Pfizer, Mexico purchase MODUL™ rotary tablet press with Exchangeable Compression Module technology

Pfizer in Mexico has recently purchased a MODUL™ tablet press from Courtoy, Belgium for the manufacture of tablets for the treatment of arthritis, high blood pressure and stomachic diseases. The new tablet press has a unique modular design that allows a substantially shorter changeover between batches than has been possible in the past.

The MODUL™ has all its product-contact parts contained in an Exchangeable Compression Module (ECM). At the end of a batch the operator simply swings out
the used ECM and replaces it with a clean unit. Tablet production can immediately resume. The used ECM is removed from the tabletting room for cleaning.

Pfizer’s main driver to choose the Courtoy MODUL™ tablet press was to maximize capacity: its instantaneous capacity is very close to the theoretical maximum;
and it has a short change-over time. Pfizer estimates that the shortest payback of the capital investment will be achieved with the MODUL™ concept.

The Pfizer installation consists of the MODUL™ with tablet deduster, metal checker, in-process tablet tester, tablet IBCs all in contained execution.

Furthermore, the MODUL™ is supplied with the unique and patented ‘Dual Control’ system. Traditionally, it is only possible to control tablet weight. However this Dual Control system, controls both tablet weight and tablet hardness simultaneously and independently from each other.

In a recent interview during the FAT of the machine at Courtoy facilities, Mr. Luiz Antonio V. Cerciello, Project Manager from Pfizer Toluca Plant in Mexico said that he expects lower set-up losses, good yield, good Cpk values for the process, better tablet quality and higher productivity using the MODUL™ tablet press. “Taking all these things into consideration, the MODUL™ is the best alternative to fulfil our requirements,” he said. He added that the use of the MODUL™ in future would allow the plant to process drugs with low OEL levels.

The MODUL™ tablet press is available with a wide range of ECM modules for specific purposes. Together they provide:

• Reduced down time with significantly increased productivity;
• Fewer machines means less capital investment; less use of valuable space; and less energy consumption;
• Increased flexibility allows different batches, with different tooling, and different containment level requirements to be run on the same day;
• The product is contained within the ECM to avoid contaminating the room or the operator in many cases avoiding the need for clean room space;
• Highly toxic drugs can be handled without risk to operators;
• Easy maintenance through better visibility and accessibility.

Current ECM models are:

• C-ECM - the standard contained ECM for normal tablet production of non-toxic materials.
• HC-ECM - the high-containment ECM for compression of toxic and potent drugs.
• HC-ECM WOL - the HC-ECM equipped with wash-off-line features.
• G-ECM - the galenic contained ECM for compression of small non-toxic product quantities for R&D and formulation development purposes.
• HC-G-ECM - the galenic ECM for toxic and potent compounds.
• HC-G-ECM WOL - the galenic high-containment ECM with wash off-line capability