1. |
  2. Industries
  3. |
  4. Pharmaceutical & Chemical
Pharmaceutical / chemical industry

Pharmaceutical and chemical industry

The pharma and chemical industries are faced with the challenge of ensuring optimised temperature control for system components, reactors, double-walled containers, extruders and other complex machinery. This challenge is often associated with expensive specialised equipment such as steam plants. But this need not be the case. Our solutions for the pharma and chemical industries can be adapted to your specific field of application. Units with explosion protection, maintaining exceptional regulatory precision, fast temperature jumps and temperature ramp programs are part of our standard catalogue.

Chemical industry:
Process thermostats for -20°
C to 350°C

The chemical industry produces chemical products for other economic sectors such as the plastics industry, food industry, automotive industry, construction materials, etc. Taken in the widest sense of the word, all industries in which exclusively natural materials are transformed and synthetic raw materials are produced can be considered chemical industries. Inorganic and organic raw materials and chemicals as well as fertilisers, plastics, pharmaceutical products and goods such as adhesives, gelatins, dyes and cleaning agents all fall into this category.

The range of production methods used in the chemical industry is as diverse as the range of raw materials produced.

All processes can generally be divided into the following basic operations:

  • Separation
  • Aggregation
  • Disaggregation
  • Agglomeration and heat transfer

Materials can be transformed using chemical reactions, physical transformation of materials or a chemical element can be transformed into another. We provide exact temperature control for these highly complex operations using a liquid heat transfer medium such as water or oil. Favourable flows and thermodynamic conditions are required for reactions to take place which ensure optimal transformation. The composition of the reaction product requires appropriate cooling and/or tension relief to ensure it can be used in further processing.

Temperature control requirements in the chemical industry are often met using complex specially designed equipment. As an alternative to these extremely expensive solutions, Tool-Temp offers its well-established temperature control units – these are process thermostats that have been developed for a variety of applications in machine and plant construction and can be adapted to the needs of the chemical industry at a reasonable cost.

The most commonly required temperatures lie between -20 °C and +350 °C. Tool-Temp has standard solutions for this entire temperature range that can be adapted as needed to the specific area of application. Units with explosion protection, maintaining exceptional regulatory precision, fast temperature jumps and temperature ramp programs are part of the standard Tool-Temp catalogue. Temperature control units are an alternative to expensive and complex steam systems. Our wide range of heating and cooling units provide solutions for process development, miniplants, scale-up, and small scale production up to large sized plants requiring several hundred kW of heating power.

Pharma industry:
Process thermostats for -20°C to +240°C

The production processes used in the manufacture of medicines include extraction, fabrication, preparation, filling, packaging and labelling of the products. Each of these processes are subject to strict rules and regulations. Whether temperature control for double-walled containers, mixers or reactors, in the packaging process or subsequent cleaning, Tool-Temp can deliver customised control units and process thermostats. Requirements such as splash-water protection or fully stainless steel constructions can also be implemented, as well as the integration of interfaces to a control station. We have created a special line of units for temperature control in double-walled containers and reactors. These units regulate temperatures between -25 °C to +240 °C directly from the product. The units are designed for maximum process safety. They feature a pressure regulation system that prevents damage to the container as well as a digital flow indicator. Monitoring of inlet and return temperatures is a standard feature of our products designed for these demanding production processes.

Affordable special solutions and customer-specific units thanks to efficient series production
As a series producer for a wide range of sectors we produce products and store them ready in our warehouse. This means we are able to offer our customers fast delivery of process thermostats. Customer-specific units are integrated into our continuous production batches and can be produced quickly and at an optimised cost.

We will be happy to aid you in the technical configuration of a suitable process thermostat.

Pharma industry - chemical industry - our know-how in temperature control using process thermostats

Whether producing headache pills, sore throat tablets or cough syrup – precise temperature control is reflected in the quality parameters. This relates to things such as the chemical and physical stability of the medicine as well as the uniform distribution of the active ingredient and its controlled release in patients over a certain period of time. Having a good handle on temperature control during production and being able to demonstrate this to the relevant authorities at any time is a key prerequisite for a batch to be approved.

Whether dealing with chemical reactions or mixing together various components – it is almost always an exothermic or endothermic process. This makes the delivery or removal of heat a key control element in chemical production. Being able to fine tune your control in this area can provide a decisive competitive edge.

Controlling the temperature in reactions, mixtures, extractions or crystallisation processes is subject to thermodynamic and kinetic principles. No practicing chemist is immune to surprises – and is usually more than happy to get support from experienced temperature control experts.

Many components play a role when selecting a suitable temperature control system. We will be happy to advise you and discuss the ideal heating and cooling solution for your needs. Various temperature control solutions are available depending on the maximum operating temperature, the required cooling capacity, the size of the consumer and the required flow rate.

Our wide portfolio includes:

  • Water temperature control units / 90 °C max. temperature / 9 – 96 kW heating power
  • Pressurised water temperature control units / 160 °C max. temperature / 9 – 48 kW heating power
  • Oil temperature control units / 360°C max. temperature / 8 – 144 kW heating power

For temperature control in reactors and double-walled containers, we have developed our own range of units, the standard design of which easily covers all the requirements associated with these applications.

Three design sizes are available:

  • TT-407 Z / 8 kW heating power / reactor capacity up to 50 litres
  • TT-409 Z 24 kW heating power / reactor capacity 50 – 150 litres
  • TT-410 Z 48 kW heating power / reactor capacity 50 – 400 litres

These heating and cooling units can be used with a temperature range from -20 °C to +240 °C with a circulating liquid heat transfer medium. These units feature two independent heat exchangers in order to regulate across this wide temperature range. So that temperatures down to -20 °C can be achieved, the second cooling circuit must operate using brine.

Comprehensive safety features – pressure monitoring:
The units are fitted with three manometers that monitor the pump pressure, the pressurised air supply and the pressurised air inside the unit. A pressure reduction valve allows the pressurised air inside the unit to be adjusted. Reduced energy consumption is achieved through regulation and a controlled consumption of pressurised air. The display allows the status of the pressurised air to be checked and makes adjustments easier.

Comprehensive safety features – temperature monitoring:
The MP-988 digital temperature controller with three sensor inputs. One sensor is used for regulating the temperature of the medium. This uses the temperature of the product in the container or the temperature of the oil in the unit’s tank as its reference point. Monitoring of the temperature difference between this and a measurement point in the inlet prevents the product surface from overheating.

Comprehensive safety features – inlet pressure regulation
The inlet pressure can be regulated in order to avoid damage to the double wall or reactor. The speed of the pump can be easily adjusted using the frequency converter and the inlet pressure read off from the manometer.

Get in touch with our pharmaceutical and chemical experts

More about us