DOMINA the tablet press, a main attraction at interpack 2026

The platform is based on a modular architecture that defines the most suitable configuration according to the powders, the type of tablet and the production objectives, resulting in a machine with high operational flexibility, process precision and wide application adaptability.

by N. S.

Flexibility and productivity with the new generation of tablet presses

Designed to be flexible. It speeds up and simplifies adjustments, making the control of production parameters more effective; the machine integrates innovative technical solutions oriented to the needs of the tablet manufacturer. The automation system, more advanced than traditional standards, helps to increase productivity by supporting operational continuity and eliminating the risk of errors.

Modularity is the requirement of the nutraceutical and pharmaceutical market

DOMINA is designed as a modular tablet press with functional units that are easily removable, replaceable and interchangeable, allowing rapid transition from one configuration to another without complex interventions and with limited downtime. Developed to offer high flexibility in the configuration and control of the production process, it can be configured according to the product, adapting to different powder formulations, including those that are more difficult to compress, and to different tablet requirements. This is also supported by the third compression roller, designed to increase process stability and support the quality of the final product.

From an operational point of view, the new tablet press by IMA Active can be equipped with Preforma, a special compaction cam designed to improve powder deaeration and reduce the risk of delamination and capping, two typical defects of more complex formulations. The rapid changeover from single-layer tablet production to bilayer tablet production further expands the machine’s flexibility and broadens its range of applications, including powders intended for direct compression.

Compared with traditional tablet presses, DOMINA offers a more advanced level of automation and modularity to assist the operator during adjustments, increase productivity and reduce errors. The user interface makes settings simple and recurring operations quick, allowing rapid adaptation to the new production needs of the market. In fact, being able to manage multiple process configurations with a single solution translates into advantages in terms of production variability and operational continuity.

Simplicity and production intelligence: DOMINA supports the operator

DOMINA is a tablet press designed for the pharmaceutical and nutraceutical industries. Two models are available: DOMINA 300 and DOMINA 500, each with its key technical features and performance that you find at the end of the article. (Video: IMA)

Designed to operate at high speed, DOMINA integrates in-line monitoring systems that allow product uniformity to be kept constant and waste to be reduced even under the most demanding production conditions. Intelligent automation, a distinctive element of IMA Active solutions, strengthens process repeatability, limits operator-related errors and supports production continuity. These are three determining factors for the nutraceutical and pharmaceutical industry.

“DOMINA supports the operator at every moment,” says Andrea Semprini, Vice President of IMA Active. “The interfaces guide the operator step by step, making even recipe setting and the control of the most important parameters simple. There are also adaptive systems, which automatically regulate the operating conditions to keep the quality of the finished product stable. Among the new features of these new machines,” he continues, “I would like to highlight Dynamicam. This patented IMA Active filling cam allows production to be customized through automatic adjustments directly from the HMI, without the need for manual or mechanical interventions. This reduces format changeover and set-up times and increases plant safety. DOMINA is designed for the Pharma 4.0 industry: a technology that supports people and is also able to learn. Design and Made in Italy can be recognized in the attention to detail and in reliability. They are innovative machines, designed to ensure high performance, production continuity and a return on investment that the pharmaceutical market has always appreciated.”

KORTEX MAX is the platform that optimizes processes by integrating supervision and HMI.

The principles of Pharma 4.0 for the production environments of the nutraceutical and pharmaceutical industry are the basis of the development of DOMINA. Its advanced diagnostics allow it to adapt to operating conditions, interpret process behaviour, learn from its own operation and provide indications to improve performance, support the operator and contribute to process optimization.

The upper and lower pre-compression and compression axes are automated and adjustable through the HMI (Human-Machine Interface), making process control simple and ensuring stable and repeatable working conditions from batch to batch. Punch clamping and load cells are also part of a real-time adaptive diagnostics logic, to strengthen process stability and increase its repeatability.

Dynamicam, the patented filling cam, covers the entire filling range and, together with the independent motorization of the independent paddles, allows fine adjustment focused on the product. The result is accurate set-up, effective also in the processing of sensitive powders, complex formulations or materials that are difficult to compress.

DOMINA’s advanced intelligence contributes to product quality and waste reduction. Optimized start-up, shutdown and adjustment procedures shorten the production start-up phase and improve the overall efficiency of the plant.

