Design and manufacture of stainless steel tanks for the pharmaceutical and chemical sectors
We take care of every detail, from the raw materials to the final inspection down to the smallest detail.
Our passion for quality and attention to detail drives us to be the best in our field
Desla Inox has made the pharmaceutical sector its passion; every detail, from the purchase of the raw material to the final testing, is carefully followed. There is no room for errors.
Whether it’s about storage tanks for sterile products or mixing machines, every detail is discussed and studied with the customer, analyzed and checked throughout the production and finally tested by an external notified body.
Our quality standard requires the total absence of internal and external porosity to the weld, our welding joints are in fact 100% radiographed thus ensuring a perfect mechanical seal of our products which we know are subjected to considerable thermal stress due to sanitization.
The internal surfaces are brought to roughness close to 0.1 microns without the use of polishing pastes with special techniques operated by our master polishers which guarantee the total absence of iron oxide or organic material contamination. On request, we carry out electro-polishing treatments certified by our partners operating in the sector.
Pharmaceutical and chemical tanks
For the storage of chemical and pharmaceutical products, tanks are an ideal solution. Tanks are strong and durable, able to withstand the rigours of storing these materials. Moreover, with a little customisation, they can be designed to meet your company’s specific needs.
Bio-reactors for microorganisms
The production of aseptic bio-reactors is designed for the study or production of bio-masses. Since it is a very delicate process that cannot and must not have the possibility of external contamination, they are made of AISI 316 stainless steel with roughness equal to or less than 0.2micron. They are designed with PED regulations to guarantee tightness both under pressure and in vacuum, as a result they can be perfectly sanitized at high temperatures with high pressure saturated steam insufflation. Insulation is guaranteed by a high-density mineral wool insulation covered with scotch-brite finish stainless steel.
Storage tanks
Vertical or horizontal tanks designed to ensure maximum hygiene. They are designed and sized to operate both under vacuum and pressure according to PED regulations. Insulation is guaranteed by a high-density mineral wool insulation covered with scotch-brite finish stainless steel.
Reactors for injectable fluids
Designed to ensure maximum hygiene of production processes, no detail is left to chance. Starting from the mixing system with magnetic stirrers to the connections according to the customer’s requests but always guaranteeing perfect sanitation. The heat exchange can be managed either with the “tank in tank” technology or with the semi-tube application for the sudden passage and at high steam flow rates, both of which are obviously PED certified. Insulation is guaranteed by a high-density mineral wool insulation covered with scotch-brite finish stainless steel.
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How do we produce them?
Desla Inox manufactures storage tanks, mixing machines and other equipment for the pharmaceutical industry.
We take pride in our work and pay attention to every detail, from purchasing raw materials to final testing.
We work closely with our customers to ensure that all their needs are met. We control the production process from start to finish and thoroughly test our products before delivery.
Used materials
Desla Inox almost entirely uses austenitic chromium-nickel steels with a low carbon content. In the AISI classification they are indicated as 300 series; in particular the AISI 304L and AISI 316 L steels (the designation L indicates “low-carbon”) so as to lengthen the time necessary for the precipitation of chromium carbides such as to allow the execution of welded structures, even of considerable thickness, without precipitations of carbides occurring in the welded areas. Good mechanical characteristics especially at low temperatures (down to -254 ° C). For high or very high temperatures we use stainless steels also called “refractory” see AISI 310S.
The main features that make these materials suitable for use in our product sectors are the following:
Surface compactness without porosity
High resistance to shocks and mechanical stresses
High resistance to sudden thermal variations
High corrosion resistance
Excellent cleanability of the surface over time, understood as high bacterial removability and low bacterial retentivity
Welding procedures
Desla Inox has highly qualified operators with welding qualifications in both TIG and MIG techniques. The company also has an automated welding system designed and custom-made with MIG technology by top welding companies at the national and international level.
TIG stands for “Tungsten Inert Gas” and is a versatile welding technique widely used, especially in the production of stainless steel pipes. It is suitable for welding very thin materials, around 0.4-0.5 mm, with an upper limit of convenience of 5-6mm. The bead obtained has excellent mechanical, analytical and aesthetic qualities.
MIG stands for “Metal Inert Gas” and is a more automated technique that is used for thicker materials, as compared to TIG. The filler material transfer during welding can take place in three basic regimes: “short-arc”, “drop-arc” and “spray arc”. The latest welding generators have evolved with the “PULSED-ARC” regime, which is a combination of the “short-arc” technique and the fusion modalities of the “spray-arc”.
Finishes
The company has two polishing departments within it. The first semi-automated allows the surface treatment of cylindrical sheets and internal and external walls of the tanks; the same machine is also able to work on rounded bottoms of different nature and size both internally and externally. The choice to work exclusively in stainless steels and non-ferrous materials guarantees us the absence of contamination.
The finish by abrasion of a product consists in a succession of steps to remove the surface defects created during processing. These phases are obtained with the use of abrasive means that “erase” the deeper traces present on the surface. A series of cycles with increasingly higher grain sizes allow the following finishes to be achieved:
- Satin
- Scotch-Brite
- Glossy
- Mirror polished through pastes
- Mirror glossy with ceramic based discs
In collaboration with our commercial partners we are able to supply products with a blasted surface on request. Shot peening consists in a “bombardment” of the surface with special spheres obtained with a suitable compound of glass and silica, so as to exclude the possibility of contamination of the treated piece. This technique also causes a surface hardening of the material.
Particular surface finishing technique required above all for the inside of the tanks, consists of a polishing treatment due to a passage of current in an electrolytic solution. The main advantages offered by electro-polishing are:
- Reduction of the surface roughness of the product
- Removal of the surface layer stressed by technological operations
- Elimination of machining burrs
- Increase in corrosion resistance
- Increase of bacterial removability and therefore of the hygienic characteristics of the product
- Removal of any surface contamination
Refrigeration or heating
The application of a heat exchange system totally depends on the type of process the machine is intended for; the choice and sizing must be carefully calculated to ensure its efficiency.
The main types of heat exchange systems applied on our machines are the following:
Perforated and pressed sheet to give life to the “ashlar”, the latter once applied to the wall or to the bottom of the tanks acts as a cavity for the passage of fluids or steam. The main advantage is to be able to cover high squares and therefore increase the heat exchange surface with reduced material impact. Spot welding with MIG technique and perimeter TIG welding allow high resistance to pressure (tested up to 6 bar) and excellent mechanical properties to thermal shocks.
Literally tanks inside the tank consists in building a real cavity by superimposing one tank inside the other. This system allows, above all with the use of steam, to have an extremely homogeneous heat exchange and, where required, a delicate cooking of the product.
The application of an ascending or descending spiral of a stainless steel half-tube on the walls of the tanks is the most suitable technique where rapid heating or sterilization of the product is required. The mechanical and physico-chemical characteristics of the half-pipe allow the passage of saturated steam up to 20 bar of pressure. The system is obviously regulated by the PED regulations.
Insulation materials
The type of tank and therefore of the process for which it is intended determines the choice of the insulating material. Another no less important factor is the place of installation of the tank depending on whether it is outdoors or indoors. For these details or for specific customer needs we are able to offer the following types of insulation:
HIGH DENSITY MINERAL WOOL
Certainly the most used for the large range of sizes, thicknesses and thermal conductivity values
GLASS WOOL
Where mineral wool cannot be used for reasons of space or specific thermal requirements
POLYURETHANE FOAMS
It is blown through special holes inside the steel cavity to ensure that even the most difficult corners are reached
