Extrusion & Spheronization

Extrusion is a technique used to process powder granules (obtained as a result of a wet granulation) into cylindrical strands of material (noodles or spaghetti) prior to spheronization. The extrudates normally have constant diameter 0.5 mm to 3 mm. Many pharmaceutical materials are extruded as a preliminary step before entering various other processes. Depending on the material, a simple extrusion can also be the final process required. 
The range of low pressure extruders we offer is developed on the basis of 50 years of experience in this field. It includes gear and basket extruders, as well as small screw driven extruders that are suitable for both development and production. The choice between the different extruder types depends on the product characteristics and properties of the extrudate required. 

Spheronization relates to the manufacture of small rounded pellets (shaped extrudates) with a limited size spread within a batch. The Pellets sizes (also called spheroids, micro-spheres or pharmaceutical pellets) can be made within tight size range between 0.8 mm and 1.5 mm in diameter. Spheronization is also sometimes known as spheroidization, pelletisation or marumerisation.

The processes of extrusion and spheronization are  widely used in variery of  industries such as pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, food, chemical, materials science and many other industries.