Within this framework comes the SCADA-HMI KORTEX MAX platform, developed by IMA Active, which integrates supervision and human-machine interface in a single environment and strengthens the automation system with rapid response times, predictable behaviour and ease of use.

From the outset, DOMINA was developed to meet the requirements of the most rigorous digital pharmaceutical production. In fact, it protects data integrity with cybersecurity functions, it is ready for the Internet of Things and for advanced analysis of process data; moreover, it is designed for Continuous Manufacturing. It can communicate with the most advanced factory systems of nutraceutical and pharmaceutical plants.

Advanced technologies for process control and quality with DOMINA:

• Data integrity;
• Cybersecurity;
• Integration with the Internet of Things (IoT) and with the principles of Pharma 4.0;
• Advanced analysis of process data;
• Process Analytical Technology (PAT) controls;
• Setup for Continuous Manufacturing.

The operational functionalities of DOMINA to improve the production process

Thanks to its reduced footprint, DOMINA can be easily installed in production environments, combining ease of use, accessibility and performance. In this way, it improves day-to-day operations and supports the overall efficiency of the process.

What are its strengths?

• Rapid turret change and cleaning: the integrated rotating arm and the servo-assisted operations, guided through the HMI, allow rapid, simple and repeatable interventions, with a significant reduction in downtime;
• Fully accessible process area: opening the external doors makes the process area fully accessible; the surfaces in contact with the product, reduced to a minimum, simplify cleaning, while the base frame, accessible only for maintenance, helps to limit machine downtime;
• Compactness and efficiency: the reduced footprint facilitates line integration; anti-vibration solutions and sound-absorbing materials improve stability and operating comfort; brushless motorization limits energy consumption;
• Robust structure and high performance: the architecture derived from PREXIMA, with upper and lower cast-iron frames rigidly connected, ensures pre-compression and main compression up to 100 kN; rollers of the same diameter, with double supports, ensure uniform force distribution even at high speeds;
• Productivity and quality: IMA 8 tooling and segment technology make it possible to support high output levels, particularly in the production of tablets up to 11 millimetres; the automatic lubrication system with recirculation supports operational continuity and reliability;
• In-line control: integrated single-tablet rejection and sampling functions, both in single-layer and bilayer configuration, to constantly monitor quality and rapidly identify any process deviations.

With these solutions, it is possible to keep the production process under control moment by moment, ensuring the quality continuity of the finished product.

From the solidity of the base frame to in-line monitoring to ensure product quality

Based on the proven PREXIMA concept, DOMINA is equipped with a particularly robust base frame that allows it to develop pre-compression, and main compression forces up to 100 kN.

The upper and lower structures, made of cast iron, are rigidly connected to each other in a configuration that ensures high reliability even at high production speeds. The compression rollers, all of the same diameter and fixed on both sides, help to maintain constant performance even with the most demanding products. These features are complemented by single-tablet rejection and sampling functions, available both in the single-layer and in the bilayer configuration. In-line control plays a decisive role in keeping the process stable and in ensuring the quality continuity of the finished product.

On the productivity side, the use of IMA 8 tooling and segment technology allows high output levels to be supported, particularly in the production of tablets up to 11 millimeters in diameter.

The automated lubrication system, designed to precisely dose the oil and recirculate the excess, promotes stable and controlled operation. The silicone bellows, dedicated to isolation, help prevent the formation of black spots on the tablets. To complete the picture, the single and cumulative rejection and sampling functions, available for single-layer and bilayer configurations, strengthen in-line control and make it possible to oversee product quality at every stage of the process. In this way, they maintain operational simplicity and reliability, meeting the needs of the nutraceutical and pharmaceutical industry.

DOMINA puts the principles of Pharma 4.0 into practice, integrating advanced automation, adaptive diagnostics and in-line control to make the process stable, repeatable and easy to manage even in the most complex productions. Intelligent systems and automatic on-board machine adjustments reduce set-up times and waste, contributing to the quality of the finished product.

DOMINA at interpack 2026

To closely assess the characteristics of DOMINA and speak with the technicians, interpack 2026 in Düsseldorf is the ideal opportunity to learn about its performance and verify how the machine responds in concrete terms to the production needs of the nutraceutical and pharmaceutical industry.

IMA Group, interpack 2026, hall 17

More info about:

IMA

Nutraceuticals