GERTEIS® Maschinen + Processengineering AG
Roller Compaction & Dry Granulation Systems
The Market Leader in Pharmaceutical Dry Granulation
Founded in 1986 in Jona, Switzerland, Gerteis Maschinen + Processengineering AG has grown from a one-man enterprise into the global market leader for pharmaceutical roller compaction equipment. Roughly 95% of Gerteis installations serve the pharmaceutical industry, with the balance in food, nutraceuticals, and fine chemicals.
Gerteis builds two complementary product lines: the PACTOR® series, engineered for maximum flexibility with difficult products, and the POLYGRAN® series, which delivers the same core dry-granulation know-how in a simpler, more accessible package. Together, the range covers everything from 10-gram feasibility trials to 400 kg/h commercial production.
MHS Pharma represents Gerteis across the Northeast United States, providing direct access to the full equipment line alongside hands-on application guidance and project support.
Why Gerteis
Floating Gap Control
Gerteis roller compactors use a floating gap design where the distance between rolls adjusts automatically to maintain constant applied force. This keeps ribbon density consistent regardless of powder supply variation.
Inline Density Control (PAT)
Measures ribbon density in real time and automatically adjusts press force to hold the target. All process-critical parameters are measured, calibrated, and validated on-line, supporting PAT and Quality by Design requirements.
Fastest Scale-Up Path
The Mini-Pactor® and Macro-Pactor® share harmonized geometry with identical process parameters. The design space at lab scale transfers directly to production — scale-up factors of 600–2,400× are achievable without re-development.
Containment Matched to Compound Risk
Standard machines achieve <3 µg/m³, the advanced OEL option reaches <1 µg/m³ (OEB 4) without an isolator, and the Ultra-Pactor® delivers <0.1 µg/m³ (OEB 5) via integrated isolator.
Applications
Dry granulation with Gerteis equipment handles a broad range of pharmaceutical solid dose applications:
- High-potency compound processing (HPAPI / OEB 3–5), including oncology
- Batch and continuous manufacturing for tablets, capsules, sachets, and bulk granulates
- Proprietary and generic drug products, blockbuster and orphan drugs
- Immediate-release, sustained-release, and modified-release formulations
- High and low drug-load formulations, API combinations
- Process development, scale-up studies, and tech transfer at CDMOs
Equipment Range
PACTOR® Series
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MINI-PACTOR® Lab-scale premium roller compactor for formulation development, pilot projects, and small-scale production. Processes from as little as 10 g, with direct scale-up correlation to the Macro-Pactor® using identical process settings. Up to 100 kg/h · 1–20 kN/cm · 1–6 mm gap · 1,200 kg · Standard OEL <3 µg/m³ · Containment to OEB 4 (<1 µg/m³) available |
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MACRO-PACTOR® Flagship production-scale roller compactor for development through full-scale manufacturing. Up to 400 kg/h · 1–20 kN/cm · 1–6 mm gap · 1,700 kg · Standard OEL <3 µg/m³ · Containment to OEB 4 (<1 µg/m³) available · C variant: 2,000 kg |
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ULTRA-PACTOR® Ultra-high containment production roller compactor with a purpose-built integrated isolator. Achieves OEB 5 containment at <0.1 µg/m³ while maintaining Macro-Pactor®-class throughput. Includes Rapid Transfer Port, split butterfly valve integration, and fully automated WIP/CIP. Up to 400 kg/h · 1–20 kN/cm · 1–6 mm gap · 2,300 kg · OEB 5 (<0.1 µg/m³) |
POLYGRAN® Series
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MINI-POLYGRAN® Gerteis’ smallest roller compactor, balancing performance with laboratory flexibility. Processes from as little as 10 g with fast maintenance thanks to simplified POLYGRAN® parts assembly. Wheeled subframe allows convenient placement within the lab. Up to 50 kg/h · 1–15 kN/cm · 1–4 mm gap · 500 kg |
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POLYGRAN® Production-scale roller compactor with simplified handling and cleverly engineered parts assembly for effortless maintenance. Same core press-roller alignment and dry-granulation know-how as the PACTOR® line. Up to 300 kg/h · 1–15 kN/cm · 2–5 mm gap · 1,200 kg · 21 CFR Part 11 compliant HMI |
Laboratory Tools
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Small Scale Mill Manually operated laboratory milling tool engineered to replicate the grinding principles of the PACTOR® line at very small scale. University studies confirmed that the Small Scale Mill reproduces production-scale particle size distributions, making it ideal for early-phase R&D when API is scarce or expensive, or when working with compaction simulators. 5–50 g per pass · Interchangeable screens · Benchtop · Pharma-compliant materials |
MHS Pharma — Northeast US Representative
MHS Pharma provides direct technical representation for Gerteis across the Northeast United States. We work with pharmaceutical manufacturers, CDMOs, and development organizations at every stage, from initial feasibility through commercial installation and ongoing support.
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