Pharmaworks Introduces Enhanced FA1 Pick & Place Feeder for Blister Machines
Sep 20, 2022New vibratory feed track helps achieve superior final product quality
ODESSA, FL, September 20, 2022 – Pharmaworks, a ProMach product brand, introduces the enhanced FA1 pick and place feeder for blister machines at Pack Expo booth #N-5650. Featuring a new vibratory feed track, this compact system can now feed even difficult-to-handle solid-dose pharmaceuticals and nutraceuticals such as fragile, unusually shaped and orally dissolving products. The enhanced FA1 achieves new levels of gentle handling, virtually eliminates particulates from reaching the blister web and accurately positions products within the blister cavities, all while simplifying operations.
“When it comes to blister packing, feeding is one of the most important aspects. If each product isn’t placed perfectly within the package, it can cause quality issues, reduce efficiency and even costly recalls. When a customer recently approached us with a very difficult application, we revised our original FA1 feeder to meet their needs and discovered that it was an ideal solution for many manufacturers and contract packers,” said Ben Bower, VP & General Manager of Pharmaworks. “We’re always interested in taking on our customers’ unique packaging challenges. If we don’t have the right standardized solution, we will utilize our deep industry expertise to engineer a new one.”
Featuring a cGMP design and running up to 80 cycles per minute, the FA1 can be integrated with small- to medium-format size blister machines, including the TF1 and TF2 series from Pharmaworks as well as blister machines from other suppliers.
Previously, the FA1 relied on gravity to move product on feed tracks set at a 45-degree angle. Now, the enhanced FA1 can convey even challenging products more gently with fully-horizontal vibratory feed tracks. By leveraging vibratory motion, the new system has also eliminated the chance of ‘shingling,’ in which one solid dose gets jammed under another and creates a blockage. Once products have been conveyed to the end of the feed track, the FA1’s servo-driven, pick and place vacuum head positions an array of solid doses, correctly oriented, into their blister cavities.
Tube feeders have historically been the feeder of choice when a dedicated feeder is required for production. When comparing a traditional tube feeder to the enhanced FA1, a few key points stand out. A tube feeder must vertically orient product in order to fill the tubes, which requires agitation of the product. In contrast, the FA1 works in the horizontal plane and uses vibration to drive the product to a pick point. This vastly reduces the agitation of the product, thereby reducing the chance of creating dust, chips, shingling of the product and/or product breakage. In addition, because products are transferred to the blister cavities with a pick and place vacuum head, no dust is brought over to the blister cards, which minimizes the chance of dust in the packaged product.
Ideal for smaller batches, the enhanced FA1 can change over to a new format in as little as three minutes with no tools required and minimal change parts. Product recipes can be accessed via its PC-based color touchscreen HMI. Compared to tube feeders, the FA1 offers simpler and more affordable change parts and tooling. Workers can easily view and access the entire feeding process for line clearance and sanitation as well as maintenance.
To feed multiple types of products into a single index, such as a nighttime/daytime cold medicine combination pack, the enhanced FA1 can be equipped with two or more paddle boxes and bulk hopper systems.
About Pharmaworks
Pharmaworks manufactures innovative blister packaging systems for the pharmaceutical, consumer goods, and contract packaging industries. With a robust and flexible lineup of thermoforming solutions that spans from stand-alone machines to turnkey blister packaging lines, Pharmaworks can handle nearly any customer challenge with unmatched precision to meet even the most stringent requirements. Pharmaworks is a product brand of ProMach, a global leader in packaging line solutions. As part of the ProMach Pharma business line, Pharmaworks helps our customers protect their reputation and grow the trust of their consumers. ProMach is performance, and the proof is in every package. Learn more about Pharmaworks at www.Pharmaworks.com and more about ProMach at www.ProMachBuilt.com.
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