Nasal Spray and Eye Drop Filling Machines

Eye drops are used for a wide variety of medical applications, from simple eye moistening to local anesthesia. Compared to most liquid pharmaceutical products, the profit margins are often lower. This makes it important to be able to guarantee efficient and cost-effective processing for both pharmacy-only products and the over-the-counter (OTC) sector. groninger nasal spray and eye drop filling machines provide the highest level of flexibility. Whether small batches or large batches, whether for product development and clinical studies or for commercial production, our solutions have a performance range of 50 to 400 units per minute (3,000 - 24,000 units per hour). These automatic lines are able to process containers made of glass as well as made of polymer. At the same time, the groninger filler can be adapted quickly and flexibly – a key criterion, especially for CMOs and CDMOs. These lines for filling and capping eye drop and nasal spray bottles are usually equipped with our innovative quickconnect technology. This enables a tool-free format change via the HMI.

Rotary filling and closing machine for processing eye drops
Rotary filling and closing machine for processing eye drops


Sorting & feeding

Our sorting unit allow effective sorting of a wide variety of round and oval objects. Permanently correct sorting is essential for the efficiency of the machine.
The groninger solution also make it easy, safe and completely sterilizable to feed all objects into the respective containment – whether oRABS or isolator. The use of gamma or ETO-sterilized primary packaging for eye drops is now common practice.

Sorting and feeding of the containers
Sorting and feeding of the containers

Filling

The filling process is the heart of our system. For this we use different technologies to be able to process a variety of thin to viscous products. Whether water-like/WFI-based liquids or solutions, we have the right system.

When filling liquids, groninger relies on proven filling technologies such as the rotary piston pump and mass flow filling systems. Each of these filling lines can be used for one or more types of product.

Within these automatic filling machines a wide variety of product-related tasks can definitely also be performed in the filling path. In particular, a clean-in-place/sterilize-in-place (CIP/SIP) module can be installed prior to filling.

Whatever you need, groninger adapts the filling processes to the needs of your product so that you do not have to compromise on quality.

To meet the high requirements of the pharmaceutical industry, we are increasingly replacing Statistical In-Process-Control (IPC) with 100% In-Process-Control (IPC) as the standard. To do this, the containers are weighed individually both before and after filling to be able to check the filled content with the highest degree of accuracy. This process step is one of a large number of quality assurance measures that we provide.

Filling of eye drops in plastic bottles
Filling of eye drops in plastic bottles

Closing

When closing the products, precision and quality have top priority preventing particles from getting into the product. Here we meet the latest EU GMP Annex 1 requirements.

The groninger quickconnect technology was developed to ensure an aseptic closing process. This is characterized by the simplest set-up of the sterilized format parts. The number of closure size-dependent sorting and feeding formats has been optimally minimized to ensure maximum flexibility.

To provide you with security against the independent inspections of your filling machine, the groninger sorting and feeding technology is constantly being further developed, while the focus is always on an optimal laminar flow.

User-friendliness is central to the ergonomics of our lines. This allows that all parts are always easily accessible with gloves.

We counter the trend towards more sensitive and also more expensive products by integrating a gassing station for the so-called 'headspace' in the container to achieve a residual oxygen content of less than 5%.

Another trend is the production of preservative-free products, which requires a new type of closure system to ensure that products remain stable after opening. groninger also has the correct solution for this application.

Solution for closing eye drop bottles
Solution for closing eye drop bottles

Capping

In the closing area, accurate sealing is one of the major challenges, particularly, when it comes to soft plastic bottles. For many users of eye drops, for example, it can become a major problem if the vials are screwed on incorrectly or too tightly.

The groninger tightening technology provides an efficient and economical solution for extremely accurate tightening, which also includes a monitoring step in which incorrectly tightened objects are detected and rejected.

We also have the right machine constellation for other closures for nasal applications with and without a dip tube; the same goes for push-on filter caps for preservative-free eye drops.

Screwing of eye drop bottles
Screwing of eye drop bottles

Tray loading

At the end of the process chain, the individual objects are collected in a tray for storage and covered, if necessary. With our very object-friendly pick & place system, groninger provides easy-to-use solutions for storing objects piece by piece on a tray. This process is usually implemented fully automatic.

Solution for tray loading of eye drop bottles
Solution for tray loading of eye drop bottles

Integral consulting know-how for the processing of eye drops and nasal spray bottles

The traditional processing of eye drops and nasal spray bottles is one of groninger’s main areas of focus. With our comprehensive consulting know-how and our experience, we are able to advise you on all matters relating to aseptic eye drops and to advise and support nasal filling. We also provide you with comprehensive knowledge of a wide variety of zone concepts to offer you the best possible process for your requirements.

Line example for processing eye drops - up to 24,000 objects per hour
Line example for processing eye drops - up to 24,000 objects per hour


Filling line with performance of 60 - 120 objects per minute
  • Processing eye drops and nasal spray bottles as bulk goods via lock system or RTP port
  • All common filling systems possible
  • Standard gassing functions
  • Quickconnect for fast changeover of other formats
  • 100% In-Process-Control (IPC)
  • Design for isolators, open and closed RABS systems
Filling line with performance of 120 - 240 objects per minute
  • Processing eye drops and nasal spray bottles as bulk goods via lock system or RTP port
  • All common filling systems possible
  • Standard gassing functions
  • Quickconnect for fast changeover of other formats
  • 100% In-Process-Control (IPC)
  • Design for isolators, open and closed RABS systems
Filling line with performance of 240 - 380 objects per minute
  • Processing eye drops and nasal spray bottles as bulk goods via lock system or RTP port
  • All common filling systems possible
  • Standard gassing functions
  • Quickconnect for fast changeover of other formats
  • 100% In-Process-Control (IPC)
  • Design for isolators, open and closed RABS systems


pharmamixt
Official representative in Russia and CIS