Our line of fine products reflects over 15 years of experience in waterless aerosol can leak detection
Our line of fine products reflects over
15 years of experience in waterless aerosol can leak detection
Dry Leak Testing of Aerosol Cans
A joint project has been formed to develop an alternative solution for unbiased leak testing of aerosol products without the use of water baths. The partners in this joint venture are Bautz Engineering, a company based in Wiesbaden, Germany, and J.U.M. Engineering GmbH based in Karlsfeld nearby Munich, Germany.
To meet legal requirements for aerosol spray cans containing propellant gases like HFA´s, various hydrocarbon propellants, or CFC´s (pharmaceutical only) must be tested for leaks prior to distribution. Basically, most regulations require that cans be heated to 50°C (122°F) and then examined for leakage. Most current regulations specify the cans be submerged in a hot water bath to be heated and examined for leakage by observing the escaping gas bubbles. The detection of small leaks in the conventional heated water bath is expensive, slow, inaccurate, and often impossible. Tests have clearly shown that a human cannot consistently recognize small leaks due to the water movement in the bath and that optical bubble detectors cannot accurately detect small leaks. These problems of water baths and the strong demand of a large German manufacturer of health and cosmetic products motivated Bautz Engineering and J.U.M. to jointly develop an economical, fast, and highly accurate leak testing system that fulfills all legal requirements for modern high-speed filling systems. These automatic leak testing systems were first installed on-line 14 years ago and are still in use.
We currently are offering a complete line of automatic leak testing systems and related equipment to the aerosol industry. Our leak testing systems range from economical small automatic in-line scroll-through systems (in addition to hot water baths) to complex high-speed automatic turntable systems, which can identify micro leaks down to a leakage rate of a few milligrams per day on heated and unheated aerosol cans.
The newest addition to our expanding product line is based on a fully automated horizontal turntable mechanism. It uses our proprietary ultra-fast responding propellant gas measuring instrument which is optimized for several individual propellant gases. An infeed mechanism of the leak testing system guides the aerosol cans, which are coming from an aerosol filler off the conveyor belt and directs them into revolving individual test chambers which are hermetically closed. Each one of the individual test chambers traps and holds released propellant gas when a leak is present. When passing the probe section, the chamber releases the contained leaked propellant gas to the measuring device which is connected to the system's computer based controller. The leaking can is automatically ejected from the conveyor belt after it passes through the outfeeding discharge star.
Our leak detection testing systems are capable of detecting micro leaks compared to a weight loss of 6 mg per 24 hours on unheated cans at speeds of up to 250 aerosol cans per minute.
Other products related to aerosol can leak testing, manufactured by Bautz Engineering:
An automatic scroll through leak tester for the detection of leaks
down to 0.2 microliters per second as an automatic leak testing
subsystem for existing water baths which fits right into the existing
lines. The aerosol cans no longer have to be completely submerged
in the water bath. The contamination of the water bath is substantially
reduced. No additional personnel are required to detect bubbles
from leaks. This automatic leak testing system is capable of handling
a maximum of up to 200 cans per minute.
An automatic carousel-type leak testing system for the detection
of micro leaks for all standard sizes of aerosol cans. This system
is able to detect leaks down to 6 - 8 mg weight loss per 24 hours
on-line. The extremely high sensitivity allows leak testing of
aerosol cans without preheating them. When pressure testing of
heated cans is required, our carousel-type leak tester can completely
eliminate costly water bath systems when combined with our waterless
pressure testing system. This system is available for a maximum
capacity of 150 cans per minute or 250 cans per minute.
An automatic carousel-type leak testing system for the detection
of micro leaks for all miniature aerosol cans as used in personal
inhalers. This system is also able to detect leaks down to 6 -
8 mg weight loss per 24 hours on-line. The extremely high sensitivity
allows leak testing of aerosol cans without preheating. When pressure
testing of heated cans is still required, our carousel type leak
tester can completely eliminate costly water bath systems when
combined with our waterless pressure testing system. This system
is available for a maximum capacity of 150 cans per minute or
250 cans per minute.
An automatic carousel-type waterless pressure testing system for
aerosol cans. Each can is warmed up in an individual explosion
proof warm up chamber. Our carousel type pressure tester can completely
eliminate costly hot water bath systems.This system can handle
maximum capacities of 250 cans per minute.
An Automatic single-stage laboratory leak testing system for all
sizes of miniature aerosol cans as used in personal inhalers for
example. This unit is being used to simulate (revalidate) leak
testing compared to one complete process step of our carousel
type leak tester. The unit can be used directly aside the production
line.
An automatic single-stage laboratory leak testing system for all
standard size aerosol cans. This unit is being used to simulate
(revalidate) leak testing compared to the one complete process
steps of the carousel type leak tester. The unit can be used directly
aside the production line.
A leak analyzer for the continuous on line testing of micro leaks
on individual cans. Leaks as small as 0.5 mg per 24 hours of weight
loss can be detected, analyzed (classified) and displayed on a
digital meter as continuous leak concentration, and as a graph
on a computer screen. The Model A300 is a quick and safe method
and time saving alternative to the time consuming measurements
of weight loss with a laboratory balance. Propellant concentrations
show a direct proportion to weight loss.
An automatic NO WATER cleaning station to clean aerosol cans from
product contamination and propellant contamination as an interface
section between the can filler and the automatic leak tester.
An automatic test system (spray tester) for the final check out
for the function of the spray dosage valve of miniature aerosol
cans similar to asthma treatment inhalers. This fully automated
system can be equipped with optional individual sensors to sense
the correct output of product. The spray testers are capable to
test (spray and flow) 250 cans per minute.
The following aerosol can leak testing related services are currently offered by Bautz Engineering:
Complete validation of machines and other equipment for the pharmaceutical
industry.
Design and development of special test equipment including but
not limited to handling and packaging machinery. We are currently
expanding our facilities to provide services to support systems-
and hardware-manufacturing companies who do not have their own
clean room facilities available.
Bautz Engineering provides complete system design, manufacture
and custom installation for all systems and equipment. The complete
qualification and validation of our own aerosol can leak testers
and related products will be done at our new facilities in Stromberg,
Germany . Besides our clean room, a fully functional laboratory
exists for the use of our customers.
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