Continuous Production of Solid Dosage Forms: An Integrated Approach
In consultation with a multinational pharmaceutical company, together we have developed a continuous batch coater capable of achieving coating uniformity sufficient for functional coatings while also producing excellent quality cosmetic coatings at a rate up to 80 kg/hr. The coater was implemented in a production plant of the multinational pharma company for the manufacture of film-coated tablets. Whereas gravimetric feeding and continuous mixing is supervised via NIR spectroscopy, the homogeneous powder blend is directly compressed with a Korsch rotary press (Korsch XM 12). After compression tablets are intermediately stored in bins before final coating in a semi-continuously running Bohle tablet coater (Bohle KOCO®). During this intermediate storage tablets experience the essential relaxation time and quality testing via NIR.
Learning Objectives:
Define key factors to evaluate coater performance (continuous and batch) Define key factors to consider for an integrated continuous system Define methods to handle required relaxation time of tablets after compression in a continuous system
