Vertical conical dryer for pharmaceutical ingredients
Optimize drying and mixing processes for high-value substances with this Vertical Conical Dryer, which ensures efficient moisture removal and uniform product consistency, essential for quality control in pharmaceutical formulations.

Dries and Mixes Active Ingredients Efficiently
The Vertical Conical Dryer (VCD) from GMM Pfaudler is an energy-efficient vacuum drying solution designed for the precise moisture removal of Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) and specialty chemicals. Featuring static and dynamic heat transfer areas, the VCD ensures efficient drying with its vertical installation and bottom discharge design, minimizing heel volumes for optimal emptying. It caters to industries such as pharmaceutical, chemical, fine chemical, and agrochemical, handling end products like antibiotic powders, ibuprofen, and pesticides. With a wide range of filling capacities and a good turndown ratio, the dryer accommodates batch and continuous operations while maintaining high compliance with cGMP and FDA guidelines.
The VCD incorporates a hollow heated agitator with a heatable single or double helical ribbon, providing gentle mixing and efficient heat transfer. Available in stainless steel, Hastelloy, and special alloy options, the dryer offers robust corrosion resistance. Automation options include temperature control units and vacuum recovery systems to enhance process efficiency. The system is designed for easy integration, equipped with optional accessories such as a lump breaker and a dust filter, ensuring smooth operation and maintenance. Maintenance is straightforward with accessible components, and segregation of the drive unit from process areas allows for sterile clean-room installations.
Benefits
- Enhances product quality with precise moisture control compliant with GMP and FDA standards.
- Minimizes operational costs through energy-efficient vacuum drying technology.
- Ensures quick and complete discharge, reducing product waste and process times.
- Provides flexibility for diverse batch sizes with a wide turndown ratio.
- Maintains high corrosion resistance with material options suited for harsh chemical processes.
- Applications
- Chemical,Active pharmaceutical ingredients,Fine chemicals,Agro chemicals
- End products
- Paracetamol,Aspirin,Fertilizer granules,Insecticides,Pesticides,Herbicides,Ibuprofen,Specialty chemical additives,Antibiotic powders
- Steps before
- Purification,Filtration,Solid-liquid separation
- Steps after
- Packing,Sterilization,Coating
- Input ingredients
- Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients,Chemical raw materials,Fine Chemical materials,Agro Chemical materials
- Output ingredients
- dried product,dried APIs
- Market info
- GMM Pfaudler is known for manufacturing glass-lined equipment, reactors, and engineered-to-order (ETO) solutions for the chemical, pharmaceutical, and allied industries, recognized for their innovation, quality, and global presence.
- Heat transfer utilization
- Static and dynamic
- Installation type
- Vertical
- Discharge method
- Bottom discharge
- Filling capacities
- Wide range
- Operating cost
- Lower compared to other dryers
- Maintenance cost
- Lower compared to other dryers
- Automation
- Available with automation systems
- Shaft sealing designs
- Double wet / dry mechanical seal
- Agitator type
- Hollow heated with helical ribbon
- Discharge valve type
- Twist close / segmented ball valve
- Material of construction
- Stainless steel / Hastelloy / special alloys
- Drying method
- Vacuum drying
- Heel volume
- Lower heel volumes
- Turndown ratio
- Good
- Optional accessories
- Lump breaker,sampling system,condenser,receiver,vacuum pump
- Temperature Control Units
- Available
- Vacuum and solvent recovery
- Units available
- Dust filter
- Options available
- Energy efficiency
- Lower operating cost compared to other dryers
- Batch vs. continuous operation
- Batch
- Drying mechanism
- Effective utilization of static and dynamic heat transfer
- Automation level
- Available with automation systems
- Operating environment
- Sterile/clean room areas
- Effective discharge
- Bottom discharge ensures better emptying
- Corrosive resistance (e.g. acids)
- Stainless steel,Hastelloy,Special alloys
- Cleanability
- Designed for clean room installation
- Biological compatibility
- Compliance with cGMP and FDA guidelines
- GMP Compliance
- Yes
- FDA Compliance
- Yes
- CGMP Compliance
- Yes
- Compact footprint
- Lower footprint
- Discharge method
- Bottom discharge with twist close valve/segmented ball valve
- Machine shape
- Vertical Conical
- Automation systems
- PLC integration
- Temperature Control Units
- TCU integration
- Vacuum and solvent recovery units
- Integrated
- Shaft sealing designs
- Double wet mechanical seals / Dry mechanical seal
- Agitator design
- Hollow heated agitator with heatable single or double helical ribbon
- Bottom discharge
- Twist close valve / Segmented ball valve