Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/1331851
Tablets & Capsules January/February 2021 23 tures and procedures. Suppliers also often offer service level agreements (SLAs), which generally include: • Technical suggestions for improved yields and pro- duction rates; • Creation of standard operating procedures and implementation of checklists; • Identification and replacement of worn or non-working components; • Implementation of various training programs; • Team formation and goal setting for improved effi- ciencies and decreased changeover times; • Focus on safety inspections and utilization of installed safety features; and • Introduction of new enhancements, features, and upgrades. Encapsulation machines represent some of the most significant equipment-specific investments an OSDF manufacturer will make, so the approach to operating and caring for them should be commensurate. By investing in good training and fostering a solid foundational under- standing of how the machines work, you can minimize potential pitfalls in your capsule-filling operation. T&C Matt Bundenthal is director, sales and marketing at Fette Compacting America (www.fette-compacting-america.com, 973 586 8722). Preventive maintenance Considering the scope of investment that most mod- ern capsule fillers represent, it would be surprising for a company to neglect to establish a preventive maintenance (PM) program to protect that investment. Fortunately, nutraceutical and pharmaceutical man- ufacturers are increasingly embracing this key con- sideration with conviction. Most capsule-filler suppliers have recommendations for maintenance intervals, but end users should adopt and implement their own check- lists to remain proactive and prevent problems from occurring. Common issues such as bent or rounded tamping pins, elongated segment bores, or worn dosing disks are easy to spot but equally easy to over- look without a good PM program in place. Modern capsule fillers can operate at increasingly impressive rates with great precision but only if the machine is well maintained. Ensuring that your capsule filler operates as intended and at optimal performance levels requires daily PM. There are many adjustments and settings that can drift out of specification if the operator does not watch them carefully and consistently. Also, until recently, most capsule fillers have utilized many sub-assemblies, which are mechanically coupled to each other, so if one thing goes wrong due to a lack of PM, it can cause many other things to go wrong or be damaged as well. While capsule fillers don't all operate under the same principles, your PM program should pay consistent and careful attention to the following key components if your machine uses them: • Cams; • Segments/bushings; • Segment carriers; • Tamping pins; • Dosing disks; • Sorting blocks; • Alignment pins; • Push forks; and • Tamping springs. Many capsule-filler suppliers can provide a preven- tive maintenance framework that will complement the program developed by the end user. Suppliers have the advantage of understanding exactly why their machines were designed in a particular fashion, and their employ- ees often have an encyclopedic knowledge of subtle fea- Modern capsule fillers can operate at increasingly impressive rates with great precision but only if the machine is well maintained.