Huber expands applications laboratory

Huber Engineered Materials, from Harvre de Grace, Maryland, US, has expanded its tableting applications laboratory. The expanded applications lab is the first in the silica industry to support pharmaceutical tableting application development. Representing a US$500,000 (€509,327) investment, it includes a state-of-the-art tableting mini-pilot plant capable of tablet property characterisation, specifically for excipient applications.

'This plant will improve our ability to better serve the tablet sector of the pharmaceutical market,' said Dr Robert Wedinger, vice president and general manager of HEM's consumer business unit. 'We also expect the expanded lab to accelerate new product development in the industry and here at Huber.'

Dr Wedinger also discussed the development of a new calcium carbonate excipient. He said that independent performance tests and sensory panels reviewing HuberCAL natural calcium carbonate observed better purity, lower lead content, improved mouthfeel and significant mechanical property improvements over the leading precipitated or ground calcium carbonates.