MODUL Tablet Press Technology

ECM - Exchangeable Compression Module

The Exchangeable Compression Module (ECM) is the unique, distinctive feature that sets the MODUL tablet press apart. The patented ECM is a tremendous improvement on the exchangeable turret concept and offers very high containment with incomparable productivity and flexibility for tablet compression. Much more than a conventional exchangeable die table, the ECM is a sealed unit that’s isolated from the remainder of the tablet press and not only contains the turret and compression tooling, but all the press’s product-contact parts as well.

At the end of a production run, the ECM can be removed from the machine in just 15 minutes. No machine cleaning is required, as all product contact parts and powder residues are encapsulated in and removed with the ECM; the inside and outside of the press are left perfectly clean. A duplicate, clean ECM can then installed in the machine in another 15 minutes.

Providing both operator and product safety, the ECM can be easily removed and exchanged with a replacement unit in just 30 minutes for fast product changeover and the complete line can be back in full production in less than one hour. Offering easy cleaning, high productivity and removing any risk of cross-contamination, this extremely short changeover time results in unmatched productivity and flexibility for tablet production.

Standard ECM

The standard ECM provides a closed environment that ensures contamination levels outside the machine remain below 10 μg/m³. This is ideally suited for non-potent pharmaceutical applications in which a dust-tight seal provides adequate protection when the doors of the press are opened. The ECM can then be safely removed for cleaning in a designated area, usually with a simple air hose. There is no further need to clean the inside of the press or the room in which it operates.

High Containment ECM with Wash-off-Line (WOL ECM) Capabilities

The WOL ECM has been specifically designed for tableting operations using highly potent APIs to keep operators safe from harmful compounds, without the use of cumbersome air suits, and to prevent cross-contamination. The WOL ECM maintains the concentration of harmful APIs in the environment around the tablet press below 1μg/m³.

ECM Availability

The table below shows which ECM types are available for each model (MODUL P, MODUL S).

The WOL ECM

The WOL ECM has been specifically designed for tableting operations using highly potent APIs to keep operators safe from harmful compounds, without the use of cumbersome air suits, and to prevent cross-contamination. The WOL ECM maintains the concentration of harmful APIs in the environment around the tablet press below 1μg/m³.

Made from corrosion-resistant materials, the WOL ECM can be removed from the press and washed separately, using strong detergents, without any risk of damage. Washing takes place in a sealed environment using a special wash skid that avoids the need to open the ECM or remove any components (such as punches) and uses the minimum amount of water and detergent. The WOL ECM can be opened for final manual rinsing and drying without any risk of toxic material becoming airborne. All electrical components, or components that cannot be constructed from suitably corrosion resistant materials, such as cams and bearings, are kept outside the confines of the ECM so do not require cleaning.

The fast product changeover time of just 30 minutes is particularly significant for high containment operations as the same operation on a standard isolator-based system can take up to 16 hours.

Benefits

• Fast product changeover
• Reduced downtime
• Dust protection for working environment
• Easy cleaning in safe area
• No need for air suits.
• Wash-off-Line facility for high containment applications