The ABC’s of Encapsulating Machines
So what are The ABC’s of Encapsulating Machines? The pharmaceutical industry has come a really long way. In the beginning, pioneer pharmacists had to mix dry plants with other different components, creating innovative and useful formulas. However, they had problems trying to find an efficient and affordable way to properly distribute their products.
Nowadays, we have encapsulation machines which have become fundamental for the pharmaceutical industry. They are responsible for developing thousands of capsules per hour, treating a wide range of different medical conditions.
But, have you ever wondered how they are made?
In this article, we will go through the manufacturing process of these powerful machines. If we want to understand these incredible machines, it is important to address two different types of encapsulating methods.
Gel encapsulation machines (Soft Capsules):
In 1833, Mothes and Dublanc patented this incredible design. They found the way to produce single compound pieces sealed with an external gel layer that worked perfectly to preserve the internal characteristics of their compounds. Mothes and Dublanc used a series of trays with exact measures. For instance, they could control different kinds of doses according to the different medical conditions and its particular treatment.
At first, this was a very artisanal process but later revolutionized the way companies could process medicine in bulk with low manufacture costs. The main benefit of soft capsules is their ability to hold liquid supplements. Consequently, they are incredibly effective at comprising potent drugs, where the dose is <100 µg002E. Nowadays, these encapsulating machines can produce up to 15,000 capsules per hour.
Two-piece gel encapsulation (Hard capsules):
In 1847, James Murdock invented the two-piece encapsulation method. This involves filling a soluble containing plastic part with medical components. For instance, in the form of powder or pellets. Also, through a process of Extrusion and Spheronization. Then, the capsule is closed by placing the second containing a soluble part, sealing its content. The encapsulating machines operating with this process are preferred by many pharmaceutical companies. This is due to its cost/benefit ratio. These machines also produce very low waste and are easy to operate.
The components found in this kind of capsule might range from active ingredients, binders, disintegrants, fillers, glidant, and preservatives. Some of the most proficient two-piece encapsulation machines can manufacture up to 120,000 capsules per hour.
TES Equipment Suppliers
It is important to know that it all comes down to the shape of the components you want to capsulize. The materials employed on the machine, doses, and its specifications will vary greatly on the result you want to obtain. If you want to know more about encapsulating machines and its purposes, give us a call and we’ll talk about what we can do for you.
Recent Comments