Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/1233462
20 April 2020 Tablets & Capsules "We have past experience with Thomas Engineering and value the company's outstanding reputation," said Woelfel. "They're responsive in their communication and meeting availability. In this case, the procure- ment process was smooth from start to finish." According to Woelfel, Metrics' project pipeline suggests that smaller batch sizes are turning out to be an increasingly frequent client request. "We acquired the smaller drum specifically for this particular project. However, other similar opportuni- ties have followed, so we expect to employ it more broadly." T&C Metrics Contract Services Greenville, NC 252 752 3800 www.metricscontractservices.com Thomas Engineering Hoffman Estates, IL 847 358 5800 www.thomaseng.com "The correct drum size was essen- tial in keeping to the client's timeline," said Woelfel. "The Flex 500 coater enabled us to meet their requirements and also allowed them to stay at a scale equivalent to registration." Installing an entire new coating system would have been a complex and costly process. Simply purchas- ing a new, smaller drum for their existing coater drastically short- ened the project's lead time and reduced costs. " We wer e able to deliver the new drum and trolley in less than 12 weeks, whereas a complete new coating system would require six to eight months for delivery and site installation," said Roemer. "It's easy to see that the addition of a new drum greatly accelerates the proj- ect time frame." One operator can easily exchange the drums in 15 minutes. First, the operator docks an interlocked trolley at the front of the machine. Then, after removing two hub bolts, the operator simply pulls the drum from the coater onto the trolley. The pro- cess is the same for any size drum and does not require the use of any special tools. and pilot plants. The Flex 500, which Thomas introduced in 2010, was the first production-scale coater to fea- ture removable drums. "Thomas allowed us to get a hands-on inspection of the Flex 500 at their facility," said Woelfel. "We were able to remove and install the drum right there and measure the area required to change the drums to ensure that we allowed adequate space when we installed the coater at our facility. It certainly helped us feel confident that the machine would fit our needs." Going smaller Metrics initially purchased one 48-inch-diameter cylindrical drum with a 270-liter capacity for the coater, but because this drum was too large for the new client's proj- ect, the CDMO contacted Thomas for a solution. The supplier deter- mined that a 48-inch-diameter bi-conical drum with a 190-liter capacity would be appropriate for the project's 100-kilogram batch size. According to Roemer, the 190- liter drum has been installed and validated for production in hun- dreds of locations. COMING IN JUNE: T&C's Solid Dosage Sourcebook spotlights top companies that supply equipment, materials, outsourcing, and expertise to manufacturers of pharmaceuticals and dietary supplements.