In today’s fast-paced pharmaceutical landscape, flexibility is the new efficiency. Manufacturers are increasingly handling multiple products, smaller batch sizes, and frequent recipe changes — all while maintaining compliance and minimising downtime. The key to achieving this balance lies in streamlining equipment change-over, especially within granulation lines.

The Challenge: Downtime During Change-over

Traditional granulation setups often require lengthy cleaning, validation, and setup between batches. This not only impacts productivity but also increases the risk of cross-contamination if not managed properly. As product portfolios expand, the time lost during each change-over directly affects the bottom line.

The Solution: Smart Equipment Design & Process Optimization

At Kanath Engineering, we believe change-over efficiency starts with design. Modern granulation lines can be engineered to support faster transitions without compromising on cGMP standards.

Here are a few ways this can be achieved:

1. Modular Equipment Design Modular systems allow components such as mixers, mills, and dryers to be quickly disconnected, cleaned, and replaced — reducing setup time between product runs.

2. Quick-Release & Tool-Free Assemblies Equipment with easy-to-remove parts and quick clamps simplifies cleaning and reassembly, enabling operators to perform change-overs with minimal tools or downtime.

3. Clean-in-Place (CIP) & Wash-in-Place (WIP) Systems Integrating automated cleaning systems drastically reduces manual intervention, ensuring consistent hygiene and faster turnaround for the next batch.

4. Automated Recipe Control Using programmable logic controllers (PLC) with recipe-based automation ensures that each product’s parameters are loaded instantly, minimizing manual errors and setup time.

5. Integrated Material Handling Vacuum transfer systems and closed-loop material handling designs support dust-free operation, cleaner change-overs, and safer working environments.

The Impact: Efficiency That Drives Competitiveness

By implementing these improvements, pharma manufacturers can:

• Reduce change-over time by up to 50–70%
• Improve overall equipment effectiveness (OEE)
• Enhance product consistency and compliance
• Respond faster to market and production demands

The Future: Designing for Flexibility

The next generation of pharmaceutical equipment is not just about speed — it’s about adaptability. As multi-product manufacturing becomes the norm, flexible granulation lines will be a cornerstone of operational excellence.

At Kanath Engineering, our focus remains on developing process equipment that enables our customers to produce more, switch faster, and stay compliant — every single time.