Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/1000772
Tablets & Capsules July 2018 35 T ablet compression tooling is a significant investment. Although the costs to purchase and maintain a single set of punches and dies may represent only a small portion of production costs compared to the cost of a tablet press or fluid-bed dryer, tablet manufacturers typically buy many sets of tooling over a drug product's life cycle. Excessively worn or improperly maintained tooling can be a tremendous liability to a production team because it will require frequent replacement, and the tab- lets produced may give consumers a perception of poor quality. Properly maintained tooling, on the other hand, will last longer and consistently produce high-quality tablets. Proactive tooling maintenance One of the most common questions a tooling supplier hears from customers is, "How long should a set of tablet compression tools last?" The answer depends on many factors, including tablet configuration, the characteristics of the material being compressed, and the type of steel used to make the tooling. But independent of these fac- tors, a proactive maintenance program can extend the life of your punches and dies and maximize the return on your tooling investment. Proactive tooling maintenance can be divided into four main components: lubrication, cleaning, polishing, and handling and storage. Lubrication. Improperly lubricated tooling causes excessive friction between the punch barrel and the press's punch guide during operation. This friction increases the punch's operating temperature, causing thermal expansion of the punch barrel and reducing the space available for lubrication between the punch barrel and the guide. This thermal expansion can lead to tool binding, which can damage the tooling and the tablet press and result in emergency production stoppages. Tablet presses are typically equipped with automatic lubrication systems, but these systems can give operators a false sense of assurance that all necessary areas of the punches are adequately lubricated at all times. Some automatic lubrication systems require the centrifugal force generated during press operation to push the lubri- cant into distribution channels. As a result, lubricant may not have reached critical locations at press startup, which can cause premature wear to the punches and The condition of your tablet compression tooling is critical to manufacturing high-quality tablets that meet specifications. This article explains how proactive tooling maintenance can help extend tool life and maximize your return on investment. Maximize the return on your tooling investment with proactive maintenance Cory Terry Natoli Engineering tablet tooling