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Pharmaceutical Tablet Dies and Punches

Precision tooling for drug manufacturing — all shapes, tooling standards, and material grades since 1983

EMMKAY INDUSTRIES manufactures precision pharmaceutical tablet dies and punches for rotary tablet press machines used in pharmaceutical production. Since 1983, we have supplied high-quality tooling with full material traceability to pharmaceutical companies across India and internationally.

Pharmaceutical tablet manufacturing demands the highest standards of precision, material quality, and regulatory compliance. Every tablet die and punch we produce meets strict dimensional tolerances, surface finish requirements, and material traceability standards required by pharmaceutical regulatory bodies.

Pharmaceutical tablet dies and punches manufactured by EMMKAY INDUSTRIES Delhi

Types of Pharmaceutical Tablet Tooling We Manufacture

By Shape

  • ·Round (3mm to 25mm) — most common pharmaceutical shape
  • ·Capsule shape — elongated tablets for easier swallowing
  • ·Oval — smooth elliptical profile for coated tablets
  • ·Custom shapes — brand differentiation and anti-counterfeiting

By Tooling Standard

  • ·D Tooling (38.10mm die OD) — tablets up to 25mm
  • ·B Tooling (30.16mm die OD) — tablets up to 18.5mm
  • ·BB Tooling (24mm die OD) — compact presses
  • ·DB Tooling (30.16mm die OD) — B press, D tablet capacity

By Configuration

  • ·Single-tip punches — standard pharmaceutical production
  • ·Multi-tip punches — up to 80% more output per press cycle
  • ·Keyed punches — for shaped tablets requiring orientation
  • ·Flat-faced and concave profiles — various cup depths

Common Configurations

  • ·Plain round, shallow concave — uncoated tablets
  • ·Deep concave — film-coated tablets
  • ·Beveled edge — reduced chipping during coating
  • ·Score line (break line) — dose splitting
  • ·Embossed — logo, product name, dosage strength

Materials and Coatings for Pharmaceutical Tooling

Material / CoatingBest ForHardness
OHNS SteelStandard pharmaceutical formulations — most analgesics, antibiotics58–62 HRC
HCHC (D3) SteelAbrasive formulations — calcium, iron, mineral excipients62–64 HRC
S7 SteelFormulations causing chipping or breakage in standard tooling54–58 HRC
EMMKAY Special SteelOptimum tool life and quality for demanding formulationsCustom
Chrome PlatingStandard corrosion protection and reduced sticking
DLC CoatingSticky formulations — lowest friction surface available
TiN CoatingAbrasive formulations — extends tooling life 2–3x
CrN CoatingCorrosive formulations — excellent corrosion and wear resistance

Why Choose EMMKAY INDUSTRIES for Pharmaceutical Tooling

40+ Years Experience

Since 1983, EMMKAY INDUSTRIES has been manufacturing tablet dies and punches for India's leading pharmaceutical companies.

Quality Documentation

Material certificates, hardness reports, and dimensional inspection on request. Supports your facility's regulatory compliance requirements.

Rapid Turnaround

Standard pharmaceutical tooling sets delivered in 7–10 working days. Emergency replacements available with expedited manufacturing.

Competitive Pricing

Delhi-based manufacturer with 40+ years of optimized processes. Pharmaceutical-grade tooling at competitive prices vs. imported alternatives.

Tooling for Common Pharmaceutical Formulation Challenges

Different drug formulations place different demands on tablet tooling. India's pharmaceutical industry produces over 60,000 generic drug formulations, each with unique compression characteristics. Here is how we address the most common challenges:

Sticking and Picking

Common in: Ibuprofen, acetaminophen, aspirin, and hygroscopic APIs

DLC-coated punch tips (friction coefficient 0.05-0.1) combined with mirror-polished surfaces (Ra below 0.1 μm). DLC coating reduces sticking by up to 90% compared to uncoated tooling. Learn more →

Abrasive Wear

Common in: Calcium carbonate, iron supplements, mineral-based excipients

HCHC (D3) steel dies and punches (62-64 HRC) with TiN coating. HCHC tooling lasts 3-5x longer than OHNS in abrasive formulations, and TiN coating adds another 2-3x life extension. Learn more →

Capping and Lamination

Common in: High-dose tablets, poorly compressible APIs, low-moisture granulations

Tapered dies with polished bores to reduce ejection stress. Pre-compression on the press combined with optimized punch tip geometry (shallow concave with beveled edge) reduces air entrapment. Learn more →

Corrosion

Common in: Effervescent tablets, acidic APIs, chloride-containing excipients

EMMKAY Special Steel or S7 steel with CrN coating. For effervescent tablets, we recommend stainless steel dies with CrN-coated punches to resist citric and tartaric acid attack. Learn more →

Quality and Compliance

Pharmaceutical tablet manufacturing in India is regulated by CDSCO and must comply with Schedule M of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act. While tooling itself is not directly regulated, the quality of your tooling directly impacts tablet quality attributes that are tested during batch release — weight uniformity, hardness, friability, disintegration, and dissolution.

Material Traceability

We provide material test certificates for every steel grade used. Each batch of tooling can be traced back to the raw material lot — supporting your facility's documentation requirements for WHO GMP, Schedule M, and FDA audits.

Dimensional Inspection

Every tooling set is inspected for critical dimensions: punch length uniformity (±0.005mm), die bore diameter (±0.01mm), tip diameter, cup depth, and head flat thickness. Inspection reports are available on request.

Surface Finish Verification

Punch tip surfaces are polished to Ra 0.05-0.2 μm depending on the application. Surface roughness is verified using calibrated profilometers. Smoother surfaces reduce sticking and produce better-looking tablets.

Hardness Testing

Every punch and die is hardness-tested after heat treatment. OHNS: 58-62 HRC, HCHC: 62-64 HRC, S7: 54-58 HRC. Hardness reports are included with pharmaceutical orders on request.

Frequently Asked Questions

What tooling standard should I use for pharmaceutical tablets?
D tooling (38.10mm die OD) is the most common standard for pharmaceutical tablet presses in India. It accommodates tablets up to 25mm diameter. For medium-sized tablets, B tooling (30.16mm die OD) is also used. Check your tablet press manual for the compatible tooling standard. See our D tooling vs B tooling comparison for a detailed breakdown.
How long do pharmaceutical tablet dies and punches last?
Tooling lifespan depends on the formulation, tablet press speed, and maintenance. Typically, OHNS tooling lasts 3–5 million tablets, while HCHC tooling can last 5–10 million tablets. Abrasive formulations (containing calcium, iron) reduce lifespan. Regular cleaning, lubrication, and proper storage extend tooling life significantly. Read our full guide on how long tablet dies last and our maintenance guide.
What causes tablets to stick to the punches?
Tablet sticking is usually caused by moisture in the formulation, insufficient lubrication (magnesium stearate), rough punch surfaces, or worn tooling. Solutions include DLC or chrome-coated punches, mirror-polished punch tips, and ensuring proper formulation moisture content (typically 1–3%). See our tablet defects guide for a full troubleshooting reference.