L.B. Bohle to Debut U.S. Pharma’s First Truly Continuous Wet Granulator at INTERPHEX
L.B. Bohle will debut the U.S. pharmaceutical market’s first wet granulator with an integrated, truly continuous dryer at INTERPHEX NYC. Perfect for R&D and small-scale through commercial production stages, L.B. Bohle’s newly enhanced QbCon®1 combines three continuous processes: raw material dosing, twin-screw wet granulation and drying.
L.B. Bohle, a trusted manufacturer and supplier of high-quality processing solutions for pharmaceutical solids, will present a groundbreaking, truly continuous granulator and dryer at INTERPHEX NYC, April 1-3.
At Booth 1519A, the L.B. Bohle will provide technical insights into its QbCon®1, a three-in-one module that combines continuous raw material dosing, twin-screw wet granulation, and drying in a single compact, mobile unit. The machine’s patented continuous drying process ensures seamless flow from raw material to dried granulation in a closed, fully continuous operation, enhancing product quality, flexibility, and operator safety.
The QbCon®1 handles throughputs ranging from 0.5-2.5 kilograms per hour (up to 5 kg per hour for specific products), making it ideal for R&D phases requiring minimal active pharmaceutical ingredient quantities while also enabling efficient scale-up to commercial-level production. Configurations for high-containment applications up to OEB 5 are also available.
Overcoming Traditional Limitations in Pharmaceutical Drying
Historically, pharmaceutical drying capabilities have been limited to semi- or quasi-continuous units operating on a per-batch basis, often plagued by filter blocking issues that lead to frequent interruptions, cleaning, or filter replacements. In contrast, L.B. Bohle’s QbCon®1 utilizes an innovative filter cleaning technique that maintains a clear exhaust air filter surface, enabling the machine to meet key pharmaceutical quality requirements for continuous manufacturing, including:
- Short residence times for granules in the dryer, with a narrow residence time distribution – achieving “plug flow” with minimal particle back-mixing
- Traceability of all excipients and active ingredients throughout the continuous process
- Uniform, reproducible drying of granules, regardless of size variations
- Extended exhaust air filter lifespans, significantly reducing drying interruptions or filter changes
All three process stages are controlled via a single, integrated HMI system. For ease of use, assembly, disassembly, and wash-in-place (WIP) cleaning with water or detergent solutions can be completed nearly tool-free in just 10 minutes. The QbCon®1 can also be equipped with data acquisition systems for detailed process insights and optimized performance.
Cutting-Edge Technology for Efficient Drying
Each of the QbCon®1’s critical process parameters – dosing, granulation, and drying – remain consistent throughout operation. This design minimizes the number of granules in the exhaust air filters due to low fluidization in the dryer, ensuring filters remain free of product residue during cleaning. Remarkably, in some tests, the QbCon®1’s drying has reduced granule moisture content below that of the initial raw material. Its truly continuous operation also delivers consistent granule size distribution, a vital factor in pharmaceutical processing.
Visit L.B. Bohle at Booth 1519A during INTERPHEX NYC, April 1-3, to experience the future of continuous pharmaceutical processing firsthand. Discover how the QbCon®1 can transform your production efficiency and quality – don’t miss this opportunity to elevate your operations!
About L.B. Bohle
Based in Germany, L.B. Bohle provides a comprehensive range of processing machinery for the pharmaceutical, nutritional, and life sciences sectors. From dispensing systems, granulators, fluid bed dryers, sieves, and mills to blenders, coaters, and continuous manufacturing equipment, the company’s solutions support formulations from R&D to large-scale production. For more information, visit www.lbbohle.com.
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