A SMALL family-run engineering firm has solved an international chemical company’s problem in checking bottles and containers for contamination.

Addington Engineers, based in Richmond, North Yorkshire, were called in when GlaxoSmithKline’s (GSK) plant at Barnard Castle, needed to remove the airtight aluminium and plastic caps from bottles and phials.

The containers are randomly selected from the production line, to comply with rigorous testing standards.

The process had been carried out manually, but was laborious and could have led to potential claims of repetitive strain injury.

So, Addington created a cap removing machine for the company, which can remove one cap a minute.

Addington’s managing director, Craig Vine, said: “It was a difficult one for GSK.

They needed to remove the caps as efficiently as possible without damaging the phials and accessing the contents for these important tests.

“What we came up with was a machine that was programmed to slice through caps and remove them in a clean but non-sterile environment.

“It is simple to operate – very little training is needed – and it’s highly efficient.

“It can handle a variety of different phials by gripping, twisting and slicing.

“All the operative has to do is insert a phial into the nest and close the guard to begin the cycle.”

The process from design of the machine to installation took about six to eight weeks.

Mr Vine believes that with small design adjustments, the cap remover could be adapted to help other pharmaceutical companies with similar problems.

The testing process is vital so that the drugs are free from contaminants and are the correct volume.

Addington, established 40 years ago and employing four staff, specialises in designing and commissioning custombuilt machinery.

Its clients come from the pharmaceutical, food packaging, electrical, chemical and automotive industries in the UK and Europe.

Mr Vine added: “In fact, anyone who needs to outsource to overcome those knotty little problems that are blighting their production processes.”

The company, which has worked with GSK for more than 15 years, has a significant amount of repeat business with its customers.

Mr Vine said: “I think it is the service we provide, the quality of the product and the fact we always deliver on time and within budget.”