Issue link: http://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/883179
Tablets & Capsules October 2017 35 nation of features that qualifies as intellectual property protected by law in many countries. These combinations of characteristics provide tablets and capsules with their own "personalities," even outside their original packaging. A great example is Nexium, known as "The Purple Pill." Methods of identifying SODFs Which identification technology you choose for your SODF is driven by the content, format, and complexity of the identifiers desired/required to achieve your business needs. There are pros and cons to each option, which include tablet debossing, traditional printing, continuous inkjet printing, thermal inkjet printing, and laser engraving. Tablet debossing. Traditionally, and even today, debossing tablets at the tablet press remains the domi- nant and most cost-effective means of fulfilling the basic requirements of tablet identification. It eliminates the need for secondary equipment, which entails additional material handling, validation, batch documentation, and quality control. Designs can combine embossing with debossing, and they can even include a shaped hollow core to provide unique branding. Valium tablets, for example, include a V-shaped void at their center. Naturally, there are limits to the size and type of debossing that a tablet press punch can provide. Factors include the tablet's size, the amount of compression force applied, the propensity for defects when certain numbers, letters, or fonts are used, character spacing, tablet shape, the punch cup depth, etc. Many of the issues involved in selecting debossing are discussed in the Tableting Specification Manual, or "TSM," published by the American Pharmacists Association. Reputable tooling suppliers also offer design services and can evaluate how the proposed punch cup will perform under compression. Traditional printing. Printing onto finished tablets and capsules with ink enables you to include detailed logos and symbols and to print in multiple colors, increasing the number of possible identification schemes. It's a mature technology—in use for more than 60 years—and many companies offer machines that print using rubber rolls or inkpads. These printing machines are well supported by ink manufacturers with products that satisfy the various regulatory requirements of differ- ent regions around the world. The basic approach is to transfer ink from an engraved pattern onto a rubber roll or pad and then onto the tablet/capsule. In rotogravure printing, a rubber roll or drum transfers ink from an etched metal cylinder onto the surface of the product. Another technique, commonly known as "Tampo," transfers ink from a stationary engraved plate onto a rubber pad that "tamps" the surface of the SODF. The two techniques offer similar capabili- ties and differ mainly in their throughput, which is deter- mined by how the machine handles the product and how quickly the ink dries. Rotogravure printing was well-known in other indus- tries before pharmaceutical manufacturers adapted it for on-dose identification. It begins with a design roll whose metal surface is chemically etched or machine-engraved to create recessed cells in the desired pattern. The metal surface is either a thin sheet wrapped around a cylinder or is part of the cylinder itself. In operation, the etched cells fill with ink as the design roll rotates through a pan of ink. A stationary "doctor blade" rides on the surface of the roll to remove excess ink, leaving fluid only in the cells. When the design roll contacts a rubber "offset" or "transfer" roll, ink moves from the cells to the surface of the roll, which then transfers the ink pattern onto the product by direct contact. Identification schemes that involve shape, color, finish, and imprint- ing help brand and differentiate your product. Unique combinations of features, the product's trade dress, is usually protected by law. Courtesy of Colorcon, Harleysville, PA. e xperts alik s and e beginner ͕ ŵ Ă Ğ ƚ Ő Ŷ ŝ ƌ Ƶ ƚ Đ Ă Ĩ Ƶ Ŷ Ă ŵ Ğ ƌ Ɵ Ŷ Ğ Ğ Ś ƚ ƌ Ž & -learning E sule Cap & t able Table erful w o P T Individuals or groups can select on-line training topics and training topics and ƌĞĐĞŝǀĞĂĐĞƌƟĮĐĂƚĞ ŽĨĐŽŵƉůĞƟŽŶ ƚĞĐŚĐĞƵƟ ƟĐĂůƐ͘ĐŽŵ