for a ‘shallow’ hopper so that the tablets will have a shorter distance to fall into the container and so that the tablets on the bottom will not be crushed by the weight of the tablets on top of them.
If the ingredients in the tablets and powders processed at your plant are sensitive to light, choose an opaque pigment for the hopper. Also the hopper openings should be designed to prevent moisture absorption.
You can also customize your hopper to suit your specific in-line manufacturing requirements based on the size, color, discharge valves, tamper-resistant lids, and compatibility with auxiliary equipment and so on.
In a nutshell, selecting the right hopper for you needs a lot of points to be identified and getting to know all the options available. You can also take help from knowledgeable container consultants who understand your bulk material handling concerns. This will ensure that you get the best option available to as to cut costs and benefit most for a longer period.
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