Innovative automated washing system improves further the already very attractive process economics of the Courtoy Modul tablet press by increasing operating time.

Innovative automated washing system improves further the already very attractive process economics of the Courtoy Modul tablet press by increasing operating time. When running a tablet press, keeping it in service is the key to profitability. Now the already very attractive process economics of the Courtoy Modul tablet press have been improved even further by increasing operating time through an innovative automated washing system, Wash Off Line (WOL).

The Modul contains all powder within an Exchangeable Compression Module (ECM) designed for extreme fast product changeover (often in as little as 30 minutes) with very high containment.

The WOL increases production time by cleaning the ECM after it is removed from the tablet press.

The MODUL press remains in operation producing another product while the cleaning cycle runs.

The self-contained ECM holding all product contact parts is removed from the press onto a trolley by means of an incorporated arm.

This trolley is rolled to a wash skid, where three high-performance spray nozzles are attached while still maintaining complete containment.

The PLC program on the wash skid runs a user-defined program using cold and warm water in combination with detergents and other cleaning agents, and rinsing with purified water.

The Wash Off Line technique is much more economical than a Wash In Place (WIP) system because WIP requires shutdown of the tablet press during the entire cleaning, drying, and cooling cycle.

With WOL you can continue generating profit by running a second product while the first product module is being cleaned.

Other advantages of WOL include the capability of one wash skid servicing multiple presses and the ability to clean powder feed and peripheral equipment.

The Wash Off Line Exchangeable Compression Modul will be presented at the Interphex 2005 in Booth #1537 and is available for testing at Niro.