Hosokawa Micron Ltd. announce the successful completion of the 10,000th test undertaken in the purpose built test and toll processing facility, at the Runcorn site, first opened in 1979.
The test undertaken on behalf of a major blue chip chemical manufacturer is a significant milestone in the evolution of Hosokawa Micron’s Technical Centre which offers a unique resource to chemical, food, nano-technology, mineral and cosmetics industries.
Reflecting on the tests, trials and contracts undertaken within the last 32 years, John Bolton, Test Station Supervisor, said,
‘The range of projects undertaken is quite staggering and only possible because of the extensive choice of production machinery and the almost infinite process line configurations we are able to achieve and which enable us to operate single and multi-stage processing. The tests, from single gram analysis to more complex trials are usually carried out for client R&D; as part of pre- machine sales to enable customers to assess equipment suitability or as a prelude to toll processing contracts.
Whilst the majority of materials processed, both on a trial and toll processing basis, are quite commonplace, such as sugar; coffee; chocolate; ion exchange resins (water purification); bioactive glass (teeth whitening) and industrial diamonds, there have been some unusual and even obscure requests including the cryogenic milling of raw sheep’s heads; the shredding of leather hide waste to produce a recycled ‘leather wool’ for further processing into a ‘leather’ upholstery material, as well as golf balls; duck feathers; hydrogen fuel cells and razor blades!’
The Hosokawa Micron Technical Centre has recently been extended and fully refurbished to provide an independent test and analysis laboratory and a complete suite of three separate, modular, toll processing rooms allocated to chemical and food applications. The toll processing suite design allows for process isolation, full product containment, batch validation and tracking as well as in house product analysis, testing and process evaluation.
Dedicated food processing rooms are BRC Global Standard-Food 2005 registered for the receipt, milling/size reduction and packing of dry powders for the food industry and is capable of powder and particle processing of lots from a few kilos to several tonnes.
Hosokawa Micron’s toll processing service is supported by an in-house test centre and accredited to ISO9001 and offers a round the clock service to ensure a fast turn round and reliable service.
The Hosokawa Micron Ltd Technical Centre is staffed by experienced process and production operators who work alongside Hosokawa Micron process engineers and powder and particle technology experts. The on site centre of excellence has the full support and back-up of the Hosokawa Micron Group worldwide to give unparalleled access to world leading expertise and innovative technology.
