This completely automated production facility is designed to maximize the efficiency and productivity of Pfizer's pharmaceutical production processes, doubling drug production capacity while shortening production times.
The integration of Coperion K-Tron feeders into Pfizer's German facility underscores the pharmaceutical giant's commitment to leveraging cutting-edge technology to optimize its operations. This collaboration also demonstrates the growing importance of precise and reliable products in the pharmaceutical industry - characteristics that make Coperion K-Tron equipment stand out.
The state-of-the-art facility in Freiburg, Germany, houses over 2000 employees and has been built to supply tablets and capsules to over 185 countries. Current production includes 6.7 billion tablets and capsules annually. In addition, since the facility has the capability to handle highly potent OEB 4 compounds, all systems are completely enclosed and utilize split butterfly valve containment and drum dumping glove boxes for contained product transfer.
In this groundbreaking automated process, a variety of raw materials — including excipients and active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs)—are delivered to the automated dispensing systems via drums, big bags or smaller bags and are then introduced to the Coperion K-Tron high accuracy K3 line of pharmaceutical feeders. The feeders then dose the specified amounts required for the batch as dictated by the specific formulation through an overall PLC based control system. All batch setpoints are communicated directly to each KCM feeder controller, which in turn controls the high accuracy loss-in-weight (LIW) batching of the feeder. This initial batch is then mixed and moved to another station where more LIW feeders accurately dose additives into the batch, before the mixture continues to the tablet press.