PHARMACEUTICAL API & OTHER INGREDIENTS SAFETY SIEVING AND CLASSIFICATION

Pharmaceutical powders and microgranules are often produced through complex processes such as crystallisation, drying, granulation, and milling, which can generate agglomerates, oversize particles, and occasional foreign bodies. Safety sieving serves as a critical control step to remove these unwanted elements before the product enters sensitive stages such as blending, compression, encapsulation, or filling. This reduces the risk of defects, equipment damage, and non-conformities in final dosage forms.

In many cases, precise classification is also required to achieve a narrow particle size range, supporting consistent flowability, bulk density, and compressibility. This is particularly important for APIs and excipients used in solid dosage forms, where particle size distribution influences content uniformity, dissolution behaviour, and process robustness. Vibrating sieving enables both safety sieving and multi-fraction classification with high repeatability, provided that the equipment is correctly specified for the product and installation point.

MLT Cuccolini offers a dedicated range of pharmaceutical executions across several product families.

The VTP model, in its pharmaceutical version, is designed for in-line safety sieving in pneumatic conveying systems, acting as a barrier against foreign bodies and oversize particles without interrupting closed product transfer. This configuration supports high hygiene standards and minimises operator exposure, making it suitable for integration in contained processing lines.

For applications requiring batch or gravity-fed operations, the VPB and VP2 circular sieves are available in pharmaceutical versions known as VPF and VPF2 respectively. These machines are typically installed under silos, sack tip stations, or above process vessels, where they perform safety sieving or classification of APIs and other ingredients. Their compact design and calibrated vibration support stable cut points while maintaining gentle handling of sensitive products.

Rectangular X-Line models such as CS and CD can also be supplied in pharmaceutical execution when specific process requirements are needed. These machines are suitable for fine and critical powders, whereas even phenomena like electrostatic behaviour can be minimised. They can be configured for single or multi-deck operation, allowing both safety sieving and multi-fraction classification within the same unit.

Across all pharmaceutical versions, MLT Cuccolini equipment is manufactured with AISI 316 stainless steel for product-contact parts, with mirror-polished surfaces to facilitate cleaning and sanitisation. Quick-release connections such as tri-clamp (TC) and BFM fittings are used to minimise dead zones and support rapid assembly and disassembly. Sealing and closure systems are designed to handle applications with specific containment requirements, including OEB-related constraints, and all machines can be supplied in ATEX-certified versions where necessary.

Using MLT Cuccolini pharmaceutical vibrating sieves for API and other ingredient safety sieving and classification supports higher and more consistent product quality, as well as protection of downstream process steps and equipment. Hygienic design, containment-oriented features, and suitable material choices make these solutions well aligned with regulatory expectations and internal quality systems in the pharmaceutical industry.

The breadth of available models and configurations — born and developed with a joint study with world-class pharmaceutical companies — allows plant designers and end users to adapt sieving solutions to different installation points, capacities, and process layouts, supported by long-term experience in handling sensitive powders in regulated environments.

Contact MLT Cuccolini to discuss your pharmaceutical API and ingredients processes and identify the most suitable vibrating sieving configuration for your specific safety sieving and classification needs.