Designed for Demanding Pharmaceutical Applications
Built upon extensive experience in pharmaceutical extrusion across R&D and production environments, the Pharma 16 is engineered to accommodate the evolving requirements of a highly regulated industry.
The system features a compact, IP54-protected housing with a crevice-free design to support GMP-oriented operation and simplify cleaning. Its fully ported split barrel incorporates 8 individually controlled heating and cooling zones, providing precise thermal management throughout the extrusion process.
With an operating pressure of up to 150 bar, the Pharma 16 offers the process flexibility required for a broad range of pharmaceutical formulations and processing conditions.
Versatile Processing Capabilities
The Pharma 16 can be configured for a wide variety of pharmaceutical development and manufacturing applications, including:
- Controlled-release formulations
- Solubility enhancement
- Co-extrusion and implant development
- Wet and melt granulation
- Wet extrusion
- Continuous pharmaceutical processing
Seamless Integration with Process Equipment
An industry-standard control and operating system enables convenient plug-and-play integration with upstream and downstream equipment, including feeders, chill rolls, pelletizers, dryers, and other process modules.
The flexible equipment architecture allows configurations to be rapidly adapted as formulation and process requirements evolve. This helps maximize equipment utilization while supporting efficient development of complete continuous production lines.
Efficient Scale-Up from Development to Production
Processes developed on the Pharma 16 can be transferred and scaled across the Thermo Scientific pharmaceutical extruder portfolio. This provides a practical pathway from formulation development and process optimization to commercial-scale manufacturing, helping streamline technology transfer and reduce development time.
Key Features
| Feature | Benefit |
| Hybrid HME & TSG platform | Enables both hot melt extrusion and continuous twin-screw granulation on one system |
| Compact design | Optimizes valuable laboratory and production space |
| 8 heating & cooling zones | Provides flexible and precise thermal process control |
| Up to 150 bar operating pressure | Supports demanding pharmaceutical processing conditions |
| Fully ported split barrel | Facilitates flexible process configuration and convenient access |
| IP54 & crevice-free housing | Supports GMP-oriented operation and easier cleaning |
| Plug-and-play connectivity | Simplifies integration with feeders, chill rolls, pelletizers, dryers, and other equipment |
| Scalable process platform | Enables efficient transfer from formulation development to commercial manufacturing |
Flexible Processing for HME and TSG Applications
The Thermo Scientific™ Pharma 16 Twin-Screw Extruder is designed to adapt quickly to different pharmaceutical processing requirements. The system can be configured for either Hot Melt Extrusion (HME) or Twin-Screw Granulation (TSG) operation within minutes, allowing users to switch between processes without the need for a dedicated system.
A comprehensive range of accessories and downstream equipment further extends the capabilities of the Pharma 16. For TSG applications, the extruder can be integrated with a continuous drying system, forming the core of a complete continuous manufacturing line.
For HME applications, interchangeable die configurations enable the production of different product geometries, including rods, films, and co-extruded products. Depending on the formulation and desired output, extrudates can be processed downstream using a chill roll, air-cooled conveyor belt, or pelletizer, providing greater flexibility from extrusion through final product handling.
Technical Specifications
| Parameter | Specification |
| Screw Length | HME: L/D = 40 (40 × 16 mm = 640 mm) TSG: L/D = 40.75 (40.75 × 16 mm = 652 mm) |
| Barrel Zoning | 7 barrel zones, with the 1st zone permanently cooled, + 1 die heating zone |
| Temperature Range | Up to 300 °C |
| Maximum Pressure | 100 bar / 150 bar with optional configuration |
| Screw Speed | 10–1000 rpm |
| Throughput | HME: 0.5–5 kg/h TSG: 1–15 kg/h Actual throughput depends on formulation |
| Torque | 36 Nm total (2 screws, 18 Nm per screw) |
| Main Power Supply | 3 × 400 V / N / PE, 50/60 Hz, 32 A |
| Dimensions (L × W × H) | 1760 × 760 × 1260 mm – extruder only 1760 × 760 × 2100 mm – with display |
| Center Line Height | 1050 mm |
| Weight | 430 kg |
| Protection Rating | IP54 |
A Versatile Platform for Process Development
Whether used for early-stage formulation development, process optimization, or scale-up studies, the Pharma 16 provides the flexibility needed to evaluate processing conditions and generate reliable process data.
By combining adaptable HME and TSG configurations with a broad range of accessories and downstream solutions, the system supports a more efficient development workflow and helps users make data-driven process decisions, optimize production performance, and accelerate the transition from formulation development to market-ready manufacturing.
