Pharmaceuticals and fine chemicals

Besides reactors and conventional pressure vessels, Deprest also makes plate filters for the pharmaceutical industry, and also carries out repairs on existing ones.

Pressure vessels, tanks and reactors are manufactured here in a similar manner, but in addition to the conventional technical requirements for pressure equipment, these sectors often impose additional requirements in relation to hygiene and thus finish and Ra values.

Fine finish and Ra value

Pharmaceuticals and fine chemicals often require a very fine finish and a very smooth surface and therefore a maximum Ra value is often imposed. An Ra value is an indication for a roughness value, and is the average deviation of the surface profile with respect to a reference line across a certain (standardized) gauge length. Other indications of roughness are Rz and Ry, but in practice these are rarely used. The roughness value is expressed in µm (microns). A frequently imposed limit for more delicate work is an Ra < 0.8μm.

Deprest can achieve roughness values of less than 0.8μm or even 0.4μm. The lower the desired Ra value, the finer the finish. The Ra value is measured by an Ra meter including an option to obtain a measurement report.