Chemical and Industrial Tablet Dies and Punches | EMMKAY INDUSTRIES
Tablet compression is not limited to pharmaceuticals. Chemical and industrial manufacturers use rotary tablet presses to produce water treatment tablets, fertilizer pellets, catalyst tablets, desiccant tablets, and other compressed products. These applications demand tooling that can withstand corrosive ingredients, abrasive compounds, and high compression forces that would destroy standard pharmaceutical-grade tooling within days.
EMMKAY INDUSTRIES manufactures heavy-duty tablet dies and punches for chemical and industrial tablet production. Since 1983, we have supplied tooling to manufacturers across India who work with aggressive chemical formulations — and we understand that the material and coating choices for chemical tooling are fundamentally different from pharmaceutical work.
Chemical and Industrial Application We Serve
Water Treatment:
Pool and spa chlorine tablets (up to 25mm diameter) — highly corrosive formulations requiring chemically resistant tooling
Water purification tablets — for municipal, portable, and emergency water treatment
Effluent treatment tablets — industrial wastewater applications
Agriculture & Horticulture:
Fertilizer tablets — slow-release NPK and micronutrient formulations
Soil amendment tablets — pH correction and conditioning compounds
Pesticide and herbicide tablets — controlled-release agrochemical formulations
Industrial & Chemical:
Catalyst pellets — for chemical processing and petroleum refining (typically 5-15mm diameter)
Desiccant tablets — moisture absorption for packaging, storage, and electronics
Fuel additive tablets — engine treatment and fuel system cleaning
Dye and pigment tablets — for textile, printing, and industrial use
Cleaning Products (small-format only):
Toilet bowl cleaning tablets — compressed bleach and surfactant compounds (up to 25mm)
Industrial surface cleaning tablets — concentrated cleaning agents
Effervescent cleaning tablets — dissolving cleaning solutions
Note: Standard rotary tablet press tooling accommodates tablets up to 25mm diameter (D tooling). For larger compressed products like full-size dishwasher or laundry detergent tablets, specialized presses and tooling beyond standard rotary configurations are required — contact us to discuss your specific requirements.
Materials and Quality Standards
Recommended Tool Steels:
HCHC (High Carbon High Chromium / D3 Steel): Our primary recommendation for most chemical and industrial applications. Superior wear resistance against abrasive compounds. Hardness 62-64 HRC. Handles high compression forces significantly better than OHNS. Recommended for fertilizer tablets, catalyst pellets, and moderately corrosive formulations.
EMMKAY Special Steel: Our proprietary alloy for highly corrosive chemical formulations. Provides optimum resistance to chlorine, acids, and alkalis. Recommended for pool chlorine tablets, bleach-based cleaning tablets, and acidic formulations where standard steels degrade rapidly.
S7 Shock-Resistant Steel: For formulations that cause punch tip chipping or cracking due to extreme compression forces or impact-prone granules. Less common in chemical applications but useful for very dense, hard-to-compress formulations.
Recommended Coatings:
CrN (Chromium Nitride): Best overall coating for chemical tooling. Combines excellent corrosion resistance with high wear resistance. Our default recommendation for chlorine tablets, water treatment tablets, and any formulation with corrosive ingredients.
TiN (Titanium Nitride): Enhanced wear resistance for highly abrasive mineral-based formulations like fertilizers and catalyst compounds. Good hardness but less corrosion protection than CrN.
DLC (Diamond-Like Carbon): Premium anti-stick coating for formulations containing surfactants or hygroscopic ingredients. Lowest friction surface available. Recommended when tablet sticking is the primary problem.
Chrome plating: Standard corrosion protection suitable for less aggressive chemical formulations. Cost-effective baseline option.
Why Choose EMMKAY INDUSTRIES for Chemical Tooling
- Material expertise: We understand that chemical formulations destroy standard tooling. We recommend the right steel grade and coating combination for your specific formulation — not a one-size-fits-all approach.
- 40+ years experience: Since 1983, EMMKAY INDUSTRIES has manufactured tooling for chemical and industrial applications alongside our pharmaceutical and nutraceutical work. We know the difference in requirements.
