PA Cuthbert - Pacco

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PA Cuthbert - Pacco

PA Cuthbert supplies packaging & processing equipment, excipients, & colour dispersions for the pharmaceutical & nutraceutical industries.

We partner with top-tier global suppliers to deliver high-quality solutions. Trusted across South Africa. What began in 1946 as the first agency business in South Africa soon expanded into a specialized supplier of packaging and processing equipment to the industry, sourced from the UK, Europe, USA and Taiwan. Today we are fabricating stainless steel into world class processing equipment under the PACCO brand. Each piece of equipment is customized to suit the customers' needs. We provide documentation with our locally manufactured equipment including F.A.T, IQ, OQ and if required, PQ documentation. We are the specialist in film coating systems in Africa. We specialize in local manufacturing of film coating pans and have R&D facilities for coating trials using the UK based Colorcon coating systems.

13/04/2026

In many manufacturing processes, coating serves a function far beyond appearance.

Coatings can influence product stability, protect sensitive ingredients, control release rates, or improve handling during packaging and transport.

The performance of a coating depends on multiple variables, including airflow behaviour, material viscosity, spray rate, and substrate properties.

Testing coating performance on production-style equipment allows manufacturers to evaluate how these variables interact before scaling up.

Effective coating is a balance of formulation and engineering.

10/04/2026

Industrial processing knowledge is built through decades of practical experience.

PACCO brings together more than a century of combined industry knowledge across equipment design, powder handling, process development, and production engineering.

This experience supports manufacturers who need more than equipment, they need guidance in understanding how processes behave at scale.

From testing formulations to advising on processing methods, accumulated experience often provides solutions that data alone cannot.

Engineering knowledge grows over time, and experience remains one of the most valuable resources in manufacturing.

08/04/2026

Before scaling production, understanding how a product behaves in real processing equipment can prevent costly mistakes.

PACCO provides a dedicated testing facility where formulations can be evaluated using industrial equipment under controlled conditions. This allows manufacturers to observe how materials behave during mixing, drying, milling, or coating before committing to full-scale production.

Testing helps identify flow challenges, coating performance, particle size changes, and process limitations early in development.

Instead of discovering problems during production, they can be solved during testing.
The goal isn’t experimentation, it’s informed decision-making.

Understanding the process before production begins protects both time and resources.

06/04/2026

Behind every machine is the people who build it.

Calvin Richards has been part of PACCO for almost 22 years, working closely in the manufacturing and design of our equipment. Over that time, he’s seen every stage of the process - from raw stainless steel to fully built machines.

What stands out most to him is how everything is made under one roof. From sourcing materials to final assembly, each machine is built to GMP standards, with quality considered at every step.

It’s that level of control and craftsmanship that allows PACCO machines to perform reliably for years - in some cases, outlasting the people who built them.

02/04/2026

Powders rarely behave the same way twice.

Particle size distribution, moisture content, electrostatic charge, and bulk density all influence how powders mix, compress, coat, or flow through equipment.

Small variations in material properties can result in significant differences in processing behaviour.

Understanding powder dynamics is essential when developing products across industries including pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals, food processing, and personal care manufacturing.

Reliable production begins with understanding the material itself.

30/03/2026

Surface finishing inside processing equipment influences more than appearance.

Rough welds, sharp internal angles, or difficult-to-access corners can trap residue, complicate cleaning, and increase cross-contamination risk.

Smooth internal finishes and considered vessel design support efficient sanitation and predictable material flow.

In pharmaceutical and nutraceutical environments, hygiene begins with engineering decisions, not cleaning schedules.

24/03/2026

Operating at maximum capacity can appear efficient, but it often reduces process stability.

Equipment running consistently near its upper limit may experience increased wear, tighter tolerances, and reduced room for variation in raw materials.

Stable operations often prioritise controlled output over theoretical maximum speed, protecting both product consistency and equipment lifespan.

The strongest processes are not those that run hardest, but those that run predictably.

19/03/2026

In data centres, contamination isn’t limited to visible dust.

Microscopic conductive particles, including zinc whiskers, can compromise sensitive electronic components and affect long-term reliability. These risks are often underestimated until system instability appears.

Contamination control solutions such as Dycem CleanZone access tiles help reduce particle transfer at entry points, supporting controlled environments in high-value digital infrastructure.

Protection begins at the floor level, long before particles reach equipment.

16/03/2026

Static electricity is rarely visible, but in powder processing it can significantly influence material behaviour.

Fine particles may cling to surfaces, disrupt flow, or create transfer inefficiencies that complicate otherwise stable processes.

Material properties, environmental conditions, and equipment design all influence static accumulation.

Understanding how powders behave electrically (not just physically) allows manufacturers to prevent avoidable transfer and blending issues.

In processing, even invisible forces matter.

13/03/2026

In multi-product facilities, changeovers often consume more time than expected.

Switching formulations requires more than cleaning surfaces. It involves tooling replacement, press recalibration, and process verification. When equipment design complicates access or adjustment, downtime increases.

Engineering that considers accessibility, clear component design, and simplified tooling integration reduces transition time between batches.

Production efficiency is not only measured by output per hour, but by how quickly operations can move from one product to the next.

12/03/2026

When discussing drying systems, temperature often receives the most attention. Airflow, however, is just as influential.

Uneven airflow can create hot spots, inconsistent moisture reduction, and variable material behaviour downstream. Even when final moisture readings meet specification, internal distribution may not be uniform.

Controlled air movement ensures that thermal treatment is consistent across the entire batch, supporting predictable flow, blending, and compression in later stages.

Effective drying is a balance of heat and movement.

11/03/2026

Misalignment between punches and dies does more than affect tablet appearance.

It increases wear, introduces unnecessary mechanical stress, and can reduce the lifespan of both tooling and press components.

Even slight deviations can result in uneven compression force distribution, affecting tablet integrity and consistency across long production runs.

Routine inspection and correct tooling specification play a critical role in maintaining stable compression conditions.

In tablet manufacturing, mechanical precision protects both output and equipment longevity.

Address

8 Witton Road

1645

Telephone

+27114525806

Website

http://www.pacuthbert.co.za/

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