Recovery trap for the pharmaceutical industry is assembled using hot gas welding
SGD Ltd installs systems for conveying chemicals and process waste. It recently developed a new product for the pharmaceutical industry in response to a market need.
The company, based near Stoke-on-Trent, developed the concept of a new 3.3 borosilicate glass cylindrical vessel with an HDPE lid incorporating three HDPE inlet attachments.
SGD had the knowledge and expertise to manufacture in the two materials but turned to Joining Forces* in search of technology to join them together, with the requirements:
- leak-proof joint between glass vessel and HDPE lid
- sound and visually acceptable joints between inlet attachments and lid
TWI carried out a Product and Process Review which produced several suggestions on how to solve SGD's assembly problem. A Feasibility Study was then undertaken to investigate these suggestions further.
Viable methods for joining the HDPE lid to glass were extrusion welding or hot gas welding; whilst hot gas welding proved particularly successful in joining the attachments to the lid.
'Hot gas welding has allowed SGD to produce a high quality product at a competitive price. We are now able to meet an important market need and the new assembly complements our existing product range', commented Chris Buckley, SGD's Managing Director.
* Joining Forces was a UK government sponsored programme which ran 1994-1999.