Pharmaceutical Technology Europe - June 2010 - (Page 8)

Challenges in coating As has been seen with other pharmaceutical manufacturing equipment, there is a growing drive to utilise simpler, more user-friendly coating machines that are more cost-effective and flexible. Flexibility in batch size for a single machine is particularly critical in the tablet coating industry and, as such, machines are being developed that feature many batch size options. Usually a coating pan has the option to work from a full load down to 50% of capacity. Nowadays, however, the industry is pushing for a 70% reduction on batch sizes. Rapid coating times require faster drying and better mixing, which has led to advances in technology; for instance, the industry is now moving away from traditional spray nozzles to more high-tech systems, such as pumps that feature an The industry validates spray systems based on nozzle pressure, but this can be difficult because a blocked pipe may report the correct pressure without flow. individual spray line to nozzle with anti-bearding properties. However, a lot of the technologies used in coating have now reached a plateau; for instance, mixing is now at a nominal level for average strength tablets because if it was any faster then the damage to the tablets would be detrimental to the coating process. As current practices for coating are sufficient, manufacturers are unlikely to change their processes the standard coating process for all machines is very wasteful. Fortunately, technology is now available to help the industry adopt environmental considerations; for instance, with a plate heat exchanger, the exhaust air can be used to preheat the incoming air and save on the energy needed for heating. This will lead to cost savings and will also support government initiatives aimed at encouraging companies to be more environmentally friendly. PTE David Graham, Coating Systems International Main challenges Cost is always a principal driver for manufacturers — the faster you can coat a batch the more economical the machine, but it is also important to balance coating time versus quality by achieving the maximum spray rate with minimal application time. unless they see any major advantages. One weakness in current operating models, however, relates to coating validation. The industry validates spray systems based on nozzle pressure, but this can be difficult because a blocked pipe may report the correct pressure without flow. Another area where there is room for improvement is in machine operating efficiency because Based on a contribution by David Graham, Technical Sales Manager at Coating Systems International (CSI). To read the full version of this article, go to www.pharmtech.com/graham www.coatingsystems.co.uk 1 CONTENTS 7 CONTINUOUS PROCESSES 3 CHANGING TRENDS 8 COATING CHALLENGES 4 EQUIPMENT PROBLEMS 10 CODING TECHNOLOGIES 5 GRANULATION 12 TOP TECHNOLOGIES http://www.pharmtech.com/graham http://www.coatingsystems.co.uk

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Pharmaceutical Technology Europe - June 2010

Pharmaceutical Technology Europe - June 2010
Contents
Find Out What PTE Readers Feel Are the Most Common Problems Encountered with Their Tabletting Equipment.
Tablet Compression: Changing Trends, More Demands
Tabletting Equipment: Common Problems and How to Avoid Them
Granulation: Evolving Slowly But Surely
Drying: Moving from Batch to Continuous Processes
Challenges in Coating
Flexible Blending
Coding Technologies: Breaking Down the Barriers
Inspection Technologies Update
Twelve Latest Technologies Showcased

Pharmaceutical Technology Europe - June 2010