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Capitalizing on customized capping technology

Chemical/pharmaceutical company installs state-of-the-art automatic in-line capper to improve operating efficiencies and QC.

A grip chuck torqueing station maximizes the surface area of the chuck to the cap, significantly improving control of torque being applied.
A grip chuck torqueing station maximizes the surface area of the chuck to the cap, significantly improving control of torque being applied.

MilliporeSigma Corp., Cincinnati, OH, is a U.S. unit of the Life Science Business of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany. The global business manufactures pharmaceuticals and chemicals and offers a catalog of more than 300,000 products.

MilliporeSigma wanted to do a capping equipment upgrade. One of its cappers for organic solvents in brown glass bottles was an older system that was presenting alignment issues. The plastic (nylon and phenolic) caps were not always properly applied to produce high-integrity seals on the 500-mL, 1-L, and 4-L bottle sizes.

After evaluating various options, MilliporeSigma decided to install the small-footprint, ruggedly constructed “Secure Chuck Capper” automatic in-line cap applicator from BellatRx, Inc. Several of this capper’s features appealed to the evaluation team, and the equipment has been certified Class1 Div 1 for applicable UL and NFPA standards.

Custom capping line configuration
BellatRx customized the capper to address MilliporeSigma’s exacting needs and floor space limitations. Specific operating advantages include the versatility to accommodate a wide size/shape range of bottles, containers, and caps, including coated bottles and containers with handles, at speeds up to 120 cpm. And the chuck capper is well-suited for areas where dangerous concentrations of flammable gases or dust can build up. A stainless steel chain conveyor transports the bottles through the capper to prevent static and handle the heavier weight of large bottles. In tighter floor space surroundings, an anti-static elevator is available in a shortened version.

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