Picoline

A stable platform, powerful software and numerous options:

Machine for fine grinding, classifying or mixing powders in laboratories
Especially for processing very small product quantities of a few millilitres
Compact and modular design with numerous functional modules
Separation of control and work unit
Consisting of four parts: Platform control, process platform, function modules and accessories

Concept

Developed for scale-up from laboratory to production: As the available modules are derived from the well-known series of Hosokawa Alpine production systems, you can use the determined manufacturing process as a basis for a later transfer to production scale.

Easy handling: Picoline machines are designed for ease of use, simple handling and cleaning and offer the opportunity to develop production technology at a very early stage.

Platform

The platform is an ergonomic, two-part element. One part is used to accommodate the Picolinefunction modules, the other part contains the control elements, the HMI and the gas distributor. By separating the control and work units, both parts can be positioned independently of each other and adapted to existing conditions. For example, the process platform can be installed in a fume cupboard due to its compact dimensions, while the control unit can be conveniently and easily operated outside the fume cupboard. The process platform surface is made of brushed stainless steel and is quick and easy to clean.

The standardised control unit for all Picoline function modules and all electrical and mechanical components required to operate the function modules are housed within the control platform to save space. The adapter itself is designed for the connection of all function modules. This means that the system can be gradually expanded with additional modules at a later date.

Equipment details

Touch panel for operation, fast response times
Microprocessor, CAN bus, power supply unit
Power switch, connection cable, 1 USB port
Rotatable adapter with media feed for attaching the respective machine to the platform (can be tilted for assembly purposes and Picobond)
Integrated emergency stop switch
LED status light as a visual signal for the system status
Side recessed grips for easier positioning under the extractor hoods
Separation of liquid, gas and power supply

Technical specifications

Dimensions (without function module and accessories): 893 mm x 616 mm x 488 mm (W x D x H)
Weight depending on equipment: approx. 60-100 kg

Software

The system is controlled via a touch panel with integrated microprocessor built into the platform. The installed function module is selected by the operator and the stored control logic is automatically activated. Operating data, setting values and trend curves can be visualised on various display levels.

Data can be exported from CSV files to a USB stick.

Applications

The miniature machines are used in research institutes and development departments of companies in the pharmaceutical, chemical, ceramics, battery research, functional materials, magnetic materials, rare earths and wherever the smallest quantities of powder are processed.

A laboratory system customised to your specific requirements

Choose from various modules

Module name	Alpine machine type	Size	Fineness
Piconizer	Spiral jet mill (AS)	AS 33	d90 < 20 µm
Picojet	Fluidised bed opposed jet mill (AFG)FG)	AFG 40	d97 < 5 µm
Picosplit	Classifier (ATP)	ATP 20	d97 < 5 µm
Picozirk	Classifier mill (ZPS)	ZPS 20	d97 < 20 µm
Picoplex	Fine impact mill (UPZ with pin discs)	UPZ 40	d90 ca. 80 µm
Picoplex	Fine impact mill (UPZ with plate beater unit)	UPZ 40	d90 ca. 120 µm
Picocross	High-speed fine impact mill C/CW	C 40	d90 ca. 50 µm
Picocrush	Hammer mill (HA)	4/2	d90 < 0,5–1 mm
Picobond	Coating (Nobilta)	NOB-80
Picobond	Coating (AMS)	AMS-80
Picomix	Mixer (Cyclomix)	CLX 0.1

Function modules

Picosplit ultra-fine classifier: Spatter-grain-free results in the entire separation area

Combination of the classifying head with different types of grinders (coarse material hopper, jet mill, classifier mill) for maximum flexibility
Classifying wheel and motor bearing gas flushed
High precision of cut
Compressed air or inert gas operation
Space-saving design
Easy handling
Designs: Stainless steel and wear-protected (ceramic) version for contamination-free reprocessing, batch mode or continuous mode
Classifying head based on the ATP air classifier from Hosokawa Alpine

Technical specifications

Separation range	2 µm – 120 µm
Classifying wheel diameter	20 mm
Classifying speed	max. 60,000 rpm
Total air volume	max. 20 Nm3/h

Principle of operation

Classification takes place according to the centrifugal counterflow principle in a rapidly rotating classifying wheel.
The powder is dosed into the viewing chamber and transported to the viewing wheel by the air flow.
Fine particles pass through the wheel, are discharged with the air and separated in a cyclone filter combination or in a filter.
Coarse particles are rejected by the classifying wheel and collected in a collection container.
The separating air is fed into the lower part of the housing via a paddle ring; this disperses the rejected coarse material and increases the separating efficiency of the separator.
The separating cut is adjusted by varying the gas volume and the classifier speed.

