Captek increases softgel production capacity by 40%

California-based Captek Softgel International, Inc. (CSI) has increased its softgel production capacity by up to 40% as the company responds to increased demand from the market.

Dave Wood, Captek CEO, told NutraIngredients-USA, that the increase is due to dual factors: An increase in demand for the softgel dosage form as well as an increase in demand for more sophisticated products, such as multi-ingredients formulations and difficult-to-formulate products, that Captek specializes in. 

“Many of our new opportunities are coming from established brands who are finding their current manufacturer does not align with their Quality Promise conveyed to their brand customers. Or their existing provider does not support their comfort level towards product failure or product recall risk. 

“Our emphasis on building out our capacity at a very high level of GMP and regulatory compliance has made Captek a more attractive partner.”

Investment

The increase has been attained by successfully implementing a 24/7 production schedule. After gaining employee approval by majority vote, the production shifts were adjusted to support continuous manufacturing.  

“In addition to the obvious creation of increased labor hours through expanded work shifts, continual manufacturing achieved when converting our operations to a 24/7 production operation allows Captek to complete a job once started without interruption on the encapsulation line,” explained Wood. “Supporting functional areas such as Quality Assurance, Quality Control, and R&D have also been expanded.”

It is also an example of Captek’s new ownership commitment towards heavy investment into its growth and business success, said Wood.

Since acquiring Captek in March 2011, the equity partners are said to have spent over $2 million in capital improvements.

Combinations

Wood added that customers are seeking paste products at a certain quality level.

“With the growing trend toward ‘condition-specific’ formulations and the generalized health benefits of many natural food oils, we are seeing an increased interest in combination formulas that require a mixture of powdered materials with oils.

“Product formulations consisting of ‘multi-actives’ can pose a challenge for softgel manufacturers due to the potential for fill to gelatin shell interactions or not achieving proper suspension of the powdered ingredients within the formula matrix.”

Captek is headquartered in Cerritos, California.