Packaging follows with another round of complicated processes. Meanwhile, unit dose packaging has emerged as the most favored form.

We can see some of the procedures followed in the industry for tablet manufacturing. We can also see a few objectives and types of packaging the tablet.

• Tablet manufacturing

The most prominent feature in tablet manufacturing is to ensure the right quantity of active ingredients and excipients. The first step starts with the process of granulation, before pressing or compacting. Here, it is essential to maintain the correct amount of the contents.

Manufacturers use mainly two processes of granulation: wet granulation and dry granulation. Wet granulation, as the name suggests, use liquid binder to agglomerate the contents after properly weighing and mixing the contents. Again, this type of granulation has two processes: the low-shear and the high-shear procedures.

On the other hand, dry granulation generates granules by compression of the powder. This process is effective when the contents are sensitive to heat and moisture. It is much simpler than wet granulation, thereby more cost effective as well.

In the next step, manufacturers blend the granule with lubricants. This prevents the tableting blend from sticking to the equipment. After the lubrication, a highly technical manufacturing operation follows, which includes compaction, presses and coating. The operation is independent of the types of granulation.

There are four types of coating: sugar coating, film coating, micro encapsulation and compression. Coating is usually the last process in tablet manufacturing process. Sometimes, the process of splitting the pills follows, which is done to produce a lower dose of the active ingredient. Further, the process of tablet packaging follows the manufacturing.

• Tablet packaging

This is a comprehensive process of packing and protecting the tablet for storage, distribution and sale. The primary objective of tablet packaging is physical and barrier protection as well as to enhance the security and convenience.

It follows three types: primary, secondary and tertiary packaging. The primary step is enclosing the tablets as in strip and blister packages. The next secondary steps consist of arranging the blister packs in containers. Finally, the tertiary step comprises packages in large volume for shipping and transportation.