Granulator
Solid Preparation
Granulator
Model: GRN Series
| Doc No. | EQP-PHS-003 |
|---|---|
| Version | V1.0 |
| Date | 2026-05 |
1. Product Overview
A granulator is a key piece of pharmaceutical equipment that converts powdered materials into granular products. The granulation process significantly improves flowability, compressibility, and uniformity, delivering high-quality intermediates for subsequent tableting, capsule filling, and other downstream processes. Widely used across the pharmaceutical, food, and chemical industries, granulators are indispensable core equipment on solid dosage production lines.
Key Features
- Improved material flowability, reduced dust emission
- Enhanced compressibility, ensuring tablet hardness and content uniformity
- Reduced component segregation, guaranteed product homogeneity
- Compatible with wet granulation, dry granulation, and melt granulation processes
2. Working Principle
Wet Granulation
Wet granulation is the most widely used granulation process: powder is agglomerated into granules by adding a binder solution. Process flow: binder addition → mixing & wetting → wet massing → drying → sizing. Wet granulation produces granules with high strength and excellent content uniformity, suitable for most pharmaceutical formulations.
Dry Granulation
Dry granulation requires no liquid binder. Powder is compacted into ribbons by a roller compactor, then milled and sized into granules. Suitable for moisture- and heat-sensitive materials. Process flow: powder mixing → roller compaction → milling → sizing.
Melt Granulation
Melt granulation uses a low-melting-point binder that is melted under heat, blended with the powder, and solidified on cooling to form granules. No solvents are involved, making the process suitable for moisture-sensitive materials and sustained-release formulations.
3. System Classification
By Granulation Method
1. Wet Granulator
2. Dry Granulator (Roller Compactor)
3. Melt Granulator
By Equipment Type
1. High-Shear Granulator
2. Fluid-Bed Granulator
3. Roller Compactor (Dry Granulator)
4. Extrusion-Spheronization Granulator
By Application Field
1. Pharmaceutical Industry
2. Nutraceuticals
3. Food Industry
4. Chemical Industry
4. Detailed Technical Parameters
Basic Parameters
| Parameter | Specification |
|---|---|
| Production Capacity | 5–1000 kg/batch |
| Bowl Volume | 5–1000 L |
| Main Motor Power | 3–75 kW |
| Impeller Speed | 50–1500 rpm (VFD adjustable) |
| Chopper Speed | 1000–4000 rpm (VFD adjustable) |
| Batch Time | 5–30 min (wet granulation) |
| Operating Temperature | Ambient–120 °C |
| Design Pressure | Atmospheric / Vacuum (optional) |
| Control Mode | PLC + HMI / Manual |
High-Shear Granulator Parameters
| Parameter | Specification |
|---|---|
| Bowl Type | Vertical cylindrical / Conical bottom |
| Impeller Type | 3-blade/4-blade bottom impeller + wall scraper |
| Chopper | Dual/triple blade, liftable |
| Discharge Method | Pneumatic bottom valve / Bowl tilting |
| Spray System | Top/bottom spray, flow rate 0.5–20 L/min |
| In-Place Cleaning | CIP optional |
Fluid-Bed Granulator Parameters
| Parameter | Specification |
|---|---|
| Processing Capacity | 2–500 kg/batch |
| Air Volume | 500–20000 m³/h |
| Inlet Air Temperature | Ambient–150 °C |
| Spray Rate | 5–200 mL/min |
| Filter System | Shake bag / Pulse jet, filtration 0.3 μm |
| Dew Point | Below –40 °C |
Dimensions
| Parameter | Specification |
|---|---|
| Length | 1200–3500 mm |
| Width | 800–2500 mm |
| Height | 1500–3500 mm |
| Weight | 500–5000 kg |
Material Properties
| Parameter | Specification |
|---|---|
| Product Contact Parts | SUS316L (electropolished Ra≤0.4 μm) |
| Non-Contact Parts | SUS304 |
| Seals | PTFE / EPDM / Silicone (FDA compliant) |
| Gaskets | Silicone / FKM (FDA compliant) |
| Surface Finish | Internal Ra≤0.4 μm, External Ra≤0.8 μm |
5. Core Component Selection
Mixing Bowl / Impeller
SUS316L stainless steel, electropolished, removable design for easy cleaning and replacement. Optimized blade angle ensures efficient mixing.
