A number of the machines on view at the company’s Minneapolis-based facility were designed in Germany but built in the United States.
In the product development process for new machinery, Bosch Packaging Technology is making increasing use of new internal design guidelines and manufacturing procedures. This approach, especially in the production of liquid fillers for pharmaceutical customers, reflects the movement of the company to global design and production of base units that are then distributed to local Bosch entities for completion and customization.
“We are finishing the machines closer to our customers—whether they are a large multi-national corporation or a small regional firm,” says Don DeMorett, president of Bosch Packaging Technology. “With our new FLM liquid filler, for example, our local operations adapt the unit to the customer’s specifications. This speeds our response, increases the convenience for acceptance testing and, in general, incorporates our local knowledge of our North American customers’ needs. In short, we think globally and act locally.”
Machines in the process of being completed include the FLM 4120 filler/trayloader with 12 filling stations. Scheduled for installation at a diagnostic company, this machine has a wide fill range of 0.25 mL to 500 mL, which brings greater flexibility. Output is up to 600 units/min. The actual filling system is equipped with a rotary valve piston, and, for this particular application, is capable of filling flammable materials at 150 vials/min. The filler is integrated with a unidirectional flow hood and integrated stainless steel wall for cleanroom applications.
Bosch is building an entire integrated high-speed production line for a different major drug manufacturer that fills vials. On this line, an RRU 3064 vial washer is followed by an HQL 4680 depyrogenation tunnel that feeds an FLM 6160 16-station filler. Vials filled and stoppered by the filler are capped by a VRK 4010 capper. This line runs 300 vials/min.
Also on display was a washer-tunnel combination consisting of an RRN 3023 rotary washer and an HQL 3480 depyrogenation tunnel, currently being assembled for integration with an existing filler at a manufacturer of clinical products.
Editors were also shown a servo-driven CAR T5 cartoner to be shipped to a medical diagnostics company. Built to pack respiratory inhalants, the machine can run up to 80 cartons/min.
