Can this Tablet Press Set New Standards for Pharma Production?

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Glatt Ingenieurtechnik GmbH

EDL Anlagenbau Gesellschaft mbH

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IMA Industria Macchine Automatiche SpA

Turret and Frame Design

The interchangeable turret is easy to remove, thanks to a rotating arm positioned in the mechanical compartment. There is no need to raise the upper part of the machine before extracting the turret. A special cam guides the lower punches out of the lower cam track, so the turret can be removed complete with dies and lower punches. This reduces changeover time, and stops powder falling into the mechanical area through the lower punch bores.

The overall construction of the machine is based on three columns linked together by two strong cast iron structures that carry the compression rollers. This is a more robust and rigid solution than the “balcony construction” used by other presses, Ima claims. Both the precompression and the main compression rollers have the same diameter (250 mm), and both can apply 100 kN of compression force. This provides excellent flexibility in compression parameters, Ima says, improving both throughput and tablet quality even with difficult products.

Additional Information

Ima Talks to PROCESS

Italian technology needs brain and heart

Ima launched the Prexima series in style at a two-day event last October in the magnificent setting of the Palazzo di Varignana near Bologna. Customers from all over the world had the chance to attend technical presentations and visit Ima’s manufacturing plants in the nearby suburb of Ozzano dell’Emilia. PROCESS was present too.

Alberto Vacchi, Ima’s Chairman and CEO (picture), said: “Ima has grown thanks to acquisitions, but it has always remained deeply rooted to its territory. Ima looks out to the world with its brain, but its heart remains in Bologna — and this is a key value.” All the Prexima machines are made in Bologna, the Vice President of Ima Group Andrea Semprini Cesari told PROCESS during the launch event. “This is a ‘Made in Italy’ machine with the best Italian technology inside,” said Andrea Semprini Cesari. Asked how long it had taken to develop the new tablet press, Semprini Cesari said: “We dedicated two years of R&D to develop this new machine to the point where it is ready for the market.”

The Ima Group owned German tablet press manufacturer Kilian until November 2013. “When Ima sold Kilian we started to develop our own new machine for tableting, and today it’s ready for customers worldwide,” said Semprini Cesari. “This is a very competitive market.”

Human-Machine Interface

The Bolgna based company is proud of its human-machine interface (HMI), whose design is governed by strict rules. A hierarchy of operations based on four toolbars allows the user to perform any action within a maximum of three clicks. Mimic displays are set up to reflect the physical layout of the powder and tablet path, making operation intuitive. The system is also designed to be scalable across multiple devices and machines.

Xima improves operating efficiency in three ways, the company says. First, logical layout of the mimics ensures intuitive control and quick reaction in the case of a malfunction. Second, improved process knowledge leads to a lower risk of stoppages and higher tablet quality. Third, new operators find the system easy to learn, while experienced operators can more easily move between different machines and processes. AGK

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Tablet Pressing Italian Style

Can this Tablet Press Set New Standards for Pharma Production?

Turret and Frame Design

Human-Machine Interface