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Why Switch to Bin Blending?


Traditionally, pharmaceutical manufacturing companies use fixed shell blenders such as the V-Blender, Double-Cone Blender and the Ribbon Blenders. After each batch the blender shell must be washed, dried and tested for accurate cleaning. This process can put the blender out of operation for up to six (6) hours. In a Bin Blending operation, the blender is only a holder for the bin, meaning that bins can be blended all day. Generally, one bin blender can replace several fixed shell blenders. 		 
COST SAVINGS:
A bin blending system offers considerable savings. Consider the following points:

1. Reduced Facility Costs. If multiple shell blenders can be replaced, your entire blending operation can be done in one small room. Besides lower construction costs, consider the reduced HVAC requirements that one room needs versus several. Cross contamination is a non-issue as product will not be exposed to the blending room environment.

2. Highest Throughput. As discussed above (productivity section), the highest throughput is achieved with a bin blending system.

3. Reduced Labor Costs. Fixed shell blenders take a long time to fill and empty. Compared to bin blending, there can be as much as twice the material handling. Generally, fixed shell blenders are loaded from the floor above by gravity or by a vacuum. This means that all the products have to be handled from the dispensary (weighing area) and then discharged again into the blender (versus loading directly in the bin). As opposed to bin blending, the loading process is usually dusty, not ergonomic, and labor intensive. In a bin blending operation, the materials are loaded directly into the bin, which can take place in the dispensary and easily done in a high-containment method.

4. Increase Product Quality. Fixed shell blenders require the products to be transferred after blending into a drum or bin. Every time the product is transferred, some segregation can take place. In a bin blending operation, the product is transferred to the next operation directly from the bin (blending container). Furthermore, in many operations one or two steps that used to require that the product be exposed to the room or additional fall tubes, vacuum systems, etc., can be eliminated, thereby reducing the chance of foreign substances entering the product.