Frequently Asked Questions - Pharmaceutical and Cosmetics industry

The CI and MD Series rotary airlock valves excel at maintaining the consistent, uniform flow needed for metering pharmaceutical ingredients, and they can be customized to fit most applications. In more specialized cases, you might need a BT Series blow-through valve to optimize air flow, or a mini- or micro-sized valve for small test batches. There are also rotors that limit pocket size or control material flow in various ways to suit your needs. Your supplier should be able to explain the best choice for your application.

For industries like food, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics, rotary valves need the right coatings and features to prevent cross-contamination. We typically recommend either stainless-steel, Lectrofluor, or XTR-Coat to ensure your valve has the appropriate protection against sticking and corrosion. Smooth internal surfaces are an essential feature of any valve, but especially for sanitation. Finally, if you find yourself switching between batches often, consider a quick-cleaning design to reduce downtime. 

Outboard bearings are mounted on the outside of a rotary valve’s housing, while inboard bearings sit on the inside of the endplates. Because they’re located closer to the seal, inboard bearings are typically associated with more frequent repairs and a greater risk of contamination. Outboard bearings leave a gap between the seal and bearings, which makes them safer and more reliable in the long run.

The key to storing a valve is to keep it covered in a warm, dry, and clean location to prevent condensation and contamination. For long-term storage, the valve should be kept in a temperature-controlled facility with a weatherproof covering. Check this blog or your valve manual for more detailed instructions.

While we understand the temptation for a quick fix, we definitely don’t recommend hitting your valve with hammers, wrenches, or whatever tools you have on hand. It only damages the valve and doesn’t help with material blockage. If you need help improving material flow, speak to one of our valve experts for recommendations specific to your application.

Not all rotary valves are designed to be interchangeable between ingredients, but ACS Valves has options for plants with split conveying feeds or multiple ingredients. The Multi-Port valve is one to consider, since it features multiple separate compartments in a single valve, making it easier to convey materials from different lines into a single valve. Many of our customers also use the Quick-Clean valve to convey multiple ingredients, because it can be cleaned and sanitized quickly thanks to its rail-based design.

Rotary valves can be very effective at minimizing leakage when properly configured by an expert.

As a general recommendation to prevent dust leakage, valves should be equipped with ACST-4 shaft seals and an outboard bearing design. You should also check rotor-to-housing tolerances often, as enlarged tolerances can also cause leaks.