Saturday, 8 October 2016

Standardized Tablet Punches And Dies And Their Benefits

By Elizabeth Cooper


Pharmaceutical manufacturing is a complex process. There are different forms medicine can come in. From capsules, syrups to tablets. In each type of form there is a way they are specifically produced. This includes the equipment and technology that is used to manufacture these products.

If you are not keen into detail, there seems to be very little difference among tablets. These variations have a huge impact in its production and standardization. While there is still no one common practice for tableting, there was an ISO certification issued that added to one of the many standards used for this process. This Eurostandard of using tablet punches and dies has been getting traction since its certification on 2005.

The varying procedures that involve tableting calls for standardization. The different standards that are used for this making tablets make usage and purchase of punches and dies a bit more costly for manufacturers. This restricts the procedures from being interchangeable even with almost similar functions and parts.

With the presence of a global standard, it becomes easier to have the same procedures, with similar machines in multiple manufacturing locations. Automation for these methods make production faster. Using the same technical regulations eliminates the need to shift from one standard to another. This sort of makes both the parts of the machine and the procedures portable and easier to duplicate from one site to another.

If the process can be duplicated in different production sites with the same machinery, there would be an increase in overall production. Standards are essentially there to keep the merchandise at its best quality. With a globalized standard for the processes and equipment, the products made with this technology should still be able to be in compliance with health and pharmaceutical regulations.

Since this is a standardized way of tooling, getting the technology, operation and maintenance become easier. The set of instructions that need to be followed for these procedures become an industry standard that tableting professionals will be familiar with across different companies. Inspection and validation for this will also have specific standard, internationally.

Technical information about the equipment is easier to acquire without having to switch from one form of tooling to another. Troubleshooting for problems become easier with only one method used for the whole industry. To think that the difference are very minor and mainly resides in the structure of the die bores, punch tips and the clearance around that small area.

There are still differences per machine depending on the manufacturers. While these may seem like very small variations, they still have an impact in the final product. The varying shapes of different tablet presses, between the Eurostandard and TSM make their interchangeability a restriction. By maintaining an protocol, there becomes a compatibility of all tablet presses and this eventually reduces costs for manufacturers.

Tablet press manufacturers always innovate and these new methods shape standards. Having a uniformity in the tooling of making tablets, eliminates the need to spend for another set of punches and dies just to comply with whatever standardization the manufacturing site is following. There is interest among all concerned in the pharmaceutical industry, still standardization will take a while to catch on with whatever methods are being used now.




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