PLANEX System

A revolutionary vacuum drying philosophy

Planex System^®. Multi-patented paddle vacuum dryer with ZeroFriction® planetary movement eccentric agitator.

Planex System^® is the ingenious innovation developed and manufactured by Italvacuum, which brings in a true revolution in vacuum drying technology. A multi-patented machine which is conquering the most demanding operators from all around the world, by guaranteeing results that were unthinkable till now with conventional systems, both horizontal and vertical.

Planex System^® is Italvacuum's special horizontal vacuum paddle dryer with an eccentric agitator featuring two independent movements, allowing it simultaneously revolve around its own axis and rotate tangentially to the drying chamber.

Designed to dry wet feed from filtration and centrifuging processes Planex System^® is ideal for the production of active pharmaceutical ingredients (API), fine chemicals and intermediates.

The combined rotations of the agitator and its small size compared to the drying chamber diameter, ensures the perfect mixing of the entire batch, and allows consuming at least three times less energy than conventional dryers with a concentric agitators. This means a threefold reduction in mechanical and thermal stresses on the batch being dried (1). As a result, even the most delicate and temperature-sensitive products are treated with maximum care.

But there is more. Planex System®, thanks to its agitator’s ZeroFriction^® planetary movement, prevents the product from being rubbed against the drying chamber walls and thus heating up due to friction, a typical problem in conventional paddle systems.

In addition, the rotation of the paddles tangentially to the chamber walls, conveys the product into the small clearance between the agitator and the chamber surface, preventing lumps formation and guaranteeing an even more effective drying and a controlled final particle size distribution, which is impossible to achieve with conventional dryers.

Planex System^® is multi-product, since t can be used with a wide range of products, both with crystalline and amorphous structure. In addition, thanks to the agitator movement controlled by the “Stop & Swing” program, it is also ideal for drying small batches.

Planex System^® is versatile, because it drastically reduces the downtime needed to rearrange the line, wash, clean and inspect the system before switching production processes. This is an important added-value, as it makes it fast and easy to pass from one production run to another.

Planex System^® is safe for operators, the environment and the product, because it is designed and manufactured in compliance with European Union ATEX Directives and CE marking requirements, as well as with the increasingly stringent US FDA standards and cGMP Current Good Manufacturing Practice Regulations.

(1) Analysis by Politecnico di Torino’s Department of Materials Science and Chemical Engineering