TRANSLATE USING not working to remove "#" from a field ?

Hi Experts,

I am trying to remove # from a field using the below statement.

TRANSLATE WITH_SPECIALCHAR USING SPECHARSEAR.

DATA: SPECHARSEAR(50) VALUE                           

     ''' _ < > ! " & / = ? : ; , . - ( ) # # % ^ $ | ~ @ '.

It doesn't work for the one scenario for values like #KFTIN00097198# which has # at both the ends. It works well with #KFTIN00097198 or KFTIN00097198# or #KFTIN0$0097198#. The # is not removed if it is at both the ends. Can you please help me here ?

This code is part of an edited version of the FM "SF_SPECIALCHAR_DELETE".

Thanks a lot in advance

Akhil