Horizontal vacuum paddle dryer
Planex System® Italvacuum Srl

PLANEX System® (Patent N° US 5,857,264) is a multi product paddle vacuum dryer, based on an innovative philosophy of working, especially suitable for the production of Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs), Fine Chemicals and Intermediates.
PLANEX System® consists of a fixed cylindrical chamber with an eccentric agitator inside with two independent movements, able to rotate on its own axis and tangentially to the cylindrical chamber as well. The double combined rotation allows an optimal mixing of the product, continuously renewing the surface of the mass exposed to evaporation, covering all the volume of the vessel. In this way solvents release is facilitated and drying times are significantly reduced compared to conventional systems.
The peculiar configuration of the agitator, characterized by a diameter much smaller than the one of the drying chamber, not only allows the continuous revolution of the product but also limits the mechanical and thermal stress, preventing local overheating due to friction. This enables to treat even more delicate and thermo sensitive products, as it preserves their purity, avoiding degradation of the dried batch.
It must be emphasized that the mechanical and thermal stress on the product is significantly lower than the one observed in traditional paddle dryers equipped with concentric agitator, with consequent reduction of the electricity consumption (Analysys of "Politecnico di Torino" University - Material Science and Chemical Engineering Department).