1 Classifier wheel 2 Classifier drive 3 Process air 4 Coarse material container

Sectional view of the Picosplit module from Hosokawa Alpine

Picozirk classifier mill: Sharp and easily adjustable cut point

Picozirk classifier mill module from Hosokawa Alpine

Mechanical impact mill with integrated classifier for dry fine grinding of soft to medium-hard materials with a steep particle size distribution
Plate beater rotor with grinding track
Sharp and easily adjustable separation line
Cool and gentle grinding
Compressed air or inert gas operation
Motor bearing mill and classifier gas flushed
Continuous operation
Designs: Stainless steel and wear-protected (ceramic) variant
The design and mode of operation largely correspond to the Zirkoplex ZPS classifier mill from Hosokawa Alpine

Technical specifications

Separation range	15 µm – 120 µm
Grinding to Mohs hardness	3.5
Classifying wheel diameter	20 mm
Grinding disc diameter	40 mm
Classifier speed	max. 60,000 rpm
Total air volume	approx. 20 Nm3/h

Principle of operation

Grinding is carried out by a rapidly rotating disc with grinding tools. The ground material is dosed into the grinding container and accelerated by the grinding rotor. Comminution is achieved by particle impact on the grinding tools of the rotor and by impact on the grinding track.
The grinding air flows from below through the grinding gap between the rotor and the grinding track and then through the classifier wheel located in the head of the mill.
Due to the classifying effect of the classifying wheel, fine particles can escape from the grinder with the air and are separated in a filter. Coarser particles fall back onto the rotor and are crushed further until they have reached the desired fineness.
The classifier mill is adjusted via the speeds of the grinding rotor and the classifier wheel as well as via the gas volume.

1 Classifier wheel 2 Classifier drive 3 Beater disc 4 Grinding track 5 Process air

Sectional view of the Picozirk module from Hosokawa Alpine

Picoplex impact mill: Universal grinder with flexible equipment

Mechanical rotor impact mill for dry grinding of soft to medium-hard materials
Continuous operation
Filter element for venting
Tubeless purge air supply
Engine bearing gas flushed
Stainless steel design
Designs: Pin disc rotor or grinding track/plate beater combination
The design and mode of operation largely correspond to the UPZ series from Hosokawa Alpine

Technical specifications

Separation range	50 µm – 500 µm
Grinding to Mohs hardness	4
Rotor diameter	40 mm
Speed	max. 60,000 rpm
Propellant air volume	max. 1 Nm3/h

Principle of operation

The material to be ground is dosed into the centre of a rotor equipped with grinding tools and crushed by impact on the rotor and stator tools.
After passing through the grinding zone, the ground material enters the mill housing and exits the mill by gravity. The rotation creates an air flow from which the ground material is separated in a filter.
Different grinding tools can be used, e.g. rotor/stator discs with axial pins or a plate beater rotor with a profiled grinding path or with a sieve.
The fineness of the grinder is adjusted by the rotor speed and the feed rate.

Available with pin discs or plate beater

Sectional view of the Picoplex module with pin discsiftscheiben von Hosokawa Alpine

1 Pin disc (stator) 2 Pin disc (rotor) 3 Grinding disc drive

Sectional view of the Picoplex with plate beater module from Hosokawa Alpine

1 Plate beater 2 Grinding track 3 Grinding tool drive

Picocrush hammer mill: Coarse or pre-comminution of soft to medium-hard materials

Mechanical hammer mill for dry (pre-)comminution of larger granulates and agglomerates of soft to medium-hard materials
Hammer mechanism with freely movable blow bars
Grinding tool combined with grinding track and different sieve sizes for easy replacement
Engine bearing gas flushed
Tubeless purge air supply
Continuous operation
Stainless steel design
Designs: Sieve inserts with different opening diameters, with suction to support the product feed
The design and mode of operation largely correspond to the Ha hammer mill from Hosokawa Alpine

Technical specifications

Separation range	1–3 mm
Grinding to Mohs hardness	4
Rotor diameter	40 mm
Speed	max. 30,000 rpm

Principle of operation

The ground material is fed into the hammer mill from the side and crushed by impacting on the rotor and stator tools.
After passing through the grinding zone, the ground material enters the grinder housing through interchangeable sieve inserts with different opening geometries.
The ground material is transported from there by gravity and the air flow into the filter housing by being separated from the air flow by a filter material.
An extraction system should be installed to improve product feed.

