Granulation equipment

Some presses are equipped with strain gauges at key points in the overall feed—compress—eject cycle. Thus, these measure compression and ejection forces. Tight specifications for punch lengths and weU-designed and prepared granulations have led to better control of variations in tablet weight. In fiiUy automated presses, weight variations are adjusted by computer. 

Other advantages claimed for the disc graniilator include low equipment cost, sensitivity to operating controls, and easy observation of the granulation/classification action, all of which lend versatility in agglomerating many different materials. Dusty materials and Chernies reactions such as the ammoniation of fertilizer are handled less readily in the disc granulator than in the drum. 

Similarly, a variety of drier types are available to remove residual moisture eontent for whieh tests are normally required prior to final equipment seleetion. In eaeh of these operations, eare should be taken to aseertain the extent of partiele size ehange due to attrition and fragmentation, or, in some eases, granulation within the downstream units. 

An extension of the filter-driers are the reactor-filter-driers, as illustrated in Fig. 7.2-9 by an apparatus known under trademark name Nutrex" and developed by Rosenmund. Equipment of this kind is still more versatile and operation safer. In one vertical position the device can act as a filter, a granulator, and an apparatus for all operations with filter cakes (i.e. re-slurrying, smoothing, and squeezing). In the reverse position, it can operate as a reactor, extractor, evaporator, crystallizer, drier, etc. There are many other companies offering reactor-filter-driers, e.g. SEN, Giovanola, Schenk, and Cogeim. 

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