Tablet tooling maintenance cuts downtime and costs

The importance of maintaining punches and dies to help improve profitability should be a major consideration for any tablet manufacturer, says I Holland. By following simple steps in tooling maintenance, press downtime can be limited, resulting in increased production.

As part of this process, I Holland introduced the 7 Step PharmaCare process, which has been adopted as a standard operating procedure by companies worldwide. By implementing the seven steps and simply maintaining tools, rather than replacing them, companies can extend the life of their tablet tooling, without the expense of replacement. Correct maintenance is critical in obtaining maximum life from punches and dies, with a high proportion of problems being traced to poor handling and maintenance procedures.

As part of the 7 Step PharmaCare process, which includes the steps: clean, assess, repair, measure, polish, lubricate and store, I Holland has most recently introduced the MF40 automated punch and die polishing machine.

Automated polishing is one of the key steps in this process, which contributes towards maximising trouble-free tablet production by helping to keep tooling in perfect condition. The MF40 has a 40 l media drum and  punch holders, allowing a maximum of 51 B or 36 D punches to be polished per  20 minute cycle. To make the machine space- and cost-effective for manufacturers, the MF40 has a compact 940 x 750 mm footprint and uses single-phase power.

With regular use of an MF polishing machine, like the MF40, some sticking issues can be simply solved. The MF40 is said to use an easily accessible touchscreen software, available in several languages, and ensure consistent, repeatable polishing every time.      

I Holland Ltd, www.iholland.co.uk.