Ennigerloh/Düsseldorf, May 2014 – The pharmaceutical industry increasingly relies on tablet coating as carrier for active substances. This trend was initiated by special machine builders like L. B. Bohle Maschinen + Verfahren GmbH which developed and implemented the substance coating with highest precision at an early stage and permanently developed it further. At the Interpack, the focus will be on the two bestsellers Bohle Film Coater BFC and Bohle Tablet Coater BTC. “The coaters are a vital element of our growth in sales”, said CEO Lorenz Bohle.

The significance of coating technologies has continued to increase in recent years. L.B. Bohle Maschinen + Verfahren GmbH from Ennigerloh in Westphalia is recognized as technology leader on the market thanks to constant development of its film coaters. Tablets are mainly coated to achieve a modification of substance release, protect the substance against light and moisture or cover the bitter flavour of the tablet formula.

Especially the active pharmaceutical ingredient- i.e. the processing of active substances in the coat - is becoming increasingly important. Modern formula batches often consist of several coating types which results in long process times. In order to successfully produce these, uniform tablet coating is a crucial factor. This precise coating uniformity marks the advantage of Bohle technology over conventional coaters. “With a standard deviation of less than two percent, we achieve an absolute top value with this technology”, explained Lorenz Bohle.

Bohle coaters combine excellent product processing with exceptionally high profitability. The flat tablet bed in a long drum geometry, as well as continuous adjustment of the inclination angle ensure optimal movement of the cores. The systematic compulsory guide in the drum enables continuous product movement, which prevents tablet twinning. Another competitive criterion is the reduction of coating losses to less than five percent.

BTC shortens process times by up to 35 percent

The Bohle Tablet Coater BTC stands for economic coating. A flat tablet bed, patented air system and high spray volume ensure high quality and shorten process times by up to 35 percent. Three basic operations are vital for successful coating processes: spraying, drying and mixing. Each individual step must be planned carefully and optimized coordinately. The BTC is the economic “allrounder” with a working volume of up to 980 litres. Major advantages of the tablet coater series include easy “through the wall installation”, the integrated switch cabinet and a simple and functional housing. Additionally, all nozzles of the BTC are supplied with suspension via a pump head. The machine can easily be controlled and monitored as the multipanel visualization with touch panel operator unit is attached to the coater.

BFC as high-end version

The Bohle Film Coater BFC is the high-end version of the Bohle coater. In addition to the aforementioned benefits, there are further process-relevant features: Air-tight housing (inflatable seals of the inspection doors on the side) makes the coater perfectly suitable for “high containment” applications. This effect is supported by automatic nozzle adjustment (recipe-controlled), which is optionally available. Moreover, the inclination of the coater housing can be adjusted. Each nozzle has a pump head for optional pressure measurement of the suspension on each individual nozzle – blockage of nozzles can be immediately detected. Another advantage is the high pressure cleaning of the pan inside. Additionally, this top product features computer-supported “InTouch” visualization with extensive batch management tools and a broad range of tools for creating recipes.