Copyright, CSC Publishing.ablets T & Capsules essions count. ole in consumer acceptance that ything, but first impr Susan Brettingen senior editor t ever en’ ooks ar L That’s why it’s important to consider the appearance of why it’s That’s the product that you plan to tablet. In fact, appearance plays such a vital r size, shape, and logo is typically left selecting the tablet’s to people in the marketing department. Nonetheless,

tablet press tooling press tablet

avoiding common problems avoiding A tooling vendor’s advice on vendor’s advice A tooling The idea to launch a product in tablet form begins in the market- ing department, but you’re ultimately responsible for producing it. Our senior editor talks with a seasoned tooling vendor to identify the keys to specifying tablet press punches and dies. Much of your success will depend on how well you communicate.

Copyright, CSC Publishing.ablets T & Capsules - t meet oduction oduction , you don’ ns. “Use the experience and s] job, and vice versa. But if ties out of the equation, then everberate into the pr oduction meet with tooling ven production floor e a big one for doing this simply tise, he said. “Their corporate culture From the drawing board to the e their ideas and concer e’re a valuable resource, and they don’t always think to e’re a valuable resource, and they don’t That’s decidedly true at pharmaceutical companies, That’s “We all have our own expertise,” Natoli said, “and “We Natoli suggests that marketing people and people Natoli suggests that marketing people For example, Natoli said, an engineering department Natoli said, an For example, tooling depends on communica- Selecting the right “A lot of times, marketing is so far removed from these “A lot of times, marketing is so far removed om engineering and pr deadlines, and you don’t meet launch dates.” meet deadlines, and you don’t Natoli said. In contrast, companies in the confectionery industry have long recognized the importance of meeting with tooling vendors to develop economical pr methods. “They’r because they have to be more cost-effective than the companies,” he said. While a candy pharmaceutical dors early in the design phase. That way, everyone can way, dors early in the design phase. That shar said. Natoli the resources of the tooling manufacturer,” “W said, people are use that resource.” Sometimes, Natoli expertise proba- intimidated. Failure to tap into a vendor’s bly stems from the fear of crossing boundaries of respon- sibility or exper makes them afraid to stand out by speaking up. They chopped off.” want to have their head don’t what we because we all have our own expertise, that’s asking engi- need to bring to the table. Marketing isn’t neering to know [marketing’ we leave one of those par going to fail. And when that happens, you’ve got we’re got poor pro- the ugly finger pointing going on. You’ve duction, you’ve got poor tablet quality process, he said. fr premature wear on tooling,and failure, premature press tablets. compressed improperly of 4,000 rated at a speed a tablet press that’s may buy tablets per produce 2,700 minute but can only tablets per can put A situation like this actual production. minute in could Speeding up the press in a tough spot: a company and investing in another tablet pressbreak the tooling, is Most engineering and production usually not an option. use the tablet presses they already departments must equipment most efficiently requireshave. And using that using the right tooling. failure among the various depart- tion. Natoli said that sparks costly delays that can bring ments to communicate to a complete halt. If the marketing a product launch feasible in actual produc- understand what’s people don’t unwieldy tablet tion and propose a complicated or way to the pro- design, the tablet could make it all the it will fail. duction floor before someone discovers projects and the production that they lack the under- projects poor design,” Natoli standing of the mishaps caused by a people to get said. While no one expects the marketing should understand into the nitty-gritty of tooling, they how their actions can r - - n der t discer es punches, oduction. “They esses and the phar- esponsible for select t surprising when you en’ t use in pr t want to bear the risk of t grasp these basic facts and or tment is usually r ent timetables ar ceptions even though they don’ Making a good impression fer ferent configuration,” Natoli said. Besides, the esident of Natoli Engineering, a company in St. esident of Natoli Engineering, a company s because R&D doesn’ Those dif When people hold tablets in their hands or swallow When people hold tools make a direct impression on the manufac- Tablet as a concept in a company’s a tablet starts Generally, That’s not to say that the marketing and production to say that the marketing not That’s ing tools for the tablet presses. That means that, in the case of pharmaceuticals, the R&D department often files application for a drug patent before the the company’s engineering department orders production toolings. consider that the engineers need to know the size, vol ume, and weight of the tablet and how those factors will tablet presses. affect the output of the company’s Engineers who don’ investing in tooling that it can’ might do their research and development with a com- pletely dif engineering depar tools without doing their homework often encounter numerous tabletting problems, Natoli said. These include excessive ejection and compression forces, which lead to them, it’s unlikely that they think about why the tablets unlikely that they think about them, it’s are round consumers or pink or embossed. In fact, most work or about the have no idea how the tablet presses consumer per- tooling they use. Despite that ignorance, decisions at tablet ception plays a big role in marketing the right tooling manufacturers. And only by selecting will reach thou-can you turn those ideas into tablets that cabinets, kitchen sands if not millions of medicine shelves, backpacks, and purses. turer and the product, which in turn eventually influences consumers’ per a formulationmarketing department before it becomes in the research and development (R&D) department. R&D will then commonly tablet small batches of the product, but often not in the configuration specified by marketing. That’ the correlation between the tablet’s appearance and how the correlation between the tablet’s are directly related to that it was manufactured. “Tools scrutiny Natoli, and acceptance,” says Dale consumer’s who is pr Charles, MO., that designs and manufactur dies, and other equipment for tablet pr “They’re the maceutical and confectionery industries. the marketing.” most important part of the aesthetic and people in the production department bear the responsi- bear department production in the people mar- that the product the manufacturing of actually bility to do that hinges ability envisioned. Your keting people a it, right tooling. Without you have the on whether is inevitable. or cancellation launch delay But the of each other. operate independently departments the two departments is often communication between should be. This article underscoresnot as robust as it the and outlines some of the importance of communication arise when communication breaksproblems that can marketing, research and development, down between the departments. engineering, and production

