Pharmaceutical Coating Equipment Market (2023 - 2030) Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Product Type (Perforated Coating Pan, Standard Coating Pan), By Technology, By Region, And Segment Forecasts

Pharmaceutical Coating Equipment Market Summary

The COVID-19 pandemic is changing the market in the U.S., as businesses in this industry undertook strategic acquisitions and capacity development to satisfy the rising demand for pharmaceutical products. The resurgence of COVID-19 in the U.S. in 2022 coupled with the approval of 32 novel drugs by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is expected to boost demand for drugs thereby aiding market demand. 

Pharmaceutical coating demand increased considerably during the pandemic as pharmaceutical companies and governments around the world worked hard to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore, generics are gaining popularity globally. This is owing to a high number of medications having their patent protection expiring and healthcare policies favoring generics. Given the economic savings, governments around the world are encouraging the use of generic medications thereby creating upswings for market growth.

The pharmaceutical industry segment is driven by a rise in the prevalence of diseases that need tablet-based formulations for treatment, an increase in demand for pharmaceutical tablet coatings, and an increase in the number of drugs marketed as tablet formulations. Manufacturers of pharmaceutical tablet coatings are generating incremental opportunities in the global market.

The high growth rates in demand are attributed to factors such as the rapidly expanding middle class, government incentives for the provision of drugs at lower cost, expansions by private firms, and governments allowing FDI penetration in untapped markets. Leading coating manufacturers adopt dual/multiple sourcing strategies for a stable and continuous supply of raw materials. This, in turn, is expected to propel the demand for the pharmaceutical coating market.

Technology Insights

The film coating equipment dominated the market and accounted for 43.6% of the global revenue share in 2022. Film-coated tablets are in high demand in the pharmaceutical sector due to their reduced processing time and relatively thin coats when compared to other forms of coatings. Pharmaceutical uses of tablet film coatings have increased in recent years, generating value-added potential for producers.

The sugar-coating process involves a number of processes, including sealing, sub-coating, polishing, dyeing, and polishing. Sugar coating is a good method for coating pills since it reduces the possibility of medication blunders. It uses pigments/colors to identify and enhances patient compliance through aesthetic appeal.

Dip coating is applied to the tablet cores by dipping them into the coating liquid. Dip coating lines are also low-waste systems, as any surplus paint simply drops back into the dip tank for use in the next cycle of the application. It is inexpensive to set up and operate, yet it can make films with exceptional regularity.

The organic film coating segment is estimated to register a CAGR of 4.0% over the forecast period. As most polymers are soluble in a wide range of organic solvents, the organic solvent-based coating offers a choice of usable polymer options. In addition, pharmaceutical industries are paying attention to developing formulations with an organic film coating.

Product Type Insights

The standard coating pan equipment segment dominated the market and accounted for 31.3% of the global revenue share in 2022. The standard coating pan, which is also known as the conventional pan system is a common accessory in most pharmaceutical industries as it provides faster coating and an even distribution of the coating solution.

Many pharmaceutical companies choose perforated coating pans. This type of tablet coating equipment often features a fully or partially perforated drum. The drum of this tablet coater, like the standard coating pan, spins on a horizontal axis. The drying of coating material by a perforated coating system is better as compared to other conventional methods.

The fluidized bed coater technology segment is estimated to register a CAGR of 6.1% over the forecast period. Fluidized bed processes are one of the most efficient methods for producing thick-film coatings. They offer 100% transfer efficiency as well as cheaper initial and ongoing maintenance expenses. They may also cover an entire rack of components in a single dip.

The process is highly effective because it uses core particles that are not completely flat and uses small droplet sizes to coat them. This guarantees that the coating solution atomizes and sticks to the particles' surfaces without producing agglomeration. Fluidized bed coating can also generate high-quality, homogenous coatings that are highly resistant to moisture and abrasion.

Regional Insights

North America region dominated the market and accounted for 41.1% in 2022. The development of innovative pharmaceutical products, generics, and biosimilars, coupled with the profitable presence of key competitors with huge production capacities, will drive the market for pharmaceutical coating in North America.

The U.S is expected to register a CAGR of 4.2% in the North American region over the forecast period. The presence of a large base of geriatric population in the country, sophisticated healthcare infrastructure, and relatively higher disposable income levels of patients, are some vital drivers of healthcare settings in the country that are expected to boost the pharmaceutical coating equipment market.

Asia Pacific region is projected to emerge as the fastest-growing market and is estimated to register a CAGR of 6.6% over the forecast period. An increase in the number of companies setting up manufacturing units in the region and favorable government regulations coupled with low labor and manufacturing costs are projected to drive the market. Furthermore, growing healthcare infrastructure, including hospitals and clinics, coupled with an increasing number of people opting for home care facilities, and rising medical tourism in the region.

Central and South America region is expected to register a CAGR of 5.8% over the forecast period. Pharmaceuticals and the healthcare sector will see robust demand owing to the aging population on account of longer life expectancy and lower birth rates coupled with rising instances of chronic diseases and expanding healthcare coverage. Moreover, an increase in collaborations between pharmaceutical companies and outsourcing companies in Latin America for developing COVID-19 treatments is boosting the market growth.

Key Companies & Market Share Insights

The manufacturers adopted several strategies, including acquisitions, mergers, joint ventures, new product developments, and geographical expansions, to enhance market penetration and cater to the changing technological requirements of various coating such as sugar, film, seafood, and Organic Film Coating, dip, and vacuum dip coating. For instance, in October 2021, Colorcon Inc., a global player in pharmaceutical specialty excipients and film coatings, acquired Ideal Cures, which provides tablet and capsule coatings to the pharmaceutical and allied industries.

The shifting focus of pharmaceutical manufacturing to emerging markets along with the increasing outsourcing of operations to other countries present significant opportunities for market growth. Additionally, the rising focus on technological advancements in niche market areas also offers significant growth opportunities for players operating in the pharmaceutical coating market. Some of the prominent players in the global pharmaceutical coating equipment market include:

• Ohara Technologies

• ACG

• Glatt GmbH

• Romaco Group

• Thomas Processing LLC

• GEA Group Aktiengesellschaft

• Syntegon Technology GmbH

• L.B. Bohle Maschinen und Verfahren GmbH

• DIOSNA (LINXIS Group)

• GEBRÜDER LÖDIGE MASCHINENBAU GMBH

Pharmaceutical Coating Equipment Market Report Scope

Global Pharmaceutical Coating Equipment Market Segmentation

This report forecasts revenue growth at global, regional, and country levels and provides an analysis of the latest industry trends in each of the sub-segments from 2018 to 2030. For this study, Grand View Research has segmented the global pharmaceutical coating equipment market based on product type, technology, and region:

• Technology Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)

  • Sugar Coating

  • Film Coating

  • Organic Film Coating

  • Dip Coating

  • Others

• Product Type Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)

  • Standard Coating Pan

  • Perforated Coating Pan

  • Fluidized Bed Coater

• Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)

  • North America

    • U.S.

    • Canada

    • Mexico

  • Europe

    • Germany

    • France

    • U.K.

    • Italy

  • Asia Pacific

    • China

    • Japan

    • India

    • South Korea

  • Central & South America

    • Brazil

    • Argentina

  • Middle East & Africa

    • South Africa

    • Saudi Arabia