Why IMA Active capsule-filling technologies work best
for probiotics.

Why IMA Active capsule-filling technologies work best for probiotics.

A clear answer from Dietary Pros., a custom manufacturer of probiotics and dietary supplements.

Introduction

Acquired in 2023 by Lallemand Health Solutions, Dietary Pros Inc. spent 12 years since its founding in providing custom formulations of probiotics and a wide range of supplements, improving production performance thanks to the close relationship established with IMA Active as a key technology partner.

We asked Dennis Draeger, founder and former CEO of Dietary Pros, if he could share his experience as a probiotics manufacturer and how collaboration with IMA helped achieve the ambitious goals he set himself between 2011 and 2023.

What is the story behind the establishment of Dietary Pros? Can you share a bit about the company’s history, mission, and core values?

I’ve been in the dietary supplement industry since 1999, and in 2011 I decided to go it alone, setting up my own company. The goal was to take a different route to other

manufacturers and become the best probiotic manufacturer that there was. Our creed was to be “inspired by innovation, with a passion for excellence” and we accomplished important goals with the support of IMA and their highly successful capsule-filling technologies.

What led Dietary Pros to work with IMA and why did you select IMA as your preferred partner for capsule filling solutions?

Instinctively I could see that IMA capsule fillers were ideal for probiotics. First we ran several tests on ZANASI machines and the results led me to one conclusion: with these machines I would achieve my goals. ZANASI went far beyond my expectations, so when the market began to demand larger production volumes, we upgraded to PRACTICA. In the long term, we replaced all our capsule fillers with IMA equipment. This decision was made not simply because of better technology or better quality, but also because we received the best customer service support you could hope for.

Considering the production of probiotics, what are the top three critical requirements you find essential when it comes to capsule fillers?

Firstly, gentle handling of the probiotic when it is dosed and introduced into the capsule. Secondly, the machine must not generate heat. Heat attracts moisture and that is bad for the product and its stability. Tamping pin technology generates too much heat, so the alternative capsule-filing technology conceived by IMA was significantly better. Finally, user-friendliness: adjusting the weight of the product must be simple to achieve, without changing the dosing plates. Again we can do this easily with IMA capsule fillers.

Your second PRACTICA machine underlined your satisfaction. Which specific features prompted this additional investment?

We were convinced of PRACTICA for many reasons: precise dosing, consistency in the weights obtained which is fundamental for dietary supplements, and ease of use, a feature of all the IMA machines I know of. PRACTICA is also easy to assemble and disassemble.

How does IMA’s dosing technology contribute to the overall quality and efficiency of probiotic production at Dietary Pros?

Maybe the most important factor for probiotics is to keep the product alive after it enters the capsule. Tamping pin machines rarely manage to achieve this because they negatively affect the product physically and thermally. On the other hand, the dosing technology used on IMA capsule fillers creates a soft slug that keeps probiotics alive due to soft handling and minimal thermal impact.

Last question: following years with IMA as your partner, how would you describe the relationship?

From the first machine we purchased to all the technical and commercial after-sales support we required, the experience with IMA has been nothing short of amazing. I felt nurtured with constant follow-up support, rapid response times and personal interest by everyone I had contact with at IMA. I highly recommend them to everyone in the industry.