Pelletizer is Designed for Die-Face Cutting of Hot-Melt Extruded Drugs

The Leistritz LHLG pelletizer on the ZSE-18 twin-screw extruder. Image courtesy of Leistritz.

The Leistritz LHLG series air quench pelletizer mates with an extruder and enables die-face cutting of pellets in air for water-soluble, highly filled, and foamed formulations that are typically used for pharmaceutical and nutraceutical products. The die is electrically heated, and the flow geometry is matched with the formulation and throughput rate.  The die, blades, and all contact areas are fabricated of hardened stainless, tool, and carbide steels.  Standard features include:

• Electrically heated pelletizing die

• Self-aligning cutter hub with replaceable blades driven by AC motor

• Manually adjusted blades for allowable wear

• Stainless-steel cutting chamber with sight glass and safety interlock

• Height-adjustable support cart on tracks

• Optional, chamber-misting attachments for sticky formulations.

A blower facilitates initial cooling and transport to a secondary cooling and transport mechanism, such as high-velocity venturi blowers, vacuum systems, cyclones, and vibratory cooling/classification equipment. GMP-class systems are available for medical and pharmaceutical environments.

Leistritz has installed LHLG pelletizers in its New Jersey process laboratory to test formulations for use with its ZSE-18, ZSE-27, and ZSE-50 MAXX model twin-screw extruders.

Source: Leistritz