ClosedPneumaticConveyingofLactosePowderinHamar,Norway

Title: Closed Pneumatic Conveying of Lactose Powder in Hamar, Norway

Keywords: pneumatic conveying case, European pneumatic conveying, closed pneumatic conveying

Shandong Headpowder Engineering Co., Ltd. (Headpowder) is a leading Chinese manufacturer of pneumatic conveying systems, located in Shandong, China. We are proud to share a successful project delivered in Hamar, Norway: a closed pneumatic conveying system for lactose powder used in the pharmaceutical industry. This article explains the project background, technical solution, and outstanding results.

Hamar is a Norwegian city with strict environmental and safety standards. The local customer operates a pharmaceutical plant that needed to transfer lactose powder from storage hoppers to tablet production equipment. Lactose is a fine, somewhat sticky powder that can easily become airborne and polluted. To maintain the required product purity and protect the operators, the entire transfer process had to be completely closed. Furthermore, the system needed to comply with European GMP and ATEX regulations.

Headpowder designed a dense-phase closed pneumatic conveying system. Dense-phase conveying uses low air speed and high pressure to move the powder in plugs, which greatly minimizes dust and product damage. The system includes a pressure vessel feeder, stainless steel pipeline, rotary valve, bag filter, and a PLC-based controller. It has a capacity of 1,500 kg/h and can transport lactose over 80 meters with a lift of 12 meters. For maximum explosion safety, we supplied an inert nitrogen gas option with oxygen monitoring. In case of oxygen leakage, the system shuts down and gives an alarm automatically.

During the design phase, our engineers studied the flow characteristics of lactose powder. The powder has a high air retention, which can cause flooding in a conventional hopper. We therefore installed a fluidizing discharge cone and aeration pads at the bottom of the pressure vessel to ensure steady flow. The pipeline was also designed with a minimum number of bends, and all bends use a large radius to reduce pressure loss and prevent material accumulation. These design details were crucial for the smooth operation in Hamar.

All parts that contact the material are made of AISI 304 stainless steel with a smooth surface, allowing easy cleaning and preventing contamination. We also provided full documentation: material certificates, welding reports, pressure test certificates, and an operation manual. A factory acceptance test was conducted using lactose powder before shipping. Our technician went to Hamar to supervise installation and commissioning. The system has worked reliably since it was put into use, reducing manual handling by 90%, eliminating dust emission, and improving product quality.

Headpowder is not only a supplier but also an engineering partner. We offer positive-pressure and vacuum conveying systems, dilute-phase and dense-phase systems, and all related components. If you are interested in a customized pneumatic conveying solution, please contact our manager Zhang. WeChat: 15662777102. We are committed to providing high-quality systems for customers all over the world.