Pelletizing

Liquid layering of pellets

PC Bowl

Layering a drug onto starter pellets

The multi-functional Precision Coater™ and Top Spray Coater™ systems can all be used to make pellets by layering the active material on to an inert core. Non-pariel starter pellets are sprayed with a solution or suspension of the active material, and simultaneously dried.

Capacity: from 200g to several hundred kg/batch

Wet granulation pelletization

Granulating and spheronizing a powder mixture

The active substance is mixed with 5-30% microcystalling cellulose and the mixture granulated with water or an organic solvent. The granules are then compacted and spheronized. This operation can be performed using the Roto-Processor™ or Pellet-Processor™.

Capacity: from 1kg to several hundred kg/batch

Melt granulation pelletization

Pelletization by heating and massing a powder mixture

Melt pelletization is performed in the Pellet-Processor™. The active and binder powders are mixed and heated to a temperature above the melting point of the binder. Granulation and pelletization are then carried out in a single operation.

Capacity: from 1kg to several hundred kg/hr

Extrusion and spheronization

Pelletization by forming and spheronizing extrudates

Nica™ System

Nica™ Pelletizing System - The unique modular concept of the Nica™ Pelletizing System enables optimized solutions design for your needs. The mixer / granulator, extruder and spheronizer modules are combined to create a complete integrated pellet production plant (continuously wetted powders pass through a low shear radial extruder and the extrusions are then fragmented and formed into pellets in the spheronizer), or as individual unit operation to meet specific process requirements. The modules can be operated in either batch or continuous mode. Furthermore, they can be operated as stand-alone unit operations or integrated with other up- or down-stream equipment such as fluid bed processing systems.

The Nica™ system is ideal for both product development and full-scale production applications. The process scale-up of the Nica™ Pelletizing System is easy - it is a direct factor of the processing time.

Capacity: up to 200kg/hr