A powder filling machine is an essential piece of equipment for any pharmaceutical manufacturer. These machines help automate the process of filling capsules and other products with powder ingredients.
As with any aspect of pharmaceutical production, high-performing, reliable equipment is an essential component of your operations. This plays an instrumental role in ensuring consumer safety and streamlining your processes by handling high-volume, repetitive tasks on a consistent basis.
Types of Pharmaceuticals that Benefit from Powder Filling Machines
Capsules
Capsules are among the most common pharmaceutical mediums on the market. They’re composed of two parts: a body and a cap, which are joined together after the powder filling process. Because capsules are small objects, accurate filling is essential to prevent product loss and avoid under-dosing.
Tablets
Powder filling machines can also be used to fill tablets. Tablets are a solid dosage form that is created by compressing powder into a mold. Like capsules, powder filling machines can help ensure accurate dosing for tablets.
Powdered drink mixes
In addition to filling capsules and tablets, powder filling machines can also be used for other types of powder products, such as powdered drink mixes. These machines can help improve the accuracy and consistency of your product mix, especially when filling larger-volume containers like bottles or jars.
Infant formulas
Lastly, powder filling machines are also popular for manufacturing infant formulas. These products must meet stringent quality and safety standards, so it’s important to use reliable powder-filling equipment to ensure accuracy and consistency.
How Powder Filling Machines Work
Powder filling machines work by first measuring the powder into a specific-sized container. The powder is then loaded into the powder filling machine, which uses a piston to fill the powder into the container.
Once the container is filled with powder, it is weighed to check for accuracy. The filled container is then discharged from the machine and moved on to the next step in your packaging process.
Types of Powder Filling Machines
Powder filling machines for the pharmaceutical industry come in a variety of styles and types. The most common powder fillers are volumetric, auger, and gravity-fed powder filling machines. All three types have their own strengths and weaknesses, so it’s important to choose the right one for your needs.
Volumetric powder filling machines are the most accurate type of powder filling machine. They use a volume-based measurement to dispense powder into capsules or other containers. These powder fillers are typically used for products that require very precise measurements, such as medications.
Auger powder filling machines use a rotating screw to measure and dispense powder. These powder fillers are best suited for products that can tolerate some degree of error in powder weight.
Gravity-fed powder filling machines use the force of gravity to measure and dispense powder into containers. These powder fillers are typically used for products that do not require precise measurements, such as vitamins and supplements.
Essential Features of a High-Performing Powder Filling Machine
Whether you’re looking for a volumetric, auger, or gravity-fed powder filling machine, there are certain features that all high-performing machines should have.
Some of the most essential features to look for in a powder filling machine include:
- Durable stainless steel construction
- Flexibility to handle multiple powder types and fill sizes
- Easy disassembly and reassembly for maintenance and cleaning
- Consistent accurate dosing capabilities for high-volume production
- Easy user interface for more operational efficiency and quality assurance
Choosing the Right Powder Machine for Your Operations
When choosing the best powder filling solution for your business, there are a few additional factors to consider. These range from production forecasts to your existing manufacturing and quality control operations.
Depending on the size of your facility, you may have space limitations. Selecting a machine that can integrate with the rest of your equipment that does not compete for essential floor space is critical to creating an efficient work environment.
Second, the powder filling machine should be able to fill at a rate that meets your forecasted production needs. If it fills too slowly, this can slow the rest of your operations and prevent you from creating finished products in a timely manner.
Last, the powder filling machine must be able to meet your quality control standards. This includes ensuring that the powder is filled to the correct weight and that there is little to no powder waste.
Get High-Quality Powder Filling Machines for Your Business
If you are looking to start offering powder products at your production facility or you are looking to upgrade your existing equipment, let our team of pharmaceutical equipment specialists connect you with the right solution. For decades, the CapPlus Team has provided a complete range of pharmaceutical manufacturing and packaging equipment to both small operations and the world’s globally leading brands.
To learn more and to get a recommendation for the best powder filling machine for your needs, contact us today.