Spray drying is a rapid, continuous and cost-effective process, utilized for producing dry powders from fluid material through the process of atomization. While usually considered a dehydrating process, it is also applied across encapsulation of hydrophilic and hydrophobic active compounds without substantial thermal degradation, particularly for pharmaceutical products.
With regard to food processing, spray drying techniques are deployed to facilitate conversion of fruit and vegetable juices into instant powders and mixes, preparation of instant coffees and teas, drying of eggs and dairy products, ice cream mixes and encapsulating flavors or bioactive nutrients. It is expected that pharmaceutical and food & beverage processing applications will account for the bulk of spray drying technology deployments.
Besides, numerous other application areas are likely to open up for spray drying in the future. Estimates by market research firm Fact.MR expect the global spray drying equipment market to surpass almost US$ 800 million in the forthcoming decade, registering a CAGR of around 4%. This article provides an overview of the top five spray drying equipment manufacturers for 2021 and beyond.
The GEA Group
The GEA Group AG’s MSD® Spray Dryer is the preferred choice for many dairy products, including milk powder and nutritional formula where uniform coarse, agglomerated, free flowing and dustless powders are in great demand. The dryer combines spray and fluid bed drying technology to a three stage drying process to ensure the best overall drying efficiency and product quality.
Similarly, its COMPACT DRYERTM is ideal for products such as whey and other slightly sticky products for the production of fine powders or dense agglomerates. Depending on specific requirements, the dryer can be configured with a rotary atomizer or a nozzle atomizing system – this applies to a rotary drum dryer.
SPX Flow
SPX Flow’s extensive product portfolio includes the Triple A® Spray Dryers, Spray Bed Dryers, Spray Dryers, Spray Granulizer, Cyclone Separators and Bag Filters. Amongst all the aforementioned products, the Triple A® Spray Dryers is the most prominent, enabling powder manufacturers to dimension and customize a complete drying solution for production of free-flowing, dustless powders and agglomerates as per customer specifications.
Some of its special features include nozzle atomization for optimum spray of feed material; a broad choice of air distribution options for complete control of air flow; third-stage external fluid bed options for final drying or cooling and choice of exhaust systems and fines re-circulation options to ensure maximum product quality.
Shandong Tianli Drying Equipment Corporation Ltd.
The Shandong Tianli Drying Equipment Corporation manufacturers the GPL Spray Dryer equipped with a rotary disk atomizer which works on a simple and continuous process. It is suitable for continuous drying of solutions, suspending liquids, emulsions and pasty materials.
The wet material is atomized into superfines by means of a high-speed rotary atomizer placed in the ceiling air disperser. Rapid heat and mass transfer takes place in the dryer between the material and the hot air. This product range ensures that powder products are produced in a very short time.
Buchi Labortecknik AG
Buch Labortecknik AG is expected to emerge as a prominent spray drying equipment face with the launch of its Rotavapor® R-250 Pro. This new system offers a unique operating concept, employing its newly developed Open Interface and BUCHI Cloud Services, which enable remote control and monitoring via a desktop computer, laptop or smartphone.
BUCH is a world-leading and global supplier of laboratory technology solutions for research & development, quality assurance and production for key industries, including chemicals, pharmaceuticals, food & feed, beverage and academia. Additionally, it also offers the Nano Spray Dryer B-90 HP for extensive applications in the pharmaceutical industry.
European SprayDry Technologies
The European SprayDry Technologies are the UK’s premier suppliers of spray drying systems with an extensive range of plant and equipment for powder production. It offers drying solutions for the dairy, food, chemical and pharmaceutical sectors respectively.
The company has undertaken several drying projects in the past, including supplying its ESDT15 pilot scale spray drying plant equipment for Freedom Foods in Australia, with a capacity of 15 kg/hr water evaporation.
With regard to the pharmaceutical industry, ESD offers both open loop and closed loop variants of its pharmaceutical spray dryer range. It offers various additional equipment such as CIP ready fluid bag filters, integral fluid bags, external fluid bags, evaporators and CIP plants.
About the Author
Abizer Shaikhmahmud is a content writer, who works closely with the healthcare, automotive, industrial automation, and equipment industry team among other domains. With sound research skills and his own style of writing thought leadership articles, Abizer extensively covers key happenings in the aforementioned domains.
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