Natoli Engineering’s experts have contributed their knowledge and expertise to the industry’s leading publications for decades. Here are several in-depth and insightful articles about tablet press manufacturing process, tooling, formulation, and training. In addition to our technical articles, be sure to visit our how-to video gallery to watch tutorials on how to set up tablet presses, polish punches, and more. Please contact us if you have any questions or comments. Thank you!
First impressions are everything. This is especially true for pharmaceutical, nutritional and confectionery tablets. Discriminating consumers may decide if they will be repeat customers based on a tablet’s appearance and experience. This article discusses the limitations of the flat-faced bevel edge and the benefits of a flat-faced radius edge tablet design.
Nearly every tablet press has a safety release mechanism to relieve pressure and may initiate immediate press shutdown when compression forces exceed the set overload force value. This safety device protects the tools, the machine, and the operator.
Sticking is one of the most common issues for tablet manufacturers. It occurs when particles from the formulation adhere to the punch cup, resulting in defective tablets.
A variety of options are available for punches and dies to help compress difficult formulations. One commonly overlooked punch modification, the extended head flat, increases the diameter of the flat area atop the punch head.
Keeping a tablet press operating at peak performance with as little down-time as possible is a goal for any tablet manufacturer and keeping maintenance costs reasonable is equally important. Although parts sourced through an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) or authorized OEM dealer may sound appealing, consider several factors before…
Good flowability is a key factor for numerous powder processes, with the consistency of the flow directly related to the final product quality. However, when a powder flows, the frictional contact between the particles creates electrostatic charges via the triboelectric effect. This charge build up induces an increase in the strength of the electrostatic cohesive interactions that contribute to the global cohesiveness of the powder and therefore a decrease in its flowability properties.
A parameterization of compaction simulator generated dynamic compression profile with a few grams of powde provides important information about the material deformation and compact elasticity. The Heckel equation is by far the most popular choice among pharmaceutical scientists for such parametrization.
Clean punches and dies are essential to maintaining the integrity and efficiency of your tooling investment, as well as the quality of your product. Ultrasonic cleaning has long been considered the most effective, nondestructive way to clean tools – from medical instruments to tablet tooling. The Tableting Specification Manual (TSM) states, ‘An ultrasonic bath is ideal for cleaning tooling.’
Wear to the edges of punch tips is a commonly overlooked aspect of many tooling inspection procedures. Tip wear is typical and can be influenced by many different sources, including poor tablet and tool design, granulation characteristics, improper steel selection for the application, and improper press set-up. It is quite typical for inspection technicians to pay attention to the punch cup face.
Anyone who has experienced capping or lamination during tablet production knows the frustration that comes from trying to diagnose the issue. In this whitepaper, we discuss a possible cause and several solutions.
Wear to the edges of punch tips is a commonly overlooked aspect of many tooling inspection procedures. Tip wear is typical and can be influenced by many different sources, including poor tablet and tool design, granulation characteristics, improper steel selection for the application, and improper press set-up. It is quite typical for inspection technicians to pay attention to the punch cup face.
Proper cleaning and maintenance of a press is one of the easiest and most effective ways to ensure it operates with optimum performance. To help stop unnecessary wear and untimely press failure, a thorough cleaning guide for tablet press systems is recommended. If not already using the methods discussed below, implementation should begin immediately.
Inspecting tooling and press components for wear or defects could be the most important step in improving tablet quality. Certain inspection points are easy to overlook yet can cause significant tablet quality issues and limit tool life. Spend a little time checking the following items for wear or defects to quickly increase tablet quality and reduce tooling cost.
The compression profiles parameterization generated with a few grams of pharmaceutical materials using the compaction simulator serves as an important baseline information for the timely development of robust tablet formulations.of the formulation component.
The compression profiles parameterization generated with a few grams of pharmaceutical materials using the compaction simulator serves as an important baseline information for the timely development of robust tablet formulations.
A pharmaceutical compact is manufactured with an axial compression of a radially confned powder blend or granules in a rigid die. Material properties and process parameters are two main components of tablet manufacturing which dictate the unique features of successful or failed compacts.
A tableting of the blended powder formulation with or without granulation is an important cog of a tablet manufacturing chain. This decision dictates a transformation of the blended powder formulation into a robust tablet.
Currently Heckel method has gained wider application to parameterize compression profiles to evaluate the macroscopic compression properties of the pharmaceutical materials.
USP <1062> Tablet Compression Characterization, first published in 2017, offers universal guidelines on how to achieve robust tableting. It provides guidelines for standardized compression test procedures. Tablet capping is the most prominent tablet defect that can occur during tablet manufacturing.
Published in Euro Lab
Many options are available for punches and dies to help compress difficult drug products. One commonly overlooked punch modification, the extended head flat, increases the diameter of the flat area atop the punch head. Typically, this option doesn’t require any modifications to the press.
Published in European Pharmaceutical Magazine
A perfect active pharmaceutical ingredient is one that performs well from R&D through tablet production. However, in real-world situations challenges are inevitable. Here, Jonathan Gaik, director, Natoli Scientific, looks at the critical issue of powder flow and how solving issues before production can reduce product performance issues later down the line.