Copyright, CSC Publishing.ablets T & Capsules ce is the amount (TSM) as a good ofile, along with ovide to a tooling ession for er can pr ess must apply to the tooling Compr Figure 1 ce. This is one of the most helpful docu- s size, shape, and pr Keep the basics in mind Keep the basics in Tableting Specification Manual Tableting ession for e that the tablet pr shape will determine the tooling for your tablet press. shape will determine the tooling for your tablet essur Compr Quote forms. Natoli mentioned the American Pharmaceutical Natoli mentioned While these cases illustrate potential glitches, they potential glitches, cases illustrate While these For example, Natoli said, you may want to manufac- When designing your tablet, take into account how its size and When designing your tablet, take into account Association’s Association’s source of information about tooling specifications, design source of information about tooling specifications, some factors that options, and tool steels.[1] Here are when choosing tablet manufacturers should consider tablet press tooling: ments that a tablet manufactur The quote forminformation providesdetailed vendor. punch and die specifications. A sample of a quote form appears on page 91 of the TSM. Natoli said he advises companies to create this form because it will prompt the tooling manufacturer to ask questions about the tablet. about the tablet’ of pr swallow tablet with a formulation that still allowed for allowed that still formulation with a tablet swallow the praised Natoli dosage. triple-strength the original into to put so much thought for taking the time company distinctive up with a process and coming its tabletting than rushingproduct rather it out just to get something on the market. said. In most instances, he said, typical, Natoli aren’t This is what “This is what we want. manufacturers say, it work.” Even in those cases, how- we’ve got to do. Make problematic Natoli may notice the potential for ever, he may tell the manufacturer, tablets. In those cases, machines it. Your going to want to take “Customers aren’t with those two in going to want to make it. And aren’t have much of a product.” mind, you don’t to form the tablet. It’s the most common concern that to form the tablet. It’s tablet manufacturers have, Natoli said. Marketing people may design a tablet that looks good but that also limits the compression force that production uses to make the tablet. s ’ er ession fect the compr osive? mulation showed that it r ged his client to come up . That was the end of the er oblems. oduct, he ur es? Asking the right questions Asking the t ask these kinds of questions, be prepared for t ask these kinds of questions, be prepared designing the tablet. “This way, we’re going we’re “This way, designing the tablet. s tabletting pr before mulate the pr 6. Is the tablet abrasive or cor Not long ago, a nutraceutical manufacturer asked Natoli said his company urges tablet manufacturers to Natoli said his company If you don’ Here are some questions to ask yourself and tooling Here are some questions to ask yourself size? 1. What is the intended tablet shape and will the tablet 2. What tooling configuration and size cup (the depres-3. How will the configuration of the 4. Is the product prone to sticking and picking? 4. Is the product prone to sticking and of standard oper-5. Is the product sensitive to the heat When Natoli learned that the customer planned to oitin tablet. A look at the for efor Natoli’s company to help it make a triple-strength chon- Natoli’s dr send people from all departments to a meeting with his send people from people vendors before making any decisions: require? sion or cavity in the punch tip) af to design a tablet that’s going to take the pressures going to take that that’s to design a tablet product is going to requirethey anticipate this [in pro- “They’re going to get the proper ejec-duction],” he said. to get good tooling [service] life, tion force, they’re going If get good tablet quality at the end. and they’re going to to work going got input, then everyone’s everyone’s If we leave a depart- a success. it’s harder to make sure that department now has an ment out of the equation, ‘I a success. They can say, excuse for why a tablet isn’t very that’s tell me that.’ And know that. They didn’t didn’t common. It leaves a hole in the system.” would require a tablet that was too big and too thick to the manufacturer Six months later, swallow comfortably. easier-to- returned to Natoli with a design for a smaller, maker might make one-thousandth of a cent profit on cent profit of a make one-thousandth might maker make might manufacturer pharmaceutical tablet, a each the right tooling Without on each tablet. $10 of profit start,from the a hard time recover- candy maker has the margin. profit razor-thin ing its already ating temperatur force required to make the tablet? company’ r problems. Natoli remembers one case in which a customer tablet shaped like planned to manufacture a multivitamin of a two-piece an elongated ball, giving it the appearance production snags, capsule. The company had numerous Natoli said, “because [the multivitamin] was a very poor design. They had a lot of expenses in tooling.” marketing firm even invited Natoli to suggest some design changes, which included flattening the ball shape, enabling the company to use punches with a flatter cup. “The flatter the cup, the more compression force you get and the easier it is to make the tablet,” Natoli said. less pressure needed to make the tablet.” The “There’s the change, which was also approved marketing firm accepted by the manufactur with a new shape for the tablet, too. The manufactur

