Making Softgel Capsules
Every softgel capsules production line is unique. Let’s talk about your process and explore how we can help you improve it.
Primary ingredients to manufacture a softgel capsule
The essential ingredients of a softgel capsule are gelatin, water, and a plasticizer such as glycerin or sorbitol. The presence of water means that the API formula must not be hydrophilic because it would deteriorate the shell over time.
The capsule is typically transparent, so adding opacifiers protects your fill matrix from sunlight. Preservatives, meanwhile, ensure that your capsules remain free from bacteria. Finally, you may also incorporate colorants and flavorings to make the final product more palatable.
Preparing the gelatin base for softgels
The propensity of gelatin to melt in warm environments and form a gel while it is cooling down makes it an ideal substance for the administration of medication in a liquid or semisolid state.
Gelatin is an effective combining agent that holds the structure of the capsule together. Granulated gelatin is added to a blend of water and plasticizing substance, and the mixture is heated to around 60 °C until the particles are fully dissolved.
Inspect the capsules for air bubbles
Air pockets pose a risk to the production of softgel capsules. Bubbles weaken the structure of the shell and may lead to leakage of the drug.
This manufacturing defect typically occurs when your blending process is not conducted at the right temperature or for a suitable duration. The air inside the base components naturally rises to the surface and escapes the mixture, but inadequate heating leads to trapped bubbles.
Using vegan materials for softgels
You can substitute the gelatin to produce a vegetable-based softgel capsule. Derived from animal bone or connective tissue, gelatin makes traditional formulations incompatible with vegan requirements.
Hypromellose (HMPC) and Tapioca starch present viable alternatives made from vegetable cellulose. Besides using non-animal materials, vegan softgel capsules offer a higher bioavailability rate compared with gelatin options. Their low-moisture content also makes them less brittle in reduced humidity.
Production equipment solutions for softgel capsules
Capsule conveyors for gentle capsule transfer
Streamline your capsule production line with a system designed for high-spee...
Industrial container lifting system
Optimize your production line with a versatile lifting solution designed to safely hand...
Empty capsule transfer system
Ensure seamless capsule filling operations by eliminating manual handling and preventing produ...
In vitro dissolution and flux measurement platform
Optimize drug formulation by accurately assessing dissolution, solubil...
Dissolution-absorption study system for drug formulations
Optimize drug formulations with precise in-situ dissolved subs...
High speed blister packaging for pharmaceuticals
Need efficient packaging with quick format changeovers for various capsul...
High-speed continuous motion horizontal cartoner
Achieve seamless high-speed cartoning with precision cartoner systems des...
Serialization and aggregation inspection system
Including serialization and aggregation inspection systems to packaging li...
High speed bottle filler with inspection
Medicines in tablet, capsule, or soft gel forms undergo various processes before r...
Lifter and De-duster for Tablets
The use of several different tools for lifting, de-dusting, and polishing in the pharmaceut...
High Speed Visual Inspection System for Tablets
In order to ensure quality and standard specifications of tablets, capsule...
Pharmaceutical bottle unscrambler
Pharmaceutical packaging industry requires the ability to quickly manage the process yet ...
Dessicant inserting machine
Desiccant canisters play an important role in the pharmaceutical and nutraceutical industries. T...
Semi-automatic case packer
Pharmaceutical products require complete traceability throughout the production cycle. For smalle...
Capsule checkweigher
The production of pharmaceutical capsules requires that individual doses are checked for accuracy. In a ...
Stand-alone aggregation station
The aggregation of pharmaceutical products for tracking purposes is already compulsory in ma...
Serialization coding and labeling equipment
In the pharmaceutical industry, product serialization is the cornerstone of al...
Scale up capsule filler
For higher production volumes of pharmaceutical capsules, speed, accuracy and reliability of producti...
R&D electronic counter for capsules and tablets
This machine has been designed to offer an ever-precise and reliable count...
Checkweigher for capsules
The new interactive indicator unit allows for even easier use. High-rigidity weighcells have been ...
Checkweigher
A check weigher that is equipped with high speed/high accuracy force balance load cell. It meets stringent accura...
High-sensitivity metal detection system
Highly efficient metal detector with enhanced quality control and reporting capabil...
There is currently no equipment listed with your specified properties, but we are sure we can help you. Try us!Contact us
Let's talk about your production line
