Gelatin vs Vegetarian Capsules: Which One to Choose for Capsule Filling?

1. Introduction

Gelatin and vegetarian capsules are the most common materials for capsule filling in the pharmaceutical and supplement industries, each offering unique benefits. Choosing the right type of capsule is vital for ensuring smooth operation with your capsule filling machine. This guide explores their differences, production requirements, and compatibility with capsule filler machines, helping you make an informed decision.

2. Gelatin vs Vegetarian Capsules: Compatibility with Capsule Filling Machines

Both gelatin and vegetarian capsules are widely used in capsule production, but their properties affect how they perform in capsule filling machines. So what is the difference between gelatin capsules and vegetarian capsules? Which one is more compatible with capsule filling equipment? Let’s see some more details of these two empty capsules.

1) What Are Gelatin Capsules?

Gelatin capsules are made from gelatin, a protein derived from animal collagen, usually from cows or pigs, and processed into a gel-like consistency for capsule formation. They are commonly used in capsule filler machines for pharmaceuticals and supplements due to their smooth texture and excellent stability.

Types of Gelatin Capsules:

• Hard Gelatin Capsules (HGC)

Made of two parts (body and cap), these capsules are used for powders, granules, and pellets. Widely used in the applications of vitamins, minerals, herbal supplements, and controlled-release formulations.

• Soft Gelatin Capsules (SGC)

One-piece hermetically sealed capsules made from a single piece of gelatin, softgels are sealed to hold liquids or oils, commonly used in fish oil, CBD oil, essential oils, and liquid medications, requiring specialized capsule encapsulation machines.

2) What Are Vegetarian Capsules?

Vegetarian capsules, crafted from plant-derived substances such as cellulose or HPMC (hydroxypropyl methylcellulose), serve as a widely used alternative to traditional gelatin capsules. With the help of capsule filling equipment, they are commonly used in dietary supplements like vitamins, minerals, and herbal products. Also widely applied for probiotics and some plant-based medications.

3) Key Differences Between Gelatin and Vegetarian Capsules

Here’s a brief comparison to understand these two empty capsules.

4) Gelatin vs Vegetarian Capsules: Capsule Filling Machine Compatibility

Gelatin Capsules in Capsule Filling Machines

• Machine Compatibility: Works with all types of capsule filling machines, including manual capsule fillers, semi-automatic capsule filling machines, and fully automatic capsule fillers.

• Best Machine Choice: Due to their stability and versatility, gelatin capsules are ideal for high-volume production. Whether using a semi-automatic capsule filler or a high speed fully automatic encapsulation machine, they perform efficiently with minimal waste.

Vegetarian Capsules in Capsule Filling Machines

• Machine Compatibility: Best suited for automatic capsule fillers but may require moisture-controlled capsule making equipment due to higher sensitivity to humidity.

• Best Machine Choice: Advanced encapsulation machines with moisture-resistant features are recommended to prevent capsule brittleness during high-speed production.

3. Gelatin vs Vegetarian Capsules: Which one to choose for your capsule production?

When choosing between gelatin and vegetarian capsules, several factors must be considered. Here are the key factors for a reference:

1) Target Audience and Dietary Preferences

Gelatin capsules are unsuitable for vegans, vegetarians, and those with religious dietary restrictions. Vegetarian capsules, came from plant-based materials, suitable for a broader audience seeking animal-free options.

2) Cost and Production Efficiency

Gelatin capsules are more affordable due to simpler manufacturing and widespread availability, making them a cost-effective choice. Vegetarian capsules cost 20-40% more due to their complex production process and plant-based materials, impacting the cost per batch when using high-speed capsule filling machines.

3) Market Share and Growth Trends

Thanks to their affordability and established production processes, gelatin capsules currently dominate the market, holding 73.5% of the global share in 2023 according to the data from Grand View Research. However, as per the report from Acumen Research and Consulting, the vegetarian capsule market is growing rapidly, projected to reach USD 1.01 billion by 2032, driven by increasing demand for vegan and vegetarian supplements.

Photo credit: acumenresearchandconsulting.com

4) Regulatory Compliance

• FDA: Requires clear labeling for animal-derived gelatin in capsules used with pharmaceutical capsule filling machines.

• EMA/EU: Stricter controls for gelatin products, affecting production standards for capsule filling machines.

• Halal/Kosher: Certifications required for religious compliance, crucial for companies using encapsulation machines.

