Gerteis brings roller compaction technology to African anti-viral and malaria battles

Jona, Switzerland: – Dry granulation expert Gerteis will showcase its cost-effective roller compaction solutions at March’s Propak show in Johannesburg as a key element in Africa’s on-going fight against malaria and HIV, as well as other granulation needs such as like oncology, hormonal drugs and mainstream pharma products.

The Gerteis display will be a centerpiece of the exhibit by its South African partner IMAS at Booth F18 in Hall 6 of the Nasrec Exhibition Centre. The display will feature video presentations of its key granulation and dry granulation ranges, including the recently introduced Macro-Pactor with new bespoke design.

The new HMI package and PLC-based redesign also features on the latest model of the Gerteis Polygran, which will also features on the IMAS stand at Propak.

Process expertise

IMAS will also video display the upgraded Gerteis Mini-Pactor with its new HMI Software package, latest PLC system and redesigned interface for better user experience and handling. As part of the IMAS “Meet the Experts” offer, a senior Gerteis process expert will be part of the stand team to provide face-to-face scientific and technical process advice.

“The Propak event is a key platform for us to engage with a growing and increasingly important African market,” said Hartmut vom Bey, Gerteis Vice-President for Sales & Technology.

Roller compaction solution

“We were here in 2013 and are glad to be back at this red letter event for the African pharmaceutical market,” he said.

“Africa is in urgent need of more effective granulation methods as price pressures increase against a background of ever-increasing demands for affordable anti-viral and malaria medicines,” commented vom Bey.

“At the moment high containment roller compaction is not widely used in this area but we aim to show that it forms a key part of the solution. Our state of the art technologies can enable lower cost per tablet, with faster product transfer and more economical production,” he concluded.

About Gerteis

Gerteis Maschinen + Process engineering AG is a Swiss-based company that has rapidly established itself as a world leader in the field of premium roller compactors. The company’s products and services cover all aspects of dry granulation processes, with unparalleled experience in this field built up since the company was founded in 1986.

Gerteis manufactures a wide range of high quality containment roller compactors that are versatile enough to process a vast range of powders, even notoriously problematic ones at both laboratory and production scales. The company’s patented technologies are widely used by the pharmaceutical, chemical and food industries.

Rapidly increasing demand recently forced the company to move from its original site in Jona on the shores of Lake Zurich to larger and purpose designed premises nearby, in a move completed at the end of 2013.

As well as manufacturing machinery, Gerteis offers complete solution packages that help customers increase productivity including support on identifying ideal formulations and in-house training courses on dry granulation processing. Gerteis constantly seeks to expand its knowledge on dry granulation, participating in numerous research collaborations with German universities.

About Propak Africa 2016

Propak Africa is an essential industry trade forum for the South African and African packaging industries that attracts visitors and exhibitors from around the world.

Staged every third year, the event includes four other co-located events: Pro-Plas Africa, FoodPro, Pro-Label Africa and The Gapp Print Expo. ProPak Africa 2016 will be a four day event, opening March 15 at the Nasrec Expo Centre in Johannesburg.

The 2016 shows will feature latest packaging trends such as sustainable packaging, large value packs, smaller concentrated packs, multi-use packaging and new functional forms.

It has attracted more than 100 exhibitors and is expected to exceed the 13,000 visitors who attended the 2013 event.

Propak Africa is organized by Specialized Exhibitions Montgomery in association with the Institute of Packaging South Africa (IPSA), Plastics SA and Printing SA. More information at:

The event is organized by UBM Live. More information at: www.propakafrica.co.za