Isatec has unveiled a successful new application that promises to improve quality control and efficiency of gelatine capsule manufacturing processes
Based on the Tews Elektronik microwave resonance moisture measuring technology, a new calibration has been developed to determine the moisture content in gelatine capsules.
To date, 16 of the MW3150 based laboratory systems and four of the MW3200 based online systems have been sold into the pharmaceutical industry.
Correct moisture levels in gelatine capsules is of the utmost importance If they are too wet any hygroscopic filling will absorb moisture from the capsule.
If the capsules are too soft or too brittle, this can cause mechanical problems during filling.
The MW3150 laboratory system allows the capsules to be placed into tubular containers with diameters from 10 to 96mm and then inserted into the microwave sensor to give an instant display of moisture value.
A specially designed MW3200 bypass system allows a specific number of capsules to be taken automatically from the product flow at the processing line and run them through a tubular sensor where up to 50 moisture values per second are measured.
After appropriate averaging, these values can be used for controlling the production process or made available to quality control.
Because the Tews microwave resonance method is also capable of measuring density independent of moisture, a further application has been developed to validate the filling of the capsule based on its mass.
Isatec will be presenting Tews Elektronik products at the LAB trade fair and conference for analysis, bio and laboratory equipment in the UK at ExCeL in London from October 2 to 4, 2007.
