Melbourn Scientific has invested in Malvern's Morphologi G3, an automated image analysis system for particle characterisation and foreign particulate contamination.
Derek Soloman, laboratory manager at Melbourn Scientific, explained that particle morphology can impact the performance of the final product.
He said: 'Subtle differences in particle size or shape can have significant effects on product performance including bioavailability, flowability, product stability, blending, and tabletting efficiency.
'Even within well-controlled API production, additional processing steps such as crystallisation, drying, milling, blending and filtering can all introduce variability into the product and have to be precisely controlled.
'Therefore, characterisation of particle morphology is becoming increasingly important as companies seek detailed knowledge of particle behaviour during processing.
'Morphologi G3 offers extra sensitivity and resolution than is available in traditional techniques and offers our clients the potential to identify, measure and monitor those process variables that are critical to product quality.
'We anticipate this new equipment will provide greater consistency in the descriptions and allow clients to better correlate morphology data against processing parameters such as flowability, active area or grinding efficiency,' he added.