Chopper
High-speed rotating chopper for controlling granule size and uniformity. VFD-adjustable speed, triple-blade design provides efficient shear force.
Binder Spray System
Precision peristaltic/diaphragm pump, dual-fluid nozzle atomization, adjustable flow rate, ensuring uniform binder distribution.
Discharge System
Pneumatic bottom valve or bowl tilting discharge, fast discharge with minimal residue, equipped with closed transfer interface.
Control System
SIEMENS/AB PLC controller, 10–15 inch touchscreen HMI, recipe management, data logging, alarm functions, 21 CFR Part 11 compliant.
6. Typical Application Fields
Pharmaceutical Granules
Tablet pre-processing, capsule filling granules, sustained-release granules, fast-dissolving granules, TCM extract granulation
Nutraceuticals
Vitamin granules, mineral granules, protein powder granules, probiotic granules
Food Industry
Seasoning granules, instant beverage granules, food additive granules
Chemical Industry
Catalyst granules, pesticide granules, detergent granules, fertilizer granules
7. Design Standards & Certifications
Compliant with the following standards and certifications
1. GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice)
2. FDA 21 CFR Part 210/211
3. ISO 9001 / ISO 14001
4. CE Certification
8. Custom Optional Configurations
| Option | Description |
|---|---|
| Clean-In-Place (CIP) System | Automatic cleaning, reduced cross-contamination risk, GMP compliant |
| Steam-In-Place (SIP) System | Pure steam sterilization, ensuring aseptic production environment |
| Vacuum Discharge System | Closed vacuum transfer discharge, preventing dust and cross-contamination |
| Multi-hole Bottom Plate (Fluid Bed) | Different open-area plates for various particle sizes |
| Explosion-Proof Design | ATEX Zone II explosion-proof, suitable for organic solvent granulation |
| Wash-In-Place (WIP) | Simplified in-place rinsing, economical solution |
| Multi-stage Nozzle System | Top + bottom spray dual mode, meeting various granulation needs |
| Weighing Module | Inline bowl weighing, precise material charging control |
| Data Management System | SCADA integration, electronic batch records, 21 CFR Part 11 compliant |
| Vibration Isolation Base | Reduced equipment vibration, protecting building structure |
9. Warranty Terms
| Parameter | Specification |
|---|---|
| Standard Warranty | 12 months from acceptance date |
| Extended Warranty | 24 months (extended warranty service purchased separately) |
| Wear Parts Warranty | 6 months (seals, filter bags, etc.) |
| Warranty Scope | Free repair or replacement for manufacturing, material, and workmanship defects |
| Exclusions | Damage from misuse, improper operation, or failure to follow maintenance procedures is not covered |
| After-Sales Response | Remote support within 24 hours, on-site service within 48 hours |
10. Packaging & Delivery
| Parameter | Specification |
|---|---|
| Packaging Method | Export wooden crate (fumigation-free), moisture barrier liner, equipment secured inside |
| Delivery Period | Standard model 60–90 days, customized model 90–120 days |
| Shipping Method | Sea / Land / Air (per customer requirement) |
| Installation & Commissioning | Supplier dispatches engineer for installation and commissioning, including operator training (3–5 days) |
| Delivery Documents | Operation manual, certificate of conformity, material certificate, electrical drawings, P&ID, spare parts list |
11. Information Required for Inquiry
| Item | Content |
|---|---|
| Material Properties | Bulk density, particle size distribution, flowability, moisture content |
| Product Name & Application | Drug/food/chemical name, dosage form |
| Batch Size | Target batch output (kg/batch) |
| Granulation Method | Wet / Dry / Melt |
| Binder Type | Binder name, concentration, dosage |
| Granule Requirements | Target particle size range, granule strength, bulk density |
| Solvent Requirements | Whether organic solvents are used (affects explosion-proof requirements) |
| Automation Requirements | Control method, data management, CIP/SIP requirements |