- Quality documentation: Material certificates, hardness reports, and dimensional inspection reports are available on request.
- Quick delivery: Standard chemical tooling delivered in 7-15 working days. Emergency replacements available for production-critical situations.
- Competitive pricing: As a Delhi-based manufacturer with optimized processes, we offer heavy-duty chemical tooling at competitive prices compared to imported alternatives.
Frequently Asked Questions - Chemical Tablet Dies and Punches
Q: Can I use my existing pharmaceutical tooling for chemical tablets?
A: Not recommended. Chemical formulations — especially chlorine, bleach, and high-alkaline compounds — are far more corrosive and abrasive than pharmaceutical ingredients. Standard OHNS tooling will degrade rapidly, often within days or weeks. We recommend HCHC or EMMKAY Special Steel with CrN or DLC coating for chemical applications.
Q: My pool chlorine tablets are destroying my tooling quickly. What should I use?
A: Chlorine is highly corrosive to standard tool steel. We recommend EMMKAY Special Steel with CrN (Chromium Nitride) coating — this combination provides the best corrosion resistance available for chlorine tablet production and significantly extends tooling life compared to standard OHNS or even HCHC.
Q: What is the maximum tablet size you can produce tooling for?
A: Our standard tooling accommodates tablets up to 25mm diameter using D tooling (38.1mm die OD). This covers the majority of chemical and industrial tablet applications. If your product requires a larger diameter, contact us to discuss your press specifications and requirements.
Q: Do you supply tooling for effervescent chemical tablets?
A: Yes. Effervescent formulations are moisture-sensitive and require tooling with excellent corrosion resistance. We recommend EMMKAY Special Steel with CrN coating for effervescent chemical tablets, providing both corrosion protection and extended tooling life.
Q: What is the minimum order quantity for chemical tooling?
A: Minimum order quantity is 10 sets (10 upper punches + 10 lower punches + 10 dies).
Tooling Standards and Sizes for Chemical Application
We manufacture chemical and industrial tooling across all standard tooling configurations:
D Tooling (38.1mm die OD): Accommodates tablets up to 25mm diameter. The most common standard for chemical tablets including chlorine tablets, fertilizer tablets, and larger industrial products.
B Tooling (30.16mm die OD): Accommodates tablets up to 18.5mm diameter. Used for medium-sized chemical tablets and catalyst pellets.
BB Tooling (24mm die OD): Accommodates tablets up to 18.5mm diameter. Compact configuration for smaller chemical tablets produced at high volumes.
Shapes and configurations:
Round flat-faced — the most common shape for chemical and industrial tablets
Round concave — for tablets requiring coating or smoother edges
Cylindrical — for catalyst pellets and desiccant tablets
Embossed — brand logos or product identification on consumer-facing products
Multi-tip — for smaller chemical tablets (under 10mm) produced at high volumes
Why Chemical Tooling Is Different from Pharmaceutical Tooling
If you are currently using standard pharmaceutical-grade tooling for chemical formulations, you are likely experiencing rapid tooling failure. Here is why:
Corrosion: Chlorine, bleach, acids, and alkalis attack standard OHNS tool steel aggressively. Pharmaceutical formulations are comparatively mild. Chemical tooling needs corrosion-resistant materials and coatings from the start.
Abrasion: Mineral-based fertilizers, calcium compounds, and cleaning agents contain hard particles that wear down punch tips and die bores much faster than pharmaceutical excipients.
Higher compression forces: Dense chemical formulations often require significantly more compression force than pharmaceutical tablets, accelerating wear on punch tips and die bore surfaces.
Sticking: Surfactants, hygroscopic ingredients, and moisture-sensitive compounds cause tablets to adhere to punch faces, leading to rough surfaces and production stoppages.
Corrosive dust and residue: Chemical tablet production generates corrosive dust that settles on tooling surfaces between runs, causing pitting and degradation even when the press is idle.
The solution is selecting the right combination of tool steel and coating for your specific chemical formulation — not simply using the same OHNS tooling you would use for paracetamol.
