MTS – Vacuum Conveyance Transfer with Flexible Glovebag

The Rheo Material Transfer Station is a small footprint workstation that improves operator safety and efficiency during the material transfer and weighing process. The operator workstation with the integrated drum tipper provides a compact, GMP, ergonomic means of transferring material.

The Material Transfer Station with Flexible Glovebag Containment is designed for highly contained, closed transfers for highly toxic products and APIs. Containment levels of 5-0.01 µg/m³ can be achieved via the integrated flexible isolator system.

Rheo has conducted performance verification tests on the Material Transfer Station. The tests showed excellent results for each of the different configurations tested. Copies of the executive summary, full reports, and supplemental documentation are available upon request.

The Vacuum Conveyance configuration is used to transfer materials from drums to another vessel using a vacuum hose. The Material Transfer Station can utilize any vacuum source and delivers a complete package that addresses ergonomics, containment, and inerting concerns often associated with material transfer systems.

Rheo can provide the entire material transfer package including the vacuum pump and receivers or we can utilize your existing vacuum system to deliver a more ergonomic and contained dump station. The Material Transfer Station with Vacuum Conveyance can also be used to pull product directly into an evacuated process vessel so that a separate receiver is not required.

The Vacuum Conveyance Transfer Module uses a hopper to hold product before it is pulled away using a vacuum source for vacuum conveyance. For Open Transfer Containment, the integrated Rheo Ventilation Sleeve provides containment across the top of the transfer module opening while the bottom is connected to a vacuum hose. Using this process to provide containment has been documented to keep operator particle exposure to 100-10 µg/m³.

For difficult powders the hopper can integrate the Rheo proprietary Actively Managed Plug Prevention Technology (AMPP) to optimize the product conveyance throughput. AMMP is a controls and automation sequence that monitors the powder flow in the vacuum line and automatically activates flow aids when material begins to build up in the line.

The integrated weighing system provides a compact solution for the weighing and dispensing operation. The weighing module that holds the receiving container is isolated from the workstation to provide excellent weighing accuracy.

The typical integrated weighing system includes the following features:

•     150 kg Weighing Capacity
•     Mettler Toledo IND570 or IND560X Readout
•     4x Mettler Toledo Load Cells
•     Weigh Accuracy to +/- 50 grams (higher accuracy, low capacity options are available)
•     Can be Integrated with Computer, PLC, or Printer

By designing around an analysis of operator movements during the drum charging process, an unmatched level of safety, operating simplicity, and functionality is achieved. A drum can be raised, lowered, and tipped into the proper position by using a single hand or foot control. This approach to drum handling allows the operator to easily control the product flow during the entire charging process.  

Powder handling can be a challenging process and there are many factors that lead to the optimal solution. We can handle the risk for you! Our Testing Center is equipped to test your materials, allowing us to design the best solution for your specific needs. We don’t just sell a product – we sell a solution.

We can utilize the Testing Center for process testing, powder flow testing, transfer rate testing, concentration testing, and containment performance verification.

Reach out to your Regional Sales Manager to discuss the testing of your next bulk powder handling project.