Published in European Pharmaceutical Magazine
One of the challenges tablet manufacturers have faced for many years is the amount of time and high costs associated with pushing a solid dose product through the R&D process. A critical step in any tablet development process is determining the compressibility of the formulation, which means…
Published in Tablets & Capsules
Excessively worn or improperly maintained tooling can be a tremendous liability to a production team because it will require frequent replacement, and the tablets…
Published in European Pharmaceutical Magazine
Tablet manufacturing poses many challenges but is still the preferred pharmaceutical dosage form. Compressing a block of particles into a single compact is a science that must be understood to ensure a successful manufacturing process.
Published in European Pharmaceutical Magazine
Dr. Charles Kettler, director Natoli Scientific, analyzes common sticking and picking issues in tablet manufacturing and how a little homework can go a long way in avoiding potential issues before they arise. Tablet sticking and…
Published in Tablets & Capsules
To patients and consumers, tablets are a simple and convenient dosage form. But the science behind compressing a block of particles or granules into a…
Multi-layer tabletting is getting increasing attention from a variety of industries. While general tablet manufacturing principles are unchanged, there is…
Tooling, tablet compression accessory, and services provider Natoli Engineering Company has opened an oral solid dosage (OSD) research and development institute to advance the field of industrial pharmacy education and technology.
Published in Innovations in Pharmaceutical Technology, Issue 50
Designing a tablet requires careful consideration of its shape as small adjustments to the size or profile can have a direct impact on both the production process and customer acceptance – resulting in success or failure. Shape affects many aspects of tablet production. We are often asked, “Why that tablet…
Published in Tablets & Capsules
Manufacturing tablets to a uniform hardness, weight, and thickness requires tablet press punches of consistent length. This article describes punch length, how to measure it correctly, and how…
Published in Tablets & Capsules
Looks aren’t everything, but first impressions count. That’s why it’s important to consider the appearance of the product that you plan to tablet. In fact, tablet design and appearance plays such a vital role in consumer acceptance that selecting the tablet’s size, shape…
Published in Pharmaceutical Technology Europe
Solid dosage forms are the most popular method of drug delivery, and no doubt many of you spend your days toiling over troublesome tablets. Although tablets are widely established throughout the pharma industry, this doesn’t mean it is an unmoving area.
by Bill Turner, Tooling and Tablet Technical Manager at Natoli Engineering
Land on a tablet design is a much‐debated topic. Tablet land is the narrow, horizontal surface perpendicular to the tablet’s periphery, which creates a junction between the tablet’s periphery and cup.
Published in Innovations in Pharmaceutical Technology
These days, tablet compression can be regarded as more of an art than a science. IPT Editor Pam Barnacal interviews Dale Natoli, Vice President of Natoli Engineering Company, Inc, about the many factors that must be kept in mind to ensure the fast, consistent…
Published with Pharmaceutical Manufacturing
FDA provides more direction as questions arise about dosage consistency. Tablet scoring has long been used by oral solid dosage manufacturers—originally as a means to prevent tablet stress fractures, but recently as more of a cosmetic feature. Bisects…
Published on www.ondrugdelivery.com
In this piece, Dale Natoli, Vice President, Natoli Engineering Company, Inc., provides a brief overview of multi-tip tooling for tablet presses and provides some guidelines for selecting the most appropriate equipment.
Published in Industrial Pharmacy, Issue 32, based on interview published earlier in Innovations in Pharmaceutical Technology
The most common problem encountered in tablet manufacture would have to be granulation adhering to the tool face, commonly known as “sticking.”
Article published in Pharmaceutical Technology Europe
Solid dosage forms have been used for hundreds of years, and the fact that they are still the most widespread and popular method of drug delivery today says a lot about their efficacy and acceptance.
Tablet sticking, in which material adheres to the surface of a tablet-punch face, is an ongoing and costly problem in pharmaceutical manufacturing…
Published in Innovations in Pharmaceutical Processing
Cost efficiencies and improved quality can be achieved by making simple changes to the tablet manufacturing process. By collaborating with a specialist vendor and taking into account appropriate steel type, companies can overcome any tooling issues they face.
Published in Tablets & Capsules
As the number and variety of ancillary products for tablet presses continues to grow, manufacturers of tablet presses and tooling continue to advance the science of tablet compression. This article discusses how computer modeling helps…
Published in Tablets & Capsules
Cup depth is the distance between the very tip of the punch and the lowest measurable point of the cup cavity. To establish proper tool inspection protocols and wear limits, you need to know about this dimension and how it affects the tablet.
It can be a labor of love to get a tablet to market. With time and monetary investments made throughout the process from research to development and scale-up, one of the most challenging steps…
Published in Tablets & Capsules
This article clarifies how to measure punches and dies and describes how worn dies can impair production of high-quality tablets. When it comes to inspecting new and in-process tablet tools, most people focus on punches…
Guidance for Industry by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Food and Drug Administration Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER) March 2013 CMC