Small batches of high value hygroscopic / irregular powders

When handling clinical, R&D or any small batch of high value products, the capability to minimise the product waste to virtually zero is key.

Among this kind of productions, we often find non-perfectly flowing powders and irregular powders, which present difficulties in obtaining an acceptable dosing accuracy.

There are also powders which are so hygroscopic, sticky or heat-sensitive that the typical filling processes can alter their properties and features.

Your filling challenges

  • Highly higroscopic and sticky powders

  • Irregular types of powders, cannot be accurately filled with vacuum-pressure dosing disk

  • Heat-sensitive powders, cannot be filled with augers without risking of altering their features

  • Citostatic products, posing hazard to operators

  • High value products in small and clinical batches

  • R&D products

  • Microspheres

  • RTU vials

  • Biotech

  • Non-flowable powders with tendency to create bridges

  • Powder that melts at 30° C

  • Microspheres which can’t be altered in any way during the filling process

  • Powders crystalised in bulk (instead of lyophilised in vials)


Our solution

  • Innovative donut™ powder filling system via vacuum-assisted pick and place

  • Specifically designed hopper suitable to end-of-batch procedure leaving minimum product residual

  • Powder dosing starting from 20 mg

  • Choice among available barrier technologies: oRABS, cRABS and isolator, including integrated VHP decontamination system and transfer systems (RTP, SART system, etc.)

  • Zero-loss logic process thanks to robots taking care of all the operations (filling, stoppering, capping)

  • All vials are closed before exiting the machine

  • 100% check weighing system

  • Possibility to run RTU vials in nests or trays

  • Peristaltic pumps for MediaFill purposes

 

 

High value products, small batches, irregular powders

Are you handling sticky, irregular powders difficult to dose with dosing disks or augers?

Do you need to process small batches of high value products?

Does your process require isolation technology?

Our MicroRobot 50 robotic filler and capper is ready to take over the challenge!

FAQ

What specific types of irregular powders can the MicroRobot 50 handle?

MicroRobot 50 can handle many types of sterile pharmaceutical products, such as:

  • freeze dried powder (like some antibiotics)

  • crystallized powder (like some antibiotics)

  • micronized powder

  • micro-sphere powder (long release)

  • sticky powder (like some oncological products)

Can the MicroRobot 50 accommodate various vial sizes and types?

Indeed, MicroRobot 50 can accommodate various vial sizes, as well as rubber stoppers and alu-caps; you can retrieve additional information about this topic on Romaco website page dedicated to MicroRobot 50.

How does the check weighing system ensure accuracy during the filling process?

MicroRobot 50 100% in line check weight system includes two loading cells positioned in the dosing station. The loading cells are specifically designed for addressing the potential interferences from the unidirectional airflow. The system is complete with auto-adjustment software. In presence of weight discrepancies, the filling system is notified and automatically adjust its parameters to ensure precise dosing in line with the recipe.

How does the system handle hygroscopic powders that may clump or absorb moisture during processing?

The filling system has been designed taking into consideration the need to fill also sticky powders. There are a number of features that foster the proper handling of this type of product. Just to mention one, the possibility to deliver the powder by mechanical expulsion instead of air-blast if necessary. For additional information and more specific studies targeting a given powder, we invite you to contact us at [email protected]