Understanding Industrial Agitators

Before understanding how industrial agitators function, it is essential to zone in on the various types on agitators in use across the globe. Here is a breakdown:

Paddle Agitators: This is among the primary types of agitators replete with blades that extend up to tank walls. Paddle agitators are put to use where uniform laminar flow of liquids is required.

Anchor Agitators: The anchor agitator comprises a shaft and a propeller that has an anchor-like design. These agitators can be mounted at an angle or centrally. They are mostly used in reactors.

Radial Propeller Agitators: Radial industrial agitators comprise propellers akin to marine propellers. They have two to four blades that rotate in a screw-like motion. The material is propelled and agitated parallel to the shaft.

Propeller Agitators: A propeller agitator has been shaped with blades that taper towards the shaft to decrease centrifugal force and increase axial flow. Propeller agitators are the best fit for hassle-free mixing jobs.

Turbine Agitators: The turbine agitator has the ability to create turbulent movement of fluids owing to the combination of rotational and centrifugal motion.

Helical Agitators: A helical industrial agitator comes with blades that have a twisted mechanism, quite similar to the threads of a screw. The curves ensure fluids are vigorously churned to be agitated. Helical agitators are especially useful for mixing viscous liquids. 

It is also pertinent to note that the diameter of an agitator is dependent on the diameter of the vessel. These industrial agitators are also useful for the production of pharma glass. 

Therefore, it can safely be added that the diameter of an agitator is 1/3rd the diameter of the tank for an axial flow turbine, marine propeller, disc blade turbine and backward blade turbine, among others. On a sidenote, the pharma glass industry depends on the functioning of industrial agitators. 

Changing Dynamic: From Pharma Glass to Plastic

Pharmaceutical packaging has undergone a tremendous shift in the market preference. Now, there is a preference for pharma glass over plastics. This trend has been especially true in the injectable devices segment. This shift has also affected the product portfolio of a number of renowned parenteral packaging supplier companies in their struggle to meet market demand.

A number of tests were conducted in pilot plants to assess the feasibility of making the change from glass to plastic.

Here were some of the factors responsible for the shift from pharma glass to plastic:

- Recent advancements in the drug formulation stage have resulted in increased drug complexity as well as quality challenges that arise due to the use of glass. This includes delamination, breakage as well as siliconization, among a host of other factors. Therefore, the problems posed by glass have also affected pharma players’ injectable drug’s packaging procurement. Why so? It is because the supply base is characterized by long term contracts.

However, it is vital to note that parenteral packaging is also essential. Industrial agitators also play a vital role.

Drugs are most often than not administered through intravenous, intra ocular or intradermal formats. These are called parenteral drugs. These drugs differ from extra dermal and conventional oral drug intake. Parenteral drugs help in curing diseases like cancer, diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis, in addition to a host of other diseases. Therefore, as far as these diseases are concerned, injectable are highly effective methods of administration. Therefore, experts are testing the effectiveness of plastic over glass. The incorporation of industrial agitators is also novel.

It is pertinent to mention that parenteral packaging is among the fastest growing pharmaceutical packaging formats. From 2014-19, parenteral package had a CAGR of 8-9%. The spike in demand is driven by the rise in lifestyle disease, increasing health awareness and an ageing population in countries like China and India. 

Why the Shift from Pharma Glass to Plastic?

Why the Shift from Pharma Glass to Plastic?

Pharmaceutical packaging  has undergone a shift in market preference, with manufacturers preferring plastic to pharma glass. This is the case primarily with the injectable devices segment. The change in preference has triggered a recent shift in product portfolio of certain renowned parenteral packaging supplier companies. This has been done to meet market demand.

A number of important tests were carried out to ascertain if it would be feasible to shift shifting from pharma glass to plastic.

 The factors that influenced the shift to plastic include: -
One of the primary reasons that triggered the shift includes advancements in the drug formulation stage. This led to an increased drug complexity as well as quality challenges that arise due to the use of glass, which includes breakage, delamination , in addition to siliconization, among other factors. The problems that glass face have also proved to be a cause of concern for pharma players’ injectable drug’s packaging procurement. Why is it a problem? It can be attributed to the supply base, which is characterized by long term contracts.

Here are some of the main reasons why parenteral packaging is necessary:
Drugs are administered primarily through intravenous, intradermal or the intra ocular formats - called parenteral drugs. These drugs differ from conventional oral and extra dermal drug intake. Parenteral drugs help to cure diseases like cancer, rheumatoid arthritis and diabetes and other diseases. Therefore, in these cases, injectable is an effective method of administration.

 Also, parenteral packaging is among the fastest growing pharmaceutical packaging formats. Therefore, the shift to plastic does not come as a big surprise. In fact, Industrial Agitators for the pharmaceutical industry have helped the sector boom. These industrial agitators are used for a number of mixing operations.