Coating plays an important role in pharmaceutical industries to mask the unpleasant taste and to provide various other added benefits to the tablets. This coating process is carried out in a stainless steel pan, which is known as a tablet coating pan. These pans are made of SS grade 316L & are of the following types,
- Perforated Pans
- Non on perforated Pans.
In this article, we will discuss the difference between perforated tablet coating plans and non-perforated tablet coating pans.
Structure
- The perforated tablet coating pans have holes or perforations on the two side walls and the bottom.
- The size of these perforations may vary depending on the make & model of pans, but usually these perforations are of 2 to 3 mm.
- Non-perforated tablet coating pans have solid walls & bottom. There are no holes or perforations in this pan, which is why it is known as a non-perforated or conventional tablet coating pan.
- The perforated pan is enclosed in a dust-free sealed cabinet.
- The non-perforated tablet coating pan is open & not enclosed by any cabinet.
Heat Distribution
- The heat distribution in perforated coating pans is more uniform as it is supplied through the one perforated side wall and passes through the bed of the tablet & removed out from the opposite perforated wall.
- The heat distribution in non-perforated tablet coating pans is not uniform, as drying takes place at the surface and air does not pass through the tablets.
Drying Time
- Drying of tablets in perforated coating pans requires less time during the coating process as air passes through the tablet bed due to its supply through perforations.
- In non-perforated coating pans, the drying of tablets requires more time as compared to perforated pans.
Exhaust Control
- The exhaust air leaves the tablet coater through an outlet air duct, and exhaust air removal can be controlled from the HMI in perforated pans.
- The exhaust air in non-perforated tablet coating pans leaves through the same inlet from where it is introduced.
Baffles
- The baffles in the perforated pan are large in size and are also perforated so allowing air passage through the baffles as well.
- The baffles in non-perforated pans are small in size & do not have perforations.
Tablet Mixing
- Tablets are mixed uniformly in perforated tablet coating pans due to the unique baffles design.
- In non-perforated pans the tablet mixing is not as good as in the case of perforated pans because baffles attached in non-perforated pans are conventional and are of non-perforated & conventional type.
Coating Defects
- Tablet coating defects are less likely to be observed in perforated coating pans due to fast drying, uniform heat distribution & automated controls.
- There are more chances of coating defects in non-perforated pans due to poor heat distribution systems.
Dusty Environment
- No dust in the coating area in case of perforated pans, as the perforated pans are enclosed in a dust-proof cabinet.
- Dusty environment in case of non-perforated coating pans, as it is not enclosed in dust-proof cabinets.
Large Batch Size
- Large batch sizes can be coated in perforated coating pans.
- Non-perforated coating pan can handle small batch sizes.
Number of coating Guns
- The diameter of perforated tablet coating pans is large so you can add more spray guns.
- The diameter of non-perforated tablet coating pans is shorter than compared of perforated pans, so less number of spray guns can be installed.
Auto charging & discharging
- In perforated pans, the system is provided for automated loading and discharging of the tablets.
- In non non-perforated tablet coating pan, the loading and discharging of tablets is manual.
Automation
- All the parameters of tablet coating can be controlled automatically from the HMI in case of perforated pans.
- The coating parameters are controlled manually in non-perforated pans.
Recipe Feeding
- Perforated pans have the option to feed a batch recipe, which can be run during that specific batch.
- Recipes can not be saved in conventional coating pans.
Audit Trail
- The perforated tablet coating pans are 21CFR compliant & generate an audit trail for all parameters.
- The non-perforated tablet coating pans are not 21CFR compliant & we can’t generate an audit trail for all parameters.
Robotic Arm
- With advancement, in perforated coating pans, the robotic spray gun arm is available, which can adjust the position of spray guns as per the requirement of the tablet bed.
- The non-perforated tablet coating pans are conventional types of pans, and robotic arms can’t be installed.
CIP System
The perforated tablet coating pans come with a CIP or clean-in-place system, which ensures a short washing period.
Non-perforated tablet coating pans are washed manually & don’t have options for WIP.
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