Capsule Shell

Various drugs that stimulate the stomach are inserted into capsules whose shell is mainly made of starch. Because starch cannot be absorbed in the stomach, the capsule carries the drug into the small intestine and is absorbed directly.

The smell or taste of some health care ingredients may cause discomfort to the human body, and the use of suitable capsule shells for packaging can increase the compliance of the human body. The capsule shell can also provide protection for ingredients such as light protection.

For the capsule manufacturing process, melting and coloring the raw materials is the initial step. This involves heating hard gelatin in a melting tank until it forms a uniform solution. At this point, distilled water is combined with gelatin to make a smooth viscous liquid. Then, the gelatin solution is heated at a constant temperature until it dissolves completely without degrading its properties. After the gelatin melts, coloring agents are inserted to achieve the desired color for the hard capsules or softgel capsules.

Once a solution of gelatin is ready, capsules are molded and dried. To make the shells of the capsules, one can immerse stainless steel molding pins in a gelatin solution via the dipping process. Then, these pins that are coated with gelatin are rotated so as to obtain uniform coating and for the excess substances to be wiped out. Thus, this step is very crucial in ensuring uniformity of size and thickness of these capsules.

For every capsule to meet the required specifications, there are essential stages in a tablet manufacturing process that involve cutting and trimming. After gelatin has dried, hardened, and forms the capsule shells, they are cut and trimmed to their final dimensions using a pin plate. In this phase of production, accurate cutting tools are used to achieve clean, uniform edges. It is important that capsules fit properly together to prevent any leakage of drug content.

Capsule manufacturing processes must undergo quality inspection. Capsules are directly visually inspected to check for any bubbles, dark spots, abnormal shapes, and irregularities, including black spots. Advanced capsule inspection machines and image processing technology are often used to improve the accuracy of this test, ensuring that only capsules with the highest possible quality proceed further.

Printing colored capsules is essential when it comes to identifying and branding products. Specialized printing machines are used to print information on the capsules, such as the name of the drug, its dose, and details about its manufacturer. This stage helps distinguish between different drugs and ensures adherence to labeling guidelines.

The final processes for capsule manufacturing include packaging and storage. After printing, the capsules are counted patiently and packed into appropriate containers like bottles or blister packs. The packaging has to protect the capsules against environmental conditions such as moisture and light that may lead to degradation of the medicine. Pharmaceutical packaging also encompasses labeling which contains vital details such as expiry dates and batch numbers.