Bulk Solids Handling & Processing Innovations
Pharmaceutical processing is the process of drug manufacturing and can be broken down into a range of unit operations, such as blending, granulation, milling, coating, tablet pressing, filling and others. The Pharmaceutical manufacturing process has precise requirements and manufacturing guidelines in terms of quality. As a result, it is crucial that pharmaceutical manufacturing equipment complies with good manufacturing practices.
Pharmaceutical process development is the process from research and development, laboratory formulation to commercial production of pharmaceuticals.
While health is a crucially important social and economic asset, both infectious and non-communicable diseases pose a major threat to the well-being and prosperity of populations. In the pharmaceutical product development process quality is essential – cutting-edge research, excellent processes, perfect products are what make pharmaceutical companies stand out. New diseases require new cures, increased competition requires faster, leaner processes in all aspects of the operations.
The pharmaceutical manufacturing process is typically made up of a combination of specific unit processes chosen according to the physical and chemical characteristics of the active pharmaceutical ingredient.
Dry granulation; Compaction of a low-density powder to a granule. The roller compaction process consists of a combination of screw feed, compaction and milling systems.
Powder blending: In the pharmaceutical industry, a wide range of excipients may be blended together to create the final blend used to manufacture the solid dosage form. The uniqueness of each individual drug formulation assures that no two blending processes can ever be identical.
High shear and wet granulation: Commonly used processes for densification, to improve flowability, content uniformity or wettability or to improve dispensing qualities.
Fluid bed granulation: Top spray, bottom spray (Wurster) and rotary (tangential spray) are commonly used in the food and pharmaceutical industries.
Hot melt extrusion: Utilized in pharmaceutical processing to enable delivery of drugs with poor solubility and bioavailability. Of particular interest is the use of HME to disperse active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) in a matrix at the molecular level, thus forming solid solutions.
Drying: Understanding and controlling moisture content of powders is critical to many pharmaceutical processes. Fluid bed or laminar flow drying conditions impact on both physical and chemical characteristics of powder and granules.
Pharmaceutical milling: The process of using rotary cutters in pharmaceutical equipment machinery to remove materials from a workpiece by feeding in at an angle with the axis of the tool.
Compression of powder or granules into tablets: An efficient process for producing a solid dose medication.
Tablet coating equipment: Options include batch process coating pan, off-press continuous coating or continuous processing.
Pharmaceutical encapsulation: The containment of a solid or liquid dose of a drug in a soft shell or hard pre-formed capsule.
Micronization: The process of reducing the particle sizes of pharmaceutical products, under very high pressures, sheer, turbulence, acceleration and impact, to make them more stable and clinically effective.
Pharmaceutical processing equipment includes a wide variety of equipment for specific unit processes, such as:
In order to guarantee precise manufacturing and formulation development, nearly every pharmaceutical process can be automated. As a result, there is a piece of pharmaceutical manufacturing equipment involved in every processing step.
Pharmaceutical process engineering is at work during all stages of a continuous manufacturing process. Pharmaceutical process engineers are responsible for designing, implementing, controlling and optimizing pharmaceutical processes. Within pharmaceutical equipment manufacturing, the processes involved can be chemical or biochemical. These engineers can be designing innovative processes and equipment for a new facility or they can be involved in the modification and optimization of pharmaceutical equipment and processes that are already in place. The responsibilities of a pharmaceutical process engineer may also include providing analysis of the process to ensure safety, efficiency, and compliance with relevant regulations.
Pharmaceutical processing news provides in-depth coverage and actionable examples of how pharmaceutical professionals are tackling the most pressing challenges in the evolving pharma landscape. A pharmaceutical processing magazine focuses on the journey from end-stage development, through scale-up, to commercial manufacturing, providing strategies and best practices for facilities whose goals include reducing risks, improving product quality and increasing efficiencies.
Engineers in the pharmaceutical industry are creating modular, continuous, and scalable processes and manufacturing environments to meet cost and quality challenges head-on.
Various pharmaceutical processing innovations are fueling a fresh wave of pharmaceutical manufacturing innovation. Continuous pharmaceutical manufacturing offers potential flexibility, quality, and economic advantages over batch processing, both in process development and manufacturing for the pharmaceutical sector. Over the past decade, there have been significant advancements in science and engineering to support the implementation of continuous pharmaceutical manufacturing.
In many pharmaceutical processes, what works in the lab doesn’t always scale-up seamlessly into production; this is true in conical milling. Larger batches, different process conditions, and varying material characteristics can all create unforeseen problems that ultimately impact performance.
