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.
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 Applications We Serve
Water Treatment
- ·Pool and spa chlorine tablets (up to 25mm)
- ·Water purification tablets
- ·Effluent treatment tablets
Agriculture
- ·Fertilizer tablets — slow-release NPK
- ·Soil amendment tablets
- ·Pesticide and herbicide tablets
Industrial and Chemical
- ·Catalyst pellets (5–15mm)
- ·Desiccant tablets
- ·Fuel additive tablets
- ·Dye and pigment tablets
Cleaning Products
- ·Toilet bowl cleaning tablets
- ·Industrial surface cleaning tablets
- ·Effervescent cleaning tablets
Recommended Materials and Coatings
| Material / Coating | Best For |
|---|---|
| HCHC (D3) Steel | Most chemical and industrial applications — fertilizers, catalyst pellets, moderately corrosive formulations |
| EMMKAY Special Steel | Highly corrosive formulations — pool chlorine, bleach-based tablets, acidic formulations |
| S7 Steel | Formulations causing punch tip chipping due to extreme compression forces |
| CrN Coating | Best overall for chemical tooling — corrosion + wear resistance. Default for chlorine and water treatment tablets |
| TiN Coating | Highly abrasive mineral-based formulations — fertilizers, catalyst compounds |
| DLC Coating | Surfactants and hygroscopic ingredients — lowest friction surface |
| Chrome Plating | Less aggressive chemical formulations — cost-effective baseline option |
Why Chemical Tooling Is Different from Pharmaceutical Tooling
Corrosion
Chlorine, bleach, acids, and alkalis attack standard OHNS tool steel aggressively. Chemical tooling needs corrosion-resistant materials and coatings from the start. See our coatings guide for options.
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.
Corrosive residue
Chemical tablet production generates corrosive dust that settles on tooling surfaces between runs, causing pitting and degradation even when the press is idle.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use my existing pharmaceutical tooling for chemical tablets?
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.
My pool chlorine tablets are destroying my tooling quickly. What should I use?
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. Read our guide on tooling lifespan for more context.
What is the maximum tablet size you can produce tooling for?
Our standard tooling accommodates tablets up to 25mm diameter using D tooling (38.10mm die OD). This covers the majority of chemical and industrial tablet applications. Contact us for larger or non-standard requirements.
Enquire About Chemical Tooling
₹1,500 – ₹2,500 per set · Min. 10 sets
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