The “Romaco China Solids Process Centre” was officially opened by Romaco China and Truking on the Truking campus in Changsha on April 16, 2019. More than 500 invited guests from the pharmaceutical, food and chemical industries were in attendance at the opening ceremony. A live broadcast of the event was watched by an audience of around 50,000 on WeChat, the online messaging service. Visitors were subsequently provided with an introduction to Romaco’s processing technology and laboratory work in the framework of a seminar. Dr. h.c. Herbert Hüttlin, founder of Romaco Innojet, spoke about the air flow bed method he developed several years ago, which was a breakthrough innovation in fluidised bed technology. Dr. Carola Hanl, KiTech Laboratory Manager at Romaco Kilian, discussed the varied potential of laboratory work, not only for research but also for testing new processes and systems. The theoretical explanations then made way for the first practical demonstrations in the new premises, given by Romaco experts from Steinen and Cologne. The inauguration of the new laboratory drew great applause.

Ideal processing laboratory conditions

With six laboratories and three conference rooms totalling 840 square metres, the new processing laboratory is the perfect address to engage in research and development work. The extensive services on offer at the “Romaco China Solids Process Centre” are mainly targeted at solids manufacturers in China and throughout Asia. Depending on their needs, they can book laboratory sessions for drying, granulating, tableting or coating solid particles. Three Innojet processing machines plus three tablet presses from Kilian are installed there. At present, compression tests can be carried out on a Kilian K 420 single-sided rotary press, a Kilian K 720 double-sided rotary press or a STYL’ONE Evolution R&D press. The processing equipment initially comprises an Innojet IGL 100 granulation line with an M 100 high-shear mixer and a VENTILUS® V 100 LE as well as a VENTILUS® V 5 laboratory-scale processing machine that can be used for granulating, coating and drying. An innovative IHD 5 hot melt device additionally enables trials with hot melt coatings. The Innojet and Kilian systems are suitable for laboratory, pilot or production scale studies such as performance tests, feasibility studies and scale-up tests as well as for troubleshooting, process optimisation or the development of new formulations.

Extensive processing laboratory expertise

The “Romaco China Solids Process Centre” is Romaco’s first laboratory outside Europe. It is also the manufacturer’s first research institute dedicated to both processing and tableting. Laboratory work is traditionally high on the agenda at Romaco. Each of the four European production sites in Steinen, Cologne, Karlsruhe and Bologna has its own test laboratory with latest-generation equipment and highly specialised staff. The Romaco laboratories offer a broad array of services connected to processing, tableting and packaging technologies.

“Our daily laboratory activities are what drive our innovation process. Our customers’ needs, wishes and problems motivate us to perform at our very best,” emphasised Romaco CEO Jörg Pieper. “The physical and cultural proximity to our customers plays an important role here, and it fills us with pride that Romaco’s first non-European laboratory has now opened in Asia. The laboratory’s location on the Truking company campus is strategically placed for us, and I’d like to say a big thank-you to both Truking and Mr. Yue Tang.”

Close cooperation with Truking

Two years ago in 2017, Truking set up a showroom for Romaco packaging technologies on its premises in Changsha. Amongst other things, this showroom houses a Noack NBP 950 blister machine and a Macofar MicroMaxX 18 aseptic powder filling machine for demonstration purposes. The opening of the “Romaco China Solids Process Centre” is further confirmation of Truking’s willingness to invest in strengthening the presence of its European subsidiary in the Chinese and Asian markets.

“The ‘Romaco China Solids Process Centre’ is yet another landmark in Truking’s collaboration with Romaco,” commented Yue Tang, Truking Group Chairman and founder. “The last two years have proved just what can be achieved when you have your sights set on a common goal. Romaco’s excellent visibility on the Truking campus in Changsha will enhance our global position and send out a clear signal to our customers.” Encouraged by the successful launch of the “Romaco China Solids Process Centre”, Romaco is now planning to open more laboratories offering cross-technology services at its international Sales and Service Centres.