Read moreNitrogen is widely used in milling applications within the pharmaceutical industry, predominantly for inerting, product quality, and cryogenics.
Read moreInnovative drug development in the 21st century is a long, laborious process.
Read moreThe new modular multi-dosing system from Three-Tec is the ideal solution for accurate powder dosing of active pharmaceutical ingredients (API’s) and excipients in the process of solid dosage production.
Read moreGranulation is a common process used in the pharmaceutical industry for the manufacture of tablets and capsules. This article will focus on the production of tablets through wet granulation, and how the addition of a Hanningfield Kwik-Sift can safeguard and improve the process.
Read morePowder containment and sterile transfer solutions experts, ChargePoint Technology, today announced that it has entered into a collaboration with STERIS, a leading provider of infection prevention and other procedural products and services, to offer a unique and integrated solution for sterile product transfer.
Read moreDespite the economic effects of the coronavirus pandemic Gebr. Lödige Maschinenbau GmbH has received one of the largest single orders in its over 80-year history: The global company known as Lödige Process Technology on the international stage will supply an Asian chemical company with a total of six machines.
Read moreThe PureFeed® A feeder was designed specifically for pharmaceutical and nutraceutical processes to feed mills, mixers, extruders and compounders.
Read moreMeeting safety and process requirements at the same time is sometimes a challenge, especially in the pharmaceutical industry.
Read moreThe Ritedose Corporation, a contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) with a focus on inhalation and ophthalmic products, has partnered with ChargePoint Technology to ensure the sterility of its drug substance mixing process.
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For over 40 years, SINFINES FACTORY has been a solid reference for companies involved in the handling of bulk materials, from simple advice to the development of customized engineering projects.
Hethon is a worldwide specialist in powder and liquid dosing, especially for substances that are difficult to dose.
Having 40 years of experience, Polimak provides bulk solids handling, conveying, storage, feeding, dosing, discharging, filling solutions from a single equipment to complete turnkey systems.
Since 1915, EXEN has been providing the best solution for clogging problems with our Pneumatic hammer "Air Knocker" and a wide range of flow aid devices. For material flow problems. No more banging!
Spec Engineering offers custom engineering solutions, providing the latest technology to manufacturers in the food, beverage, plastics, and chemical industries.
For over 60 years we have provided protection solutions that can suppress, isolate and vent combustible dust or vapor explosions in process industries.
Highly efficient industrial sieving, screening, sifting and separating solutions for processing bulk material. Hygienically designed, crevice free, constructed from FDA approved materials. ATEX rated as standard.
Progressive Products, optimizes pneumatic conveying systems by reducing waste and cost, minimizing downtime, and improving productivity with high-performing components.
Process automation systems for receipt-to-process bulk material transfer and Industrial Vacuum Cleaning Systems for high volume recovery of many materials including combustible dusts.
Individual advice and efficient solutions for the whole weighing technology process
Newson Gale; Manufacturers of static control equipment and solutions for hazardous area explosion protection in industrial processes.
WAMGROUP offers the one-stop-solution for Bulk Solids Handling & Processing and Waste Water Treatment Equipment.
Jenike & Johanson is the world's leading company in powder and bulk solids handling, processing, and storage technology
High-performance rotary valves and airlocks for metering, feeding, and airlock in bulk material processing and pneumatic conveying applications. Fully NFPA and OSHA compliant.
Smart Elbow® deflection elbows stop material from impacting the elbow wall, preventing: abrasive wear, degradation & heat-related build-up & plastic streamers. 45° & 90° in 1.25 to 18” dia.
Eastern Instruments feeders allow for both accurate, real-time flow measurement, as well as very precise control of flow rate and total for nearly perfect batching or blending.
REMBE® is a safety specialist in explosion safety and pressure relief. It provides customers in all industries with safety systems for their plants and equipment.
Coperion and Coperion K-Tron are system and equipment suppliers, including extruders, feeders, pneumatic conveying and components, who understand the importance of process efficiency.
Dinnissen has become a world leader in process technology in the world of powders, particles and granules. We’re proud to be known for our expertise, quality products and tailor-made solutions. “Trusted by the best”
Flexicon equipment conveys, conditions, discharges, fills, dumps and/or weigh batches powder and bulk materials dust-free.
Dec is a leading global provider of powder handling systems and process containment technologies. It has been supplying the pharmaceutical, chemical, food and cosmetic industries for over 30 years.
