New Products & News

Originally Published NO June 2010

Tablet Coater

The high-efficiency Bohle Tablet Coater (BTC) was designed to reduce processing times by up to 35% compared with conventional tablet coaters, while maintaining current good manufacturing practices. The BTC provides good coating uniformity, producing considerably fewer rejects and using less coating material in the process, says the company. The company's patented air-flow-bed technology eliminates spray drying. In addition, an elongated coating pan provides a larger tablet-spraying surface, accommodating up to 10 spray nozzles. L.B. Bohle LLC (Warminster, PA), 215/957-1240, www.bohle-tablet-coater.com.

MNP Equipment Signs Distribution Deal

MNP Equipment has been named the sole distributor in the Americas for Karnavati Engineering of India, which provides systems for tableting, encapsulating, and more. In other news, the company is now also offering a blister pack machine from Rapid Pack (Mumbai, India). The 250 PDA Automatic Blister Pack Machine, designed for packing tablets and capsules in blister packs, is unique in that it offers continuous operations for forming, feeding, and sealing. MNP Equipment Inc. (Sunrise, FL), 954/578-6878, www.mnpequip.com.

Ribbon Blender

The 42NSD ribbon blender features a discharge screw positioned across the entire bottom of the trough and is powered by a separate direct-drive system for independent speed control. The discharge screw assembly is designed with very close tolerances between the screw and the trough. The screw runs forward only during the discharge cycle, and in reverse during the blending cycle, helping to eliminate dead zones and enhance mixing. Charles Ross & Son Co. (Hauppauge, NY), 631/234-0500, www.mixers.com.

Bosch Capsule Filler

The new GKF 1400 ASB 100% capsule filler has a production capacity of 84,000 capsules/hr. The machine features automatic troubleshooting during production to increase output. It also offers an integrated checkweigher that allows for quick adjustment of fill weight, to maintain consistent fill weight throughout a batch. Bosch Packaging Technology (Minneapolis, MN), 763/424-4700, www.boschpackaging.com.

Symetix, Proditec Partner

A new agreement allows Proditec to sell Symetix products for soft-gel inspection and processing in Europe, Asia, and South America. The two companies will also work together to promote and sell inspection solutions in the North American nutraceutical market. Symetix offers high-speed, broad-belt inspection systems that sort up to one million soft gels or tablets/hr, removing 100% of foreigners as well as defects. Based in France, Proditec manufactures optical inspection systems for tablets and two-piece capsules. (Pictured: Proditec's new InspeCaps 150 single-file vision inspection system for two-piece, hard-gelatin capsules). Symetix (Walla Walla, WA), 509/394-3524, www.symetix.com; Proditec (Pessac, France), +33 0 5 57 89 17 20, www.proditec.com.

Capsule Counter

A new NEC-model tablet and capsule counter/filler can fill up to 1200 tablets or capsules/min. The stainless-steel unit offers a vibratory hopper, digital controls, glass turntable, and twin funnels. It is driven by a single phase (60-cycle, 110-volt motor). Union Standard Equipment Co. (Bronx, NY), 718/585-0200, www.unionmachinery.com.

LABBY Capsule Filler

MG America has introduced the LABBY-a compact, fully automated capsule filler designed for R&D labs, clinical trials, and small-batch output. The modular, compact unit can fill up to 3500 capsules/hr and is designed to handle all kinds of powder. It is ideal for dosing weights from 0.5 to 20 mg. The LABBY can operate either in continuous or intermittent mode and comes with a micro-weighing control system. MG America (Fairfield, NJ), 973/808-8185, www.mgamerica.com.

Ultra-Fast Capsule Filler

ACG North America has launched the latest in its AF series of capsule-filling machines-the AF-200(T). The company says that the AF-200(T) offers the fastest encapsulation speed of any capsule filler currently available, filling up to 200,000 capsules/hr. The unit is available with ACG's new, patented Zero Relative Motion technology, which is designed to minimize segregation during operation, reducing waste and fugitive dust. ACG North America (South Plainfield, NJ), 908/757-3425, www.acg-northamerica.com.