GlaxoSmithKline's engineers required a conveyor system that would transport their nebules from the blow fill seal machine through to the deflashers, where the nebules are separated from the waste plastic. After careful consideration GlaxoSmithKline chose FlexLink. Richard Friar, GlaxoSmithKline project engineer explains: “FlexLink was chosen due to the accessibility the system offered to all sides of the deflashing machines and process checking stations that normal belt conveyors couldn’t give us.”

Unique wedge advantages
Given the confined area FlexLink had to work in, the wedges system was ideally suited for the application. They elevate sharply the product and take part of a flow system that doesn’t require any breaks, stops or transfers. 

“In addition to giving us the access required, using the FlexLink conveyors also meant there were fewer intersections and corners which inevitably cause problems with our style of products. If we were using traditional conveyors, like some of our other lines, we could not go around corners without loosing control of the product”.

With FlexLink’s flexible wedge cleats, the products are held securely in place and separated for both horizontal and vertical transport on one continuous conveyor. 

No controls needed
The FlexLink solution didn’t need any transfers or breaks. The simplicity of the design allowed the conveyors to be supplied without any control systems. This greatly reduced the cost to GlaxoSmithKline.

One million nebules within two months of installation
Once GlaxoSmithKline decide to release a product to the local market, production is expected to run 24 hours per day, 5-6 days per week. This means over 1 million nebules produced within the first two months of full-scale production.

Positive impressions of the project
Richard Friar commented: “FlexLink is a good product because it’s flexible. If we ever need to change the line, we can just buy the additional products, fit them and away we go, without needing to scrap the old conveyor. Plus the system’s relatively maintenance free when compared to other conveyors.”