iBulk, a Company with its Finger on the Pulse

You know what its like, your brow starts to sweat and your pulse quickens. It’s the feeling you get right before something big is about to happen.

Working in the pharmaceutical industry provides plenty of these moments as the team at iBulk discovered recently.

“We enjoy relationships with a number of the larger pharmaceutical companies in Australia,” said Mr Tony Webber, managing director, iBulk. “A number of our products are ideally suited to pharmaceutical applications and we’ve been able to provide many solutions to often difficult processing problems.

“But I must admit that our recent work with Aortech really got the heart racing.”

Aortech is an innovative Australian Biomaterials company that develops and manufactures leading edge polymers for use in critical medical and pharmaceutical applications, with a significant focus on cardiovascular applications.

“Everybody understands the care that has to be taken when dealing with matters of the heart,” remarked Tony.

Working with Aortech staff at iBulk’s test lab the project team quickly identified the critical design requirements and it was down to work to source a processing machine that would provide the best solution.

“Amongst a number of considerations, biggest problem facing Aortech was inconsistencies in the plastic granules that form the base material of their products,” Explained Tony. “To ensure high quality moulding it is imperative that the plastic granules used in production are a uniform size.

“The granules also need to be free from polymer dust to ensure the finished product is produced to the highest sanitary levels.”

After investigating a number of alternatives, the SWECO Circular Separator was identified as the best match to the design parameters.

“The SWECO separator looked like it stood head and shoulders above the rest when measured against the specifications required for this application,” said Tony. “Its stainless steel design combined with the fact that the screens are manufactured using Supertaut really illustrated that it provided the best outcome.”

For those who may not be familiar with Supertaut, it’s a revolutionary bonding material which encapsulates and locks every wire into place eliminating crevices and pits found in typical spot welded screens.

After settling on the SWECO, it was straight into iBulk’s test laboratory to make sure it would provide the results that its specifications promised.

“Our stringent testing regime proved that the SWECO was the best choice and from there we quickly intergrated the unit into Aortech’s production facility.

“Looking back it was a great result for all parties and it’s nice to know that you can play an integral role in producing products that will improve the health of so many Australians, ‘added Tony.

For further information contact iBulk (03) 9768 3955 or visit www.ibulk.com.au.