Reliable Product Inspection Solutions with METTLER TOLEDO

Case Study: Maximum Quality Control

Pharmaceutical company Cinfa produces more than 92 million products a year. The Spanish manufacturer exports its products globally and needs to comply with standards and guidelines such as the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP). According to the strict demands of the pharmaceutical industry, products need to be complete and free of contamination to deliver product safety. Cinfa relies on product inspection equipment from METTLER TOLEDO with 11 checkweighers and the advanced metal detection technology.

Pharmaceutical Metal Detectors Support Compliance Needs

Brand protection is about more than just avoiding costly product recalls; it is focused on supporting patient safety and maintaining credibility and trust. Dangerous metal contaminants can find their way into products through machine wear and tear. This can happen when pills and tablets are pressed.

"We needed a highly sensitive metal detection system which meets the exacting standards in our industry - a system which can detect all types of metal encountered in our manufacturing process," states Oscar Torres, Engineering Manager at Cinfa. The installed Tablex-PRO metal detector reliably inspects every single tablet and can detect metal contaminants less than 0.3 mm in diameter including ferrous, non-ferrous and stainless steel.

"The metal detectors were smoothly integrated with our tablet de-dusters and other production line equipment. With the dedicated software we are in complete control of our processes. To support requirements of FDA 21 CFR Part 11 we are now able to capture electronic signatures and track user access," confirms Torres.

No Missing Blister Packs or Leaflets with Completeness Checks

The pharmaceutical industry has the strictest quality standards for a reason. Cinfa needs to ensure that the correct amount of blister packs is packed in each single carton and that all cartons contain the patient information leaflet. Checkweighing is a highly effective tool used in conjunction with a well-designed quality control program. By installing checkweighers specifically designed for pharmaceutical production, Cinfa ensures all products are checked for completeness.

"The pharmaceutical checkweighers were seamlessly integrated into our production lines where weighing needs to be highly accurate and reliable. It allows us to make the production process transparent delivering real-time data on access management so that we can fully trace all system changes," explained Torres.

The checkweighers' enhanced software and mechanical features such as the detection of open flaps and askew packages protects downstream equipment. The reliable handling of products has top priority. For instance, with the transversal adjustment option, installed products can be automatically re-centered which leads to optimal positioning of products on the weighing conveyor and results in improved weighing accuracy.

Comprehensive Expertise from One Reliable Partner

During commissioning, Cinfa was supported by experts from METTLER TOLEDO to combine professional installation and qualification of the equipment. "This gave us the certainty that our lines are running and performing as planned and that we can easily overcome any future validation processes. METTLER TOLEDO has always been a reference for us. Their wide equipment portfolio can be found in almost all our departments. The overall expert knowledge across all our business processes combined with an excellent all-around service has convinced us," says Torres.

Why METTLER TOLEDO?

METTLER TOLEDO is a global leader in designing proven product inspection solutions that empower manufacturers to inspect every product with confidence, protect their brands, profits, and productivity, and comply easily with industry requirements.

Our systems help you:

Enhance product safety by detecting and removing physical contaminants
Improve quality control with weight control and automated vision inspection of labels and packaging
Increase production efficiency by reducing waste and optimizing processes
Support compliance with regulatory requirements and industry standards
Protect brand reputation by delivering consistently high-quality products

Our regional support centers offer free product tests and live demonstrations, allowing you to test our solutions before you invest. Additionally, our global service solutions provide comprehensive support to keep your inspection systems running smoothly throughout the entire lifecycle of your equipment.