Lorem IMA for Pharmaceutical
Solid Dose Bottles Line
Whether the solid dose form is a tablet or a capsule, there is a single-source solution form IMA for accurate bottling and packaging requirements
Complete solutions for pharmaceutical, nutraceuticals and vitamins
Unrivalled variety of counting equipment that constitutes a complete offering on the market.
Complete, efficient and highly versatile, modular packaging lines can incorporate a selection of unscramblers, desiccant inserters, bottle blowers, cottoners, cappers, tablet elevators and electronic and slat tablet counting machines. Thanks to the combined expertise of IMA Safe, IMA Life and IMA BFB, these make up the range of counting solutions to satisfy all customer needs. Counting technologies for electronic counting machines include the Optical Sensor, a highly reliable and accurate, infrared emitter and receiver able to scan at a very high rate (16 scans per millisecond). A detected product that falls between minimum and maximum Dark Time is considered a good product and counted. Sensors can detect and count two tablets falling closely together but not completely overlapped. The dust-resistant Electrostatic Field Sensor (E.F.S.) is suitable for dusty products, able to discriminate between referenced good product and broken tablets, empty or half empty capsules. The mass of the tablet is given by a reference curve. The system works for both capsules and tablets. Counting machines can also be equipped with a Camera Vision System to detect cross-contamination (products with different colours).
IMA is the only company offering complete lines of counting machines:
unscramblers, desiccant inserters, bottle blowers, cottoners, cappers, tablet elevators and of course electronic and slat tablet counting machines, the heart of our production.
Counting Technologies for electronic counting machines
Optical sensor
Very reliable and accurate, infrared emitter and receiver is able to scan at very high rate (16 scans per millisecond). A detected product that falls between minimum and maximum Dark Time is considered a good product and counted. Sensors can detect and count two tablets falling closely together but not completely overlapped.
E.F.S. (Electrostatic field sensor)
Suitable for dusty products, E.F.S. is a unique sensor control able to discriminate between referenced good product and broken tablets, empty or half empty capsules. The mass of the tablet is given by a reference curve. E.F.S. is a dust resistant sensor. The system is suitable to handle both capsules and tablets and it is dust immune.
| The table below indicates the detection capabilities of the optical and E.F.S. sensors for different tablet/capsule damage and scenarios. If they are not detected then they will be counted as a good product, if they are detected then the machine will reject the bottle containing that product. | ||||||||
| Half tablet or capsule | Capped tablet | Tablet chip | Double tablet | Double tablet | Part of tablet | Empty capsule | Half empty capsule | |
 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | |
| OPTICAL SENSOR | NO | NO | NO | YES (count as double) | NO | NO | NO | NO |
| E.F.S. (ELECTROSTATIC FIELD SENSOR) | YES | YES | YES | YES (Count as double) | YES (Count as double) | NO | YES | YES |
| Tests with active product are needed in order to confirm definitive results. | ||||||||
Additional equipment: Camera Vision System
Counting machines can be equipped with Camera Vision System to detect cross contamination (products with different colours).
Counting Technologies for slat Counting Machines
Trucount scanning System
The revolutionary TruCount® high-speed tablet scanning system scans, evaluates and counts the product before it enters the bottle and ensures 100% count accuracy. Rather than using a vision system, TruCount® provides a fully integrated count verification system that is reliable, easy to set up and eliminates the need for operators. A large array of photo diodes and detectors scan the product nearly 2000 times per second after the tablet leaves the slat. Tablets are fully contained within the manifold to ensure that counted tablets enter the bottle.
Only one supplier
for your highly efficient counting lines
IMA can provide complete and efficient packaging lines characterized by a high versatility, modularity according to every type of request. Together with IMA SAFE, IMA LIFE and IMA BFB we can provide a comprehensive counting and packaging solution that covers primary packaging, secondary packaging, and end-of-line solutions.
IMA containment technology
Solutions designed 100% in-house respond to all requests for the containment of solid pharmaceutical shapes in blister packaging. The reliability of our feeding systems minimises the need for operator intervention within the containment cabin, whose accessibility and smooth surfaces simplify cleaning procedures.
Branch, Factory, Sales, Service
IMA Active
IMA’s experience gained in the field of solid dose processing and manufacturing, combined with the constant commitment to innovation, makes IMA Active division a leading supplier able to find the most suitable solution to your requirements.
Branch, Factory, Sales, Service
IMA Life
IMA Life division, leader in the field of aseptic processing and freeze drying solutions, can be considered a true partner to the pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical industries, offering a wide range of technologically advanced machines.
7 New Lancaster Road, Leominster, Massachusetts, 01453, USA
Factory, Sales, Service • Part of IMA Safe
IMA North America Inc. – NOVA Division
Based in Leominster (USA) and 100% indirectly owned through Packaging Systems Holding Inc., designs and manufactures tablet and capsule counting equipment and bottle filling machines.
200 Airport Rd, 60123, Illinois, USA
Factory, Sales, Service • Part of IMA Active
IMA North America Inc. – Thomas Division
Thomas Processing, part of IMA Group, designs and manufactures advanced tablet coating systems, offering batch, continuous, and R&D solutions with cutting-edge technology.
Via Romagnoli 2, 40100 Bentivoglio (Bo) Italy
Factory, Sales, Service • Part of IMA End of Line
IMA S.p.A. – BFB Division
IMA BFB designs and manufactures end-of-line packaging machines, including bundling, overwrapping, case packing, palletizing, and product handling systems. Serving sectors from personal care to pharmaceuticals and food, its solutions combine compact design, easy access, and attention to detail, with the flexibility to handle any shape, size, or product consistency.
Branch, Factory, Sales, Service
IMA Safe
IMA Safe designs and manufactures complete lines for primary and secondary packaging for the pharmaceutical, nutraceutical and cosmetic industries. In particular, IMA Safe supplies a complete range of blister packaging machines and deep draw thermoformers, counters for capsules and tablets, tube and jar fillers, sachet and stick form fill and seal machines, horizontal and vertical cartoning machines, liquid and cream processing and filling machines as well as suppository and unit dose form, fill and seal machines.
3 Arden Road, Arden Forest Industrial Estate, Alcester, Warwickshire, B49 6HN, England
Branch, Sales, Service
IMA UK
IMA UK (legal name IMA Swiftpack Ltd), among the first IMA branches outside Italy, started with tea bag equipment and expanded into pharma packaging. After acquiring Swiftpack in 2004, it moved to Alcester in 2006, strengthening its strategic role.