Copyright, CSC Publishing.ablets T & Capsules T&C Encyclopedia of ashington, DC.: (W (New York: Marcel Dekker, (New York: References Conclusion fit all. “There tools,” are standards for not ableting Specification Manual T 1. Many tablet manufacturers produce a multitude of Many tablet manufacturers 2. James Swarbrick and James C. Boylan, 2. James Swarbrick and James C. Boylan, Natoli said, “but you can’t always expect the standard tool can’t Natoli said, “but you for your configuration to be the optimum configuration be product.” Therefore, you need to be inquisitive. Don’t’ questions, and ask afraid to ask tooling vendors lots of be more vendor should than happy to “Your them early. decisions,” Natoli assist in helping you make the right said. tablets. Consequently, a production run for one kind of run a production tablets. Consequently, differenttablet may be completely run for than the “Every [tablet] product is different,” Natoli said. another. no two products“There are basically alike. They that are act the same under com- run the same. They don’t don’t pression forces.”tooling for Likewise, when choosing manufacturers need to know that tablet presses, tablet one size does Pharmaceutical Technology 1997). American Pharmaceutical Association, 2003). American Pharmaceutical Association, most from your profit margins,” Natoli said. While one While Natoli said. margins,” profit from your most not it may tablets, analgesic for making is adequate steel the new or salt tablets. Or making vitamins be right for pressure require so much tablet may that the press breaks all steel tool vendor: Not Confer with your the punches. equal. is created - educe y criti Encyclopedia of If you discover during pro- If you discover during and the TSM include sections ror-finished heads, short upper-punch ror-finished Naturally, you want your tablet press tool- you want Naturally, el chamfers, mir r Tool steels. Tool Tooling design options. Tooling Natoli said this is an all-too-common scenario that Natoli said this is ing to last as long as possible. “Steel selection is ver ing to last as long as possible. “Steel selection duction that you simply can’t make the tablet, there make the tablet, are can’t duction that you simply tooling options that can help. The ture a tablet shaped like a modified ball. Based on punch on ball. Based a modified like a tablet shaped ture you’re working TSM, if 73 of the on page tip tabulations you’ll 0.438-inch diameter, tip that has a with a punch cup com- Based on punch cup depth. need a 0.133-inch pression forces found on page 80 TSM round tooling, for 13.5 kilo- can only withstand your punch tip of the TSM, small to an amount too of compression force, newtons produce the tablet. In short, there areresults in broken punches. limitations limita- know these doesn’t to tablet designs. “Marketing “They’re not experts in the field of tions,” Natoli said. why mar- manufacturing.” That’s tablet design or tablet its tooling vendor for suggestions keting should ask far along into the production process.before getting too the amount of concentrated stress inflicted on the head, the amount of concentrated stress inflicted it through the which is the end of the punch that guides the cam track. A domed punch head may prolong press’s include punch- service life of your tools. Other options bar that discuss tooling options and requirements.[2] One that discuss tooling options and requirements.[2] which may r oft-used option is domed punch heads, Pharmaceutical Technology cal in enhancing tablet quality, as well as in getting the cal in enhancing tablet quality, tip straights, and carbide-lined and ceramic-lined dies. tip straights, and carbide-lined and ceramic-lined