The FLC fills vials and infusion bottles at up to 320 containers per minute in continuous motion, with fill volumes between 0.5 and 500 milliliters. The newly-designed infeed turntable meets aseptic production requirements. It guides the containers on a single track to the infeed wheel, which then spaces the containers and ensures reliable, controlled delivery to the conveyor system. The vee-conveyor system permits the FLC to be conveniently adjusted for different containers with a minimum of size parts. Four different filling technologies are available, depending upon the product characteristics: time/pressure filling, rolling diaphragm pumps, rotary slide valve pumps, and a filling station with mass flow measurement. All systems can optionally be equipped with CIP/SIP (cleaning/sterilization in place). The optional IPC system (in-process weight control) moves the containers in batches from the conveyor system for tare and gross weighing. If the system detects a changing trend in filling weight, the filling point is automatically adjusted. A new stopper feed system ensures that the stoppers travel a very short distance before being inserted into the containers, minimizing the risk of particle contamination. An industrial PC controls the machine and stores all production data. Machine control was designed with GAMP guidelines in mind, and is compatible with customers’ 21 CFR Part 11 systems. The user calls up stored filling and closing processes using a touchscreen control panel, ensuring precise reproducibility.
