All of the Blenders available from Buck Systems™ can be fitted with Process Analytical Technologies such as Light Induced Florescence (LIF) or Near-Infrared (NIR) systems.

 

NIR - Process Analytical Technology

Buck Systems™ uses Near-Infrared to measure actual powder conditions inside the IBC as it is blended. Ingredient movement can be monitored online, as the blending occurs; this real-time data allows increased understanding of powder behaviour.

An additional benefit of this analytical technology is that the behaviour of all the ingredients within the IBC can be accurately monitored, where as traditionally the focus has been on the active ingredient only.

By having the results of the completed blend available at the end of the process, the
batch can go immediately to the next process, without the need to take samples and analyse the results, saving time and money.

The containment of the system is greatly improved because sampling, a task that directly
exposes the operator to the product, can be avoided.

Enhanced Design for PAT with IBC Blending

The technology works by using a measuring head – using either NIR or LIF – mounted onto the rotating blending head which views into the IBC via a viewing window mounted on the wall of the IBC. An onboard data analyser interprets the data from the IBC, and sends the data
back to the PC, which has sophisticated software to allow users to monitor the powder
movement and to confirm that the product has arrived at a homogeneous blend.

Buck Systems™ have successfully integrated all of this instrumentation onto a rotating assembly within GMP enclosures. Power is supplied to the instrumentation through a specially designed slip ring, which means the instruments have a permanent and uninterrupted power source. Proximity switches discretely located in the blending head activate the measuring head at precisely the right time to trigger the data acquisition.