Specifications

Hosokawa Micron’s high-performance isolators and gloveboxes are tailormade for every customer and can operate in isolation or be integrated into a complex modular process system. Our experienced containment team is adept at working with customers from a wide variety of process industries, academic establishments and laboratories that handle hazardous, potent and potentially harmful materials, designing and engineering solutions that safely handle and contain even the most toxic substances, including APIs and radioactive material, while also protecting the operators, the environment and the material’s integrity.

The Flexible Compact Isolator offers a containment level of <1µg/m³ (8-hour TWA) and is completely adaptable in terms of scale and features. The standard version has a footprint of 100cm x 50cm, but we can design and manufacture smaller or larger versions to accommodate a variety of lab or process equipment, such as weighing scales, mixers or Hosokawa Alpine’s Picoline range of mini mills, air classifiers and mixers.

The equipment can be offered as a freestanding, ‘plug and play’ model set on castors – providing location flexibility that is particularly important where space is at a premium and the unit will only be used periodically. Alternatively, the isolator can be supplied on legs without the castors for housing in a dedicated location, while the benchtop version is another more permanent solution and can be adapted to share all the containment functionality of a freestanding model.

Hosokawa Micron manufactures the isolator’s base from long-lasting, high-grade stainless-steel and has been designed to be robust, hardwearing and user friendly, with a clear pressure gauge display and easy-to-operate controls at the front and inlets and outlets located to the side or rear, depending on customer requirement. The freestanding version additionally features sturdy braked swivel castors that can silently and smoothly manoeuvre the isolator to different locations as and when required.

Conveniently, we offer a number of material options for the hinged canopy of the Flexible Compact Isolator, including versions made from rigid acrylic (which offers full operational visibility without dark spots) and flexible PVC or have a disposable bag. Standard 250mm (10 inch) oval glove ports, but these can be configured and tailored to suit your preferred size, placements and accessibility requirements. Choose from a wide variety of high-quality gloves for the ports to enable the safe handling of your specific materials.

As with all Hosokawa Micron Ltd isolators, aseptic isolators and gloveboxes, the Flexible Compact Isolator is loaded with a raft of technology and features to enhance its safety, functionality and energy efficiency, including HEPA filtration and optional extraction fans, if required.

Optional Features

• Integrated CIP/WIP system
• Nitrogen inertion capability
• Air handling system
• Plug socket for powering lab equipment
• Drain connection

How Does It Work

Operators access the internal workspace using gloveports, allowing safe manipulation of materials without direct contact. Materials can be introduced or removed via airlocks or transfer systems, minimising exposure to the external environment.

High-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filtration systems ensure that air entering or exiting the isolator is filtered to remove particulates, with safe-change filters used for contamination control during maintenance. For processes requiring high hygiene or sterility, optional integrated cleaning systems (CIP/WIP) and VHP sterilisation can be included.

Airflow within the isolator is carefully managed—either through recirculating filtered air or using unidirectional (laminar) flow in sterile applications. Continuous monitoring of particles, pressure, and system performance ensures the isolator operates within specified safety and cleanliness parameters at all times.

Every isolator is designed to integrate with upstream and downstream equipment, whether from Hosokawa or third parties, supporting seamless, enclosed material handling throughout the process.