1 Plate beater 2 Grinding track 3 Grinding tool drive 4 Sieve

Schnittbild des Moduls PicSectional view of the Picocrush module from Hosokawa Alpineocrush von Hosokawa Alpine

Picocross counter-rotating pin mill: Ultra-fine impact grinding of soft to medium-hard materials

2-rotor counter-rotating impact mill with pin disc tool for dry grinding of soft to medium-hard materials
Pin disc rotor with counter-rotating pin discs
Engine bearing gas flushed
Tubeless purge air supply
Continuous operation
Stainless steel design
The design and mode of operation largely correspond to the Contraplex C series from Hosokawa Alpine

Technical specifcations

Separation range	30–500 µm
Grinding to Mohs hardness	4
Rotor diameter	40 mm
Speed	2x max. 60,000 rpm

Principle of operation

The ground material is dosed into the centre of two counter-rotating pin discs and crushed by impact against the grinding pins.
The high shear rate of the counter-rotating discs enables particularly intensive stressing of the particles.
After passing through the grinding zone, the ground material enters the mill housing and exits the mill by gravity.
The rotation creates an air flow from which the ground material is separated in a filter.
The grinder is adjusted by the speed of the two rotors and the feed rate.

1 Counter-rotating pin discs 2 Pin disc drive

Sectional view of the Picocross module from Hosokawa Alpine

Picojet fluidised bed opposed jet mill: Contamination-free comminution

Fluidised bed counter jet mill with integrated classifier for contamination-free dry ultrafine grinding of medium-hard to extremely hard materials
Steep grain distribution and sharp upper grain boundary
Cool and gentle grinding
Horizontal nozzle arrangement, nozzles integrated in housing extension
Compressed air or inert gas operation
Classifying wheel gap and motor bearing gas flushed
Designs: Stainless steel and wear-protected (ceramic) version, batch mode or continuous mode operation, different nozzle arrangement
The design and mode of operation largely correspond to the fluidised bed opposed jet mill AFG series from Hosokawa Alpine

Technical specifications

Separation range	2 µm – 120 µm
Grinding to Mohs hardness	10
Classifying wheel diameter	20 mm
Grinding chamber diameter	40 mm
Classifier speed	max. 60,000 rpm
Total air volume	max. 20 Nm3/h

Principle of operation

The grinding energy is introduced by highly accelerated air jets via several grinding nozzles.
The ground material is dosed into the grinding container and fluidised by the air jets. The particles are accelerated by the air jets that meet at the focal point. Size reduction is achieved by particle impact at the focal point and by shear flows at the edges of the air jets.
The grinding air then flows through a classifying wheel located in the head of the mill, where classification takes place. Due to the classifying wheel with air, fine particles can escape from the grinder with the air and are separated in a filter. Coarser particles fall back into the fluidised bed and are crushed further until they have reached the desired fineness.
The fineness is set via the air volume, the grinding air pressure and the classifier wheel speed.

1 Classifier wheel 2 Classifier drive 3 Grinding chamber 4 Process air

Sectional view of the Picojet module from Hosokawa Alpine

Piconizer spiral jet mill: For soft to medium-hard products

Spiral jet mill for dry grinding of soft to medium-hard materials
Archiving of process data in the platform
Compressed air or inert gas operation
Lid with integrated static classifier and integrated nozzle ring with four nozzles and grinding air connection
Nozzle ring with dead space-free milled nozzles
Mill housing with integrated injector for material feed
Tubeless grinding and injector air supply through platform adapter
Designs: Stainless steel and wear-protected (ceramic) variant
Also available as a stand-alone version without platform: Electroless version purely via compressed air, control via manual valve, small space requirement
The design and mode of operation largely correspond to the AS series from Hosokawa Alpine

Technical specifications

Separation range	5–40 µm
Grinding to Mohs hardness	3–8
Grinding chamber diameter	33 mm
Grinding air volume	max. 4 Nm3/h
Propellant air volume	max. 1 Nm3/h
Grinding air pressure	2–9 bar O
Motive air pressure	2–9 bar O

Principle of operation

Several gas nozzles are used to generate a rapidly rotating vortex of air. The ground material is fed into the disc-shaped grinding chamber via an injector.
The comminution takes place through particle collisions caused by the velocity gradients in the air flow.
The grinding gas is discharged through an immersion tube located in the centre of the grinding chamber. The potential vortex flow creates a classifying effect so that only fine particles can leave the grinder through the immersion tube and are separated in a cyclone filter combination, cyclone or filter. Coarser particles remain in the grinding chamber until they have reached the desired fineness.
The grinding gas quantity, the grinding gas pressure and the throughput can be varied to set the degree of micronisation.

