Pharmaceuticals & Nutraceuticals Processing
Used by many of the world’s leading pharmaceutical companies, our pharmaceutical and nutraceutical equipment is designed to meet the rigid sanitary standards in the pharmaceutical industry. From mixing micro or active ingredients to mechanically conveying finished product, all pharmaceutical equipment is designed and built with the highest quality standards. Pharmaceutical companies benefit from S. Howes’ customer-centric approach to providing custom solutions that deliver quality pharmaceuticals and nutraceuticals.
Equipment
Processing Challenges in Pharmaceutical & Nutraceutical Manufacturing
Pharmaceutical and nutraceutical manufacturers operate under some of the most demanding processing standards in any industry. Active ingredients, excipients, vitamins, and specialty powders must be handled with precision; contamination, cross-contamination, particle degradation, and inaccurate blending are not just quality problems; they are regulatory ones.
S. Howes has designed and built sanitary process equipment for pharmaceutical and nutraceutical manufacturers for over 100 years. Our equipment is used by many of the world’s leading pharma companies and is built to meet the rigorous sanitary and quality standards these industries require, from mixing micro- or active ingredients to mechanically conveying finished products.
Pain Points We Solve
- Inconsistent blending of active ingredients, excipients, or micronutrients
- Cross-contamination risk from equipment that is difficult to clean or inspect
- Particle degradation or segregation during conveying and handling
- Poor flow of fine, cohesive, or static-prone powders
- Inaccurate dosing or feed rates affecting batch consistency
- Difficulty meeting cGMP, FDA, or other regulatory construction standards
- Equipment that cannot be validated or documented for compliance
- Screening inefficiencies leading to out-of-spec particle size distribution
Optimize Your Pharma & Nutraceutical Processing Line
We help pharmaceutical and nutraceutical manufacturers achieve consistent, compliant material handling and processing across a range of active ingredients, excipients, vitamins, and specialty formulations.
S. Howes engineers work directly with plant engineers, operations teams, and quality personnel to design systems tailored to:
- Material characteristics such as fine powders, active ingredients, excipients, and granulated nutraceuticals
- Particle size distribution and blending uniformity requirements
- Batch or continuous throughput targets
- Sanitary construction requirements, including surface finish, material of construction, and cleanability
- Facility layout, cleanroom constraints, and containment requirements
- Regulatory documentation and validation support needs
Engineered for Pharmaceutical & Nutraceutical Material Processing
Sanitary Mixing Equipment
For blending active ingredients, excipients, vitamins, and specialty formulations.
Ribbon mixers, paddle mixers, and custom agitator designs provide thorough, uniform blending of pharmaceutical and nutraceutical powders in both batch and continuous configurations.
Built to sanitary standards with polished interior surfaces, cleanout access, and materials of construction suited for cGMP environments. Applications include dry blending of APIs and excipients, vitamin and supplement mixing, and nutraceutical powder formulation.
Sanitary Screw Conveyors
For gentle, contained transfer of pharmaceutical powders, granules, and finished products.
Sanitary screw conveyors and tubular conveyors are designed to transfer sensitive materials while minimizing particle attrition, dust generation, and the risk of contamination.
Constructed to meet pharmaceutical sanitary standards with appropriate surface finishes, seal designs, and access for inspection and cleaning. Used for conveying APIs, excipients, granulated materials, and finished nutraceutical products.
Screening and Separating Equipment
For particle classification, foreign material removal, and process control.
Sifters, shakers, and screening systems remove overs, fines, and foreign material while improving blend consistency and ensuring product meets particle size specification.
Used for API screening, excipient classification, nutraceutical powder sizing, and quality verification steps within pharmaceutical processing lines.
Filtration Equipment
For solid-liquid separation and filter cake handling in pharmaceutical processing.
S. Howes filters and filtration units are available in various materials of construction and are constructed and stamped to ASME code vessel standards.
Used in pharmaceutical wet processing, API recovery, and applications where filter cake handling and size reduction are required downstream of filtration steps.
