The technology has been developed to help bulk chemical operations transfer, store, ship and dispense dry powders improve their operations. This is achieved by making the transfer bags with permanently static dissipative (PSD) film which is strong, flexible and transparent.
PSD’s anti-static properties prevent build up of electrostatic charge, improving powder recovery and process efficiency, as well as making the bags safer than alternatives, according to ATMI.
Furthermore, ATMI claims that the transfer bag has a shelf life of 36 months, triple that of other anti-static powder transfer vessels, and this makes the container more useful for long term storage or shipping.
Richard Bhella, global product manager for single-use storage and delivery technologies at ATMI, added that “customers can even purchase and store powders that are delivered in pre-measured amounts, which facilitates quick, clean, and less expensive addition of critical powders to their processes".
The bags also have the benefits associated with single-use systems, such as improved process efficiency, reduced downtime and elimination of potential sources of cross-contamination between batches.
Single-use systems achieve this by lowering the number of cleaning and validation steps that are required.
Infrastructure expansion
The launch of the transfer bags follows initiation of ATMI’s plans to double its global production capacity for disposable bioprocess vessels. This is being achieved by adding a Grade B clean room to its facility in Bloomington, Minnesota, US.
ATMI is transferring methods from its facility in Belgium to ensure it can quickly establish a current good manufacturing practice (cGMP) compliant operation at the Bloomington site.