1 Injector 2 Injector gas 3 Nozzle ring 4 Grinding gas 5 Grinding zone

Sectional view of the Piconizer module from Hosokawa Alpine

Picobond high-energy mixer: Mechano-chemical functionalisation of dry particles

Mixing reactor for the mechano-chemical functionalisation of dry particles (particle design)
Mixing or intensive mixing (coating) possible
Segregation prevention through mechanofusion
Protection against product heating through process chamber cooling
Can be purged with inert gas
Easy filling and emptying
Measuring devices for influencing the desired product quality (product temperature, rotor speed, motor power)
Batch mode
Parts in contact with the product are made of stainless steel
Designs: Mechanofusion rotor with stator lid or inclined blade agitator, for contamination-free preparation
The design and mode of operation largely correspond to the Nobilta from Hosokawa Micron B.V. or the AMS series from Hosokawa Alpine

Technical specifications Picobond NOB

Process chamber volume	approx. 220 ml
Rotor drive	630 W
Rotor diameter	40 mm
Speed	max. 8,000 rpm

Principle of operation Picobond NOB

The powder mixture is completely centrifuged by the rotor and moves as a circulating ring layer along the inner wall of the mixer housing.
Stresses such as pressure, shear, impact and rebound are initiated within the compacted component fill in this ring layer.
On contact with the following rotor element, the direction of action of the transmitted pulse changes. This creates a complex, three-dimensional material circulation, which causes intensive, repeated pressure, impact, bounce and shear stress as well as intensive mixing of the material.
The high energy input into the mix compared to conventional mixing systems causes particle fusion, coating, agglomeration and particle rounding in addition to the basic operations such as macro and micro mixing.

Technical specifications Picobond AMS

Process chamber volume	approx. 190 ml
Rotor drive	630 W
Rotor diameter	40 mm
Speed	max. 7,300 rpm

Principle of operation Picobond AMS

The powder mixture is forced into the gap between the rotating rotor and the stationary stator, whereby the stress mechanisms of pressure and shear occur.
The formed edge layer is then separated from the inner surface of the rotor by a scraper and leaves the rotor through the side openings.
In the outer area, the blades attached to the rotor cause a return transport into the processing area.
This results in a permanent circulation of the material in the machine, which leads to the most homogeneous loading of the particle mixture possible.

Picomix batch mixer: Homogeneous mixture of dry powders

High-performance batch mixer for dry powders
Inclined blade mixer in vertical conical design
Process chamber can be cooled by external unit
Shaft seal with flushed shaft seal ring
Measuring devices for product temperature, rotor speed, motor power
Parts in contact with the product are made of stainless steel
Batch mode
Based on the Cyclomix from Hosokawa Micron B.V.

Technical specifications

Useful volume	20–100 ml
Speed	max. 6,000 rpm
Mixer drive	630 W

Principle of operation

The rotating mixing tool is arranged in a conical mixing container.
The special geometry of the mixing tool and the high shear rate ensure intensive, homogeneous and rapid mixing of the powder components.
The components to be mixed are filled into the mixing container and the machine is then closed.
After the mixing process, the container is removed from the machine and the finished mixture is emptied.
The mixing quality is set via the rotor speed, the mixing time and the filling quantity.

1 Mixing tool 2 Mixing tool drive

Sectional view of the Picomix module from Hosokawa Alpine

System accessories

Expand your Picoline to suit your application

Various peripheral devices are available for your Picoline. Which accessories you choose depends on the respective application:

Processing of dry powders or flowable suspensions
Operation mode: with compressed air or inert gas, batch or continuous, design variants: Wear-protected (ceramic and coating), containment solution

Dosages

Horizontal dosing unit from Hosokawa Alpine

Pharmaceutical Micro Dispenser PMD: Single-screw feed metering unit with six different screw spirals for continuous product feeding, wear-protected version with ceramic coating possible
PSD pharmaceutical disc dispenser: Minimum quantity feed metering unit for continuous product feeding for maximum process stability, six different reversible dosing discs
Pharmaceutical dosing tube PRD for gentle product conveying through vibration, dust-tight, very easy to clean
KF cold screw conveyor: Additional module for Picoplex, Picocross and Picocrush for cooling the product before grinding
PDO vibratory feeder

Separator elements

Cyclone with filter upgrade option to fractionate the product and reduce the dust load in the filter, stainless steel design
Impact mill filter: Filter variant for Picocross, Picocrush and Picoplex with smaller product adhesion surfaces for a slightly higher product yield
Universal filter for all grinding and classifying modules: Flexible, customised filter equipment with either filter bags or filter cartridges, Safecoat coating possible as wear protection for highly abrasive products
HEPA filter for processing toxic and other critical materials, integrated in stainless steel housing, residue-free dosing even with the smallest product volumes

Vacuum cleaner (from Nilfisk)