GEA Pharma Systems has signed an agreement with a U.S. pharmaceutical company to supply a complete continuous processing line for the production of solid dose drugs. The order is for ConsiGma oral solid dosage continuous processing equipment and represents the first phase of a potentially long-term commitment for this customer, according to GEA. Delivery is scheduled for early 2013.

The order is to deliver a continuous solid dosage production platform, including continuous blending, wet granulation and drying, dry granulation and direct compression. In addition to a Courtoy MODUL tablet press and a tablet relaxation module, the system will also include the first commercial continuous GEA coater. The entire line will be equipped with a range of PAT instruments for on-line measurement of particle size distribution, humidity, blend/content uniformity and coating quality. This data will be captured in an overall control and information system which allows for realtime release of the finished tablets.

Jan Vugts, managing director of GEA Pharma Systems in Wommelgem, Belgium, commented, “We were all delighted to receive the order. GEA has many years’ experience with continuous processing in other industries and GPS is a market leader in batch granulation, drying and compression technologies for the pharma industry. I believe this experience and the expertise of the team in our global competence centre near Antwerp, Belgium have greatly contributed to the confidence this customer has shown in GPS.”