• Vegan/Non-GMO: Certifications important for plant-based markets, influencing the choice of capsules in capsule filler machines.

4. Semi-Automatic vs Fully Automatic Capsule Filling Machine: Which One to Choose?

For the production of capsule products, especially in the pharmaceutical or nutritional supplement industries, it is recommended to use a capsule filling machine for the production. In order to get an understanding of which machine to chose from, let’s take a look for the comparison of two models from Richpacking, a leading capsule filling machine manufacturer from China.

Item	CGN208 (Semi-Automatic)	NJP1500D (Fully Automatic)
Picture
Filling Range	Power, granules, pellets	Power, granules, pellets
Capsule Size	#000 to #5	#000 to #5
Production Capacity	30,000 pcs/hour	90,000 pcs/hour
Machine Size	1130 mm x 700 mm x 1600mm	1,000 mm × 870 mm × 1,950 mm
Automation Level	Requires partially manual control.	Fully automatic, no human intervention needed.
Cost	More affordable, budget-friendly.	More expensive, but more efficient and reliable.
Waste Rejection	No.	Equipped with waste rejection function to filter the unqualified capsules.
Operational Environment	Open production.	Enclosed operation, dust-free, no contamination.
Material Loss/Wastage	Higher material loss due to manual handling.	Equipped with a powder collection function for better material utilization
Suitable Buyer	- Small-scale manufacturers - Startups - Lower production demands and budget constraints	- Large-scale manufacturers - Require high efficiency, precision, and automation - Mass production

Apart from specification differences, one key feature distinguishing semi-automatic filler and fully automatic filling machine is the waste rejection function. Unqualified capsules are ejected before the locking station, significantly improving filling accuracy and output quality.

How to choose between semi-auto capsule filling machine and fully capsule filling machine filler? Your choice should meet your production needs, budget, and sustainable business strategy. Here’s a overall key takeaways:

• Semi-automatic capsule fillers suit startups and small-scale production.

• Fully automatic capsule filling machines are ideal for large-scale manufacturers needing high precision and efficiency.

5. How to Make Capsules with Capsule Filling Machines?

After choosing the capsule fillers for your production, you may wonder how to use the capsule filling machines and what is the steps that you need to prepare. Making capsules with semi-automatic or fully automatic capsule filling machines follows a standardized, efficient workflow. Though automation levels differ, both machine types operate on the same core principles. Here is an overview for the main steps:

1) Material Preparation

Before beginning the capsule-making process, the primary materials (empty capsules and the filling material) need to be prepared:

• Empty capsules: As we discussed earlier, you need to select the right capsules for your production, gelatin capsules or plant-based capsules, whatever suits your business plan and market strategy.

• Filling Material: The material to be encapsulated (eg. powder, granules or pellets). Some materials like powder, may require dry or wet granulation to improve flowability, ensuring precise capsule filling. In such case, a granulation machine is needed for efficient processing.

Photo credit: www.Richpacking020.com

2) Empty Capsule Dispensing

After putting the materials and empty capsules into the hoppers and start the machine, the empty capsules will be evenly dispensed into the capsule trays. With a vacuum pump, the capsule cap and body can be fully separated, making sure that the empty capsules are ready for filling.

Photo credit: www.Richpacking020.com

3) Capsule Filling Process

When using a semi-automatic machine, the operator manually controls the filling process, while with a fully automatic machine, the filling is done automatically for a higher precision and efficiency. The filling accuracy is a key factor to decide the finished capsule quality. Therefore, you need to choose the capsule filling machine that offers precise filling feature such as the one from Richpakcing, reaching more than 99.8% filling accuracy.

4) Capsule Locking

After filling, the capsule caps and bodies are rejoined in the locking station. Using a fully automatic machine, this process is entirely automated, while a semiautomatic capsule filling machine needs the operator to assist with alignment before locking.

5) Capsule Discharge

After filling and sealing process, the capsules are discharged and collected for next step processing. Manufacturers may then polish the capsules to remove excess powder and improve their appearance before packaging and distribution.

Photo credit: www.Richpacking020.com

6. Conclusion

Choosing the right empty capsule between gelatin and vegetarian capsules is essential for capsule filling production, therefore you need to consider some relevant factors we mentioned in this article. As for capsule filling production, semi-automatic machines suit small-scale manufacturers, while fully automatic machines ensure high efficiency for mass production. With the right empty capsules and good capsule filling machine on hand, you will be closer to your perfect pharmaceutical production goals.