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10 Pharmaceutical Technology TRENDS IN MANUFACTURING 2022 eBOOK P h a r mTe c h . c o m Solid Dosage W ith millions of tablets coming off production lines daily, it is no surprise that tooling can be affected. Consistent compaction of granules into a quality solid dose form is challenging enough for manufac- turers without the added concern of the tooling not being up to the job. The condition of punches and dies will have a substantial impact on productivity, so it is crucial that all tablet tooling is optimized through simple maintenance procedures to enhance performance and improve longevity. Taking the first step Tablet compression tools are often viewed as disposable items to be replaced if they are not working; however, the cost of replacement tooling and potential lost productivity will increase overall expenses and make a substantial difference to a business' bottom line. Don't underestimate the importance of correctly maintaining punches and dies because if tooling is in good working condition it not only re- duces tablet press downtime, but also minimizes compression problems, enhances tablet quality, and reduces tooling and operating costs. Incorrect tool maintenance procedures can have a huge impact on tablet production. Eighty-five percent of punch and die problems can be traced back to poor handling and aftercare procedures. For this very reason, knowing how to care for tooling is important. It is recommended that a program of consistent maintenance pro- cedures is followed to ensure punches and dies are ready for produc- tion, with the assurance that they are clean, un-damaged, and within specification (Figure 1). Don't Gamble on Tablet Tooling Maintenance Andy Dumelow By following some fundamental steps, manufacturers can optimize their tablet tooling maintenance and resulting productivity. Andy Dumelow is head of Technical Sales at I Holland. SPLITOV27 - STOCK.ADOBE.COM