The German firm made the comments after launching a new integrated pharmaceutical melt extrusion and calendaring line that was developed with the pharmaceutical industry’s growing interest in continuous manufacturing in mind.
Spokesman Andreas Leitze told in-Pharmatechnologist.com that: “Recent conferences as well as research show a strong interest in this [melt] technology due to bad [API] solubility of many new developed APIs. Here melt extrusion is the answer.”
He explained that the combined line features a ‘brand new’ 40mm screw diameter extruder- the WCF 0040PH - which is capable of producing up to 50kg of drug API per hour.
This mass is then passed directly into an area where the production process is completed – consisting of a BPK 0050 calender, where tablets are produced using dual rollers, and a BCK 0050 cooling tunnel where they are allowed to set. Both technologies were launched in 2010.
Global demand
Operator safety was also a consideration during the development of the new system according to Leitze, who added that: “The complete line is available in containment execution thus suitable for high potent APIs.
“Furthermore Bosch has invested a lot in integrating field experience – gathered at one of the largest manufacturers of melt extruded products.”
He added that although the main markets for the new line are Europe and the US, manufacturer demand in “Asia beginning to start up. “
The idea of increasing Asian demand fits with Bosch’s decision to invest €17m ($23m) in a new production facility in Chengdu, China last month.
Speaking to in-Pharmatechnologist.com at the time Bosch said: “There are lots of suppliers in the region, and there is a centre for packaging machinery producing companies building up there, so this is a real hot spot for this kind of development."