SYMETIX Receives Purchase Order from Nutra Manufacturing for Optyx® SG Automated Inspection System for Softgel Capsules
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February 20, 2006 - SYMETIX, the Pharmaceutical Business Unit of Key Technology, announces that it has received a purchase order from Nutra Manufacturing Inc., the manufacturing arm of GNC. Nutra has purchased Optyx® SG, the new optical inspection system for softgels, and other SYMETIX automation that supports the transition towards integrated/automated processing. Optyx SG, which was first introduced to the market in 2005, automatically inspects each softgel capsule at high production rates and identifies and removes defective softgels and foreign capsules from the product stream. Nutra's Optyx SG will be the first installed system in production.
"As an innovative industry leader, Nutra is constantly working to raise the bar in terms of product quality and production line efficiencies. Based on extensive trials, we're confident that Optyx SG will deliver," noted Michael Locke, Senior Vice President of Operations for Nutra. "Our decision to purchase Optyx SG is part of our company-wide initiative to eliminate batch manufacturing processes in favor of integrated/automated processes. The food industry has proven the value of integrated/automated processing, and now we're leading the softgel industry toward this paradigm shift."
While SYMETIX' vision for integrated/automated softgel processing is still in development, the benefits of Optyx SG - enhanced product quality, improved production efficiency and reduced labor costs - can be achieved immediately. If needed, manufacturers can batch-feed the bulk-to-bulk Optyx SG today and later integrate the continuous inspection system with other continuous softgel finishing line processes to achieve 100 percent, in-line inspection at full production speeds.
With unmatched precision, Optyx SG verifies product color, size, and shape to assure every softgel capsule conforms to product specifications. With ultra-high resolution 0.17 mm square pixels, Optyx SG reliably detects and removes foreign capsules as well as the smallest color and shape defects, including air bubbles, stained capsules and misshapen product. To assure final product quality, Optyx SG is located immediately prior to packaging.
Unlike manual inspection, Optyx SG is objective and consistent, which improves final product quality and consistency. Automating inspection with Optyx SG increases product yield by minimizing the removal of acceptable product, which is common with manual inspection. Optyx SG reduces the risk of contamination by minimizing human contact with product. Based on labor savings alone, Optyx SG offers payback as rapid as one year - improvements in production efficiency further speed payback.
Optyx SG uses Key's proprietary color cameras to view product. Two cameras are located above the product stream for on-belt viewing and two cameras are located below the product stream for in-air viewing as product is launched off the end of the Optyx belt. Using proprietary image processing technology optimized for softgel inspection, the system quickly analyses the images, comparing each object to previously defined accept/reject standards. When defective product or foreign capsules are identified, the system activates the close-coupled high-speed ejector system, which is made up of a series of air jets spaced 6 mm apart that span the width of the system. While the defective object is still air-borne, the air jets pinpoint the object to remove it from the acceptable product stream. The Optyx SG can inspect up to 1,000,000 softgel capsules per hour.
Designed to GAMP 4 guidelines, Optyx SG benefits from Key Technology's 10-year history of supplying FDA-validated inspection systems to the pharmaceutical industry and 50-year history of supplying innovative technology to the food industry. SYMETIX offers complete engineering services and validation packages.
About SYMETIX
SYMETIX, launched in September 2005, is the Pharmaceutical Business Unit of Key Technology, the leading manufacturer of best-in-class process automation systems with over 50 years of experience in the food, tobacco, and pharmaceutical industries. SYMETIX offers worldwide sales representation and maintains demonstration and testing facilities at Key's headquarters and manufacturing divisions in Walla Walla, Washington, USA; in Beusichem, the Netherlands; and in Sydney, Australia. Key's common stock trades on the Nasdaq National Market tier of The NASDAQ Stock MarketSM under the symbol: KTEC.
Reader Inquiries:
Brenda Murphy
SYMETIX
150 Avery Street
Walla Walla, WA 99362 USA
Tel: 800.941.3701 or 509.522.3524
Fax: 509.522.3361
Email: bmurphy@symetix.com
URL: www.symetix.com
