Nicomac S.R.L - Nicomatic Coating System for Pharmaceutical Applications

The Nicomatic coating system performs aqueous and organic film or sugar coating on any kind of tablets and pellets. Switching from film to sugar coating or tablets to pellets is easily accomplished in a relatively short period of time. With the Nicomac Coating System, you will be able to coat pellets, tablets, or micro granules all in one machine.

VERSATILITY AND FLEXIBILITY

Models range from a laboratory scale capacity of 10lup to a full manufacturing scale of 2,300l. One of our big advantages is that, thanks to our special drum design, and our unique drying system we can work with 15-20% of full capacity of the drum with the same high efficiency.

MULTIFORM DRYING SYSTEM

Our unique highly efficient drying system directs, with very high effectiveness, the drying air through the product bed with unbeatable performance. Outlet air is exhausted away from the spraying guns area, avoiding any possible air turbulence in the spray zone thus allowing the best drying efficiency.

Drying flow is automatically inclined in order to be always perpendicular to the core's bed, according to the batch quantity, the shape of product, the phase of process.

This means: uniform distribution of air flow, low air speed, high yield, high flexibility, unique performance.

OUTSTANDING MIXING EFFICIENCY

Our patented "3D Shark Fin Baffles" combine higher mixing efficiency with gentler product handling to result in improved coating uniformity, thanks to the uniform distribution of spraying solution, thus reducing overall process time.

SOLID WALL COATING PANS

Our coating systems utilize a smooth, electro-polished, non-perforated, solid wall pan. The solid wall design, combined with our unique drying system, has unsurpassed coating performance. In addition, solid walls make for a more thorough and easy to validate cleaning process.

MICROLAC CONTROL SYSTEM

A PLC based control system guarantees complete automatic process repeatability. HMI (human machine interface) with touch screen industrial PC for flawless data acquisition and storage. The Microlac software stores up to 40 different recipes with up to 99 discrete phases. The system can be certified according CFR 21 Part 11.

POWDER DOSING SYSTEM

Automatic powder dosing is available either by pressure or electrostatic system. A new patent system avoids any powder clogging while dosing.

SPRAYING SYSTEM

The full stainless steel spraying guns have intrinsic internal device to prevent clogging. Guns are equipped with a pneumatic regulating system, controlled by the PLC recipe, which allow for the adjustment of the spray pattern without opening the front window.

The spray gun will be mounted on the automatically controlled sliding arm with possibility to set the gun position with reference to the product, during the process, also from the PLC recipe.

All this features with the aim of avoiding the need to open at all the coating pan window during the phases of the process, a very important feature in case of containment issued for potent products.

HUMIDITY CONTROL

Our primary process control is based on closed loop control of temperature and humidity of the air stream exiting the product bed. Depending on different application, we have the right process control algorithm available. For temperature sensitive products, bed temperature is closely monitored and controlled. Spraying rate in film coating and Drying Phase in sugar coating can be set on the basis of inlet-outlet Air Humidity.

THERMOJACKET

To avoid any heating dispersion on the external side of the drum. Nicomac has patented a new drying system called: "THERMOJACKET". Part of inlet air is directed to the thermojacket and it heats or cool down externally the coating pan drum granting a perfect uniformity of temperature distribution into the cores bed, reduces any heat dispersions, optimises the efficiency of the drying phase reducing the process time.

CLEANING

Since our coating pans are not perforated, a fast and effective CIP. (Clean in Place) cycle is easily achieved and cleanliness inspections are easy. A universal skid with four ways special spray heads located inside the coating pan allow the cleaning of every point on the entire pan surface. The high pressure washing pump guarantees a high performance cleaning process. Fast and efficient cleaning is achieved even with enteric and modified release film coating such as Eudragit©. Automatic washing cycle can be stored in the machine HMI (PC).

AUTOMATIC DISCHARGE SYSTEM

This patented system unloads finished products as well as CIP fluids by simply rotating the pan via a magnetic, patented, fast connection, and unloading chute.

CUSTOMER SERVICE

Our qualified, service engineers and our experienced coating specialists are available to supply troubleshooting and process training services on-site or in-house trails. We can supply trails, research, development, formulation optimization and small-scale production and production batch up-to 600kg. Critical spare parts are available for prompt dispatch; Nicomac hotline and "on line" technical support are available in the usual prompt "Nicomac way".

Please also see:

Pharmaceutical Technology - @ Cleanroom Nicomac - Clean Room Wall System for Controlled Environments