CHEMICALS & PHARMACEUTICALS COLLABORATION CUTS COSTS
SR-Tek’s clear pressure tanks are being used in Paradigm Solutions’ precise dispensing systems, aimed at pharmaceutical companies
F
eed-systems manufacturer SR-Tek may have only formed in 2014 but the company’s pressure tanks are already making waves around the world. When US- based Hartmann’s Inc. needed a clear pressure tank to fulfil its design of a new precise fluid dispensing system it was the SR- Tek that they turned to. Not only has this led to repeat orders from multiple areas of a global pharmaceutical businesses, but also the development of one of the most accurate dispensing systems on the planet. Established in 1955 in Abilene, Texas, Hartmann’s Inc is a globally recognised build to print machining company. Hartmann’s launched its new machine and component development division Paradigm- Solutions in 2019. Headed up by director of automation David Duncan, Paradigm- Solutions is focused on solving common manufacturing issues. For Duncan and his engineering team, one of the first frustrations from industry that they wanted to solve was the lack of precision and over complication of existing fluid dispensing systems. Duncan said: “Traditional dispensers often require expensive and overly complex programmable servo drives to be effective. Yet even those with servo drives can still lack precision, meaning operators have to continuously make adjustments, and often deliberately overdose to compensate for
inaccurate volumes, leading to waste and in some cases product damage. We felt that there was a much simpler way to dose a precise volume of liquid.”
Having secured interest from one of the world’s leading pharmaceutical companies, Duncan and his team set to work creating a simple-to-operate but highly accurate dispensing machine that could be used in one of the toughest and most heavily regulated industries. Duncan continued:
“Because of the nature of the end client’s finished product, safety was one of the pre- eminent concerns. We needed a central reservoir that could be kept away from the inner workings of the machine with a number of fail-safes that would enable overflow prediction and prevention.” For Duncan and Paradigm- Solutions the answer was a modified version of SR-Tek’s CT Series, the world’s only commercially available clear pressure tank. Having created a removable clear internal cannister, development engineers added capacitive sensors tied into the safety circuit at the side of the tank for redundant overflow detection within the reservoir, preventing material from escaping into the local environment.
Talking about the advantages of the clear
pressure tank, Duncan said: “You have to be hyperaware of debris and bioburden in pharmaceuticals. A clear tank offers a visual early indication for operators, preventing issues which if left unchecked could lead to quality defects or product recalls.” As well as the safety elements, Duncan appreciated the flexibility SR-Tek offered to him as a machine builder and designer. He continued: “What the CT Series gave me as a designer was the freedom to place the tank wherever needed and transport the fluid to the dispenser via tank pressure. Using a dispenser with a pressurised tank allows flexibility to locate the supply side assembly ergonomically or as needed for transfer of dispensing material. A gravity-fed system would need to be directly above the sensitive electronic components of the dispenser, with the risk of overspill causing damage to components or adversely impacting the finished product.”
Duncan worked closely with SR-Tek founder Loris Medart. He continued: “What I liked about working with Loris, was that he actively worked with me to help us save costs and time. Providing the benefit of his own fluid engineering experience he enabled us to make small changes to an existing clear pressure tank already in stock to fit with our specific application, avoiding us having to pursue a more costly custom design and build project.”
Medart concluded: “
...Paradigm’s dispenser offers unparalleled precision at a lower cost than existing systems. Coupling with the CT Series means that production engineers can benefit from complete transparency and control from start to finish, reducing materials waste and avoiding unnecessary downtime.”
With SR-Tek’s collaboration, Paradigm- Solutions has successfully provided multiple complete systems incorporating SR-Tek’s reservoirs for one of the world’s largest medical device manufacturers, supporting both operations and research and development departments. Paradigm is now able to offer highly precise dispensing systems inclusive of SR-Tek’s pressure tanks at a fraction of the cost of existing dispensers of the same capability. Paradigm Dispensing Systems are available in standard 1ml, 5ml, and 30ml volumes as well as custom sizes. To download a free product specification
visit:
www.smartreservoirs.com/products/clear- pressure-tanks
SR-Tek
www.smartreservoirs.com
Paradigm Solutions
www.paradigm-solutions.net
FEBRUARY 2021 | PROCESS & CONTROL 29
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