Why Choose S. Howes
What Pharma & Nutraceutical Processors Need
- Sanitary construction that meets cGMP and FDA equipment standards
- Polished interior surfaces that minimize material retention and support cleanability
- Designs that reduce cross-contamination risk between batches or products
- Gentle material handling that protects particle integrity and blend uniformity
- Documentation and construction standards that support validation requirements
- Reliable performance for both batch and continuous pharmaceutical operations
Applications
- Active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) blending and handling
- Excipient mixing and conveying
- Vitamin and mineral supplement blending
- Nutraceutical powder formulation and processing
- Granulated product conveying and screening
- Filter cake handling and size reduction
- Finished product transfer and packaging feed
Capabilities
- Sanitary ribbon, paddle, and custom agitator mixer designs
- Enclosed conveying systems for dust and contamination control
- Screening and classification for particle size compliance
- Filtration and filter cake handling equipment
- Custom surface finishes and materials of construction for cGMP environments
- Batch and continuous system configurations
Scalable Systems From Pilot Test to Full Production
Pharmaceutical and nutraceutical manufacturers rely on S. Howes to support every stage of equipment development, from pilot testing to full-scale production systems.
We provide lab-scale and pilot-scale equipment that allows manufacturers to evaluate blend uniformity, material flow, and handling performance before scaling to production capacity.
Our testing services allow companies to bring their materials to S. Howes to confirm processing performance and handling characteristics before investing in production equipment. This approach reduces risk and ensures equipment is properly engineered for the specific material properties and regulatory requirements of pharmaceutical and nutraceutical applications.
Applications Across Pharma & Nutraceutical Processing
S. Howes supports a wide range of material processing applications within the pharmaceutical and nutraceutical industries, including:
- API and excipient dry blending
- Vitamin, mineral, and supplement powder mixing
- Nutraceutical formulation and batch blending
- Particle size screening and classification
- Granulated material conveying and transfer
- Filter cake size reduction and handling
- Finished product transfer to packaging lines
System Integration Capabilities
S. Howes equipment integrates into complete pharmaceutical and nutraceutical processing environments, including:
- Bulk ingredient storage and feed systems
- Sanitary conveying and transfer lines
- Screening and classification equipment
- Mixing and blending systems
- Filtration and wet processing equipment
- Downstream packaging and filling operations
Featured Resources
Industrial Filters & Filtration Equipment
All S. Howes filters and filtration units are available in various materials of construction and are constructed and stamped A.S.M.E. code vessels.
How to Choose a Horizontal Batch Mixer
Dry Bulk solids mixing can be done with several kinds of mixers, batch and continuous, horizontal and vertical, and agitated & tumbling.
Avert Powder & Bulk Solids Processing Issues
No matter the classification, no two bulk solids are the same, presenting just one of many challenges when it comes to process operations.
Pharmaceutical & Nutraceutical Processing Equipment
Used by many of the world’s leading pharmaceutical companies, our pharmaceutical and nutraceutical equipment is designed to meet the rigid sanitary standards in the pharmaceutical industry. From mixing micro or active ingredients to mechanically conveying finished product, all pharmaceutical equipment is designed and built with the highest quality standards.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is S. Howes equipment built to pharmaceutical sanitary standards?
Yes. Our pharmaceutical and nutraceutical equipment is designed and built to meet rigorous sanitary construction standards, including appropriate surface finishes, materials of construction, and cleanout access required for cGMP environments.
Can S. Howes equipment handle fine or cohesive pharmaceutical powders?
Yes. Our equipment is engineered for the flow characteristics of fine, cohesive, and static-prone powders common in pharmaceutical and nutraceutical processing, with agitator designs and conveyor configurations selected based on the specific material.
How does S. Howes minimize cross-contamination risk between batches?
We design equipment with polished interior surfaces, full cleanout access, and enclosed conveying systems that reduce material retention and support thorough cleaning between product changeovers.
Can your mixing equipment achieve the blend uniformity required for pharmaceutical applications?
Yes. Our ribbon and paddle mixer designs provide thorough, uniform blending for dry pharmaceutical and nutraceutical formulations. We recommend testing at our Innovation Center to validate blend performance for your specific formulation before selecting equipment.
Do you offer custom-engineered systems for specific pharma or nutraceutical applications?
Yes. Every system is engineered based on the material properties, sanitary requirements, throughput targets, and facility constraints of each manufacturer.
Not Sure What You Need?
We’re here to help you! Tell us what you need to be done and we’ll contact you to recommend the right equipment.