Manufacturing Capability · Softgel

Best Softgel Capsule Manufacturing in India

Oil-based nutraceuticals, vitamins, and pharma formulations in soft gelatin capsules — manufactured in our WHO-GMP certified facility with Halal certified gelatin and HPMC vegan shell options. Private label and contract manufacturing both available.

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Softgel Capsule Manufacturing

Softgels are a genuinely different manufacturing challenge compared to tablets or hard capsules. The shell is filled while still liquid, then sealed shut in the same operation — which means the fill material, the shell formulation, and the encapsulation conditions all have to be calibrated together. Get any one of them wrong and you get leakers, soft shells, or fill migration — all of which fail quality testing and never reach the customer.
Our softgel capsule manufacturing facility in Delhi NCR runs rotary die encapsulation for both gelatin and HPMC (hydroxypropyl methylcellulose) vegan shells. We handle oil-based fills — the bulk of the nutraceutical softgel market — as well as PEG-based fills and suspensions for specific pharmaceutical applications. Halal certified gelatin is available as standard for export and religious dietary requirement compliance.
Whether you’re launching an Omega-3 supplement under your brand, producing a pharmaceutical softgel formulation for distribution, or looking for a private label vitamin E or CoQ10 product — the manufacturing process and quality standard are the same regardless of batch size.

Gelatin vs HPMC — Shell Options Explained

The shell type isn’t just a material choice — it affects shelf life, market eligibility, and how you position your product. Both options are available from our facility. Here’s what actually matters about each one.

Bovine / Fish Gelatin (Halal Certified)

Standard softgel shells are gelatin-based. We use BSE-free, Halal certified gelatin — important for export markets in the Middle East and Southeast Asia, and increasingly for domestic retail that targets Muslim consumers. Fish gelatin is available as an alternative for brands marketing specifically to Kosher or pescatarian segments.

HPMC — Vegan / Vegetarian Shells

HPMC softgel capsules use a plant-derived shell instead of animal gelatin. They're the right choice for brands targeting vegan consumers, for products marketed as plant-based, or for markets where gelatin creates a sales barrier. HPMC shells have slightly different sealing and drying properties compared to gelatin — our process accounts for this specifically.

HPMC softgels have a higher manufacturing cost compared to gelatin, and lead times may be slightly longer for initial batches because the shell formulation and drying parameters need to be calibrated for each fill material. This is worth factoring into your product timeline if you’re going the vegan route.

The Softgel Encapsulation Process

Here’s what actually happens on the production floor for a softgel batch — from raw material preparation through to finished, packaged capsules.

Shell Mass Preparation

Gelatin or HPMC is dissolved and mixed with plasticizers (glycerin, sorbitol) and any required colorants or opacifiers to form the shell mass. Temperature and viscosity are controlled precisely — shell mass that's too thick or too thin creates encapsulation defects downstream.

Fill Material Preparation

The oil, PEG solution, or suspension fill is prepared and tested for viscosity, fill weight target, and homogeneity before it enters the encapsulation machine. For suspensions, particle size and settling behaviour are checked.

Rotary Die Encapsulation

Two ribbons of shell mass are fed onto rotating dies that stamp out capsule halves, fill them simultaneously, and seal them — all in a single continuous operation. Fill weight accuracy is monitored continuously during the run. Leakers are rejected in-line.

Drying — The Step That Takes the Longest

Freshly encapsulated softgels have high moisture content and soft shells. They go through a controlled drying process — tumble dryers first, then tray drying — to reach the correct moisture and hardness targets. Rushing this stage causes shell deformation and reduced shelf life. We don't.

In-Process & Finished Goods QC

Weight variation, shell thickness, seam integrity, leaker testing, disintegration, assay — all tested on representative samples from the batch. Certificate of Analysis issued after QC sign-off. No batch dispatched without it.

Packaging in Your Branded Format

Finished, dried, QC-cleared softgels are counted and packed into your branded bottles, blisters, or bulk containers depending on your distribution format. Dispatched PAN India with batch documentation and COA.

Fill Material Types We Handle

Not every oil or liquid can be encapsulated as a softgel — the fill material has to be compatible with the shell, non-reactive, and capable of being accurately filled at production viscosities. Here’s what we routinely handle:
Responsive Table
Fill Category Examples Notes
Fixed Oils Fish oil, flaxseed oil, evening primrose oil, vitamin E oil Most common nutraceutical softgel fill — well-characterised encapsulation behaviour
Omega-3 Concentrates EPA/DHA concentrates (500mg, 1000mg, 1200mg) Require nitrogen flushing and antioxidant inclusion to prevent oxidation
PEG-based Solutions Pharmaceutical actives dissolved in PEG 400/600 Used for specific pharma applications where oil-solubility is limited
Suspensions Actives suspended in oil or PEG vehicle Particle size control and suspension stability critical — requires specific process parameters
Liquid Vitamins Vitamin D3 in oil, vitamin K2, CoQ10 in MCT oil Concentration and fill weight calibrated for label claim accuracy

Have a Softgel Formulation to Manufacture?

Tell us the fill material, desired softgel size, and your target MOQ — we’ll confirm feasibility, pricing, and lead time within 24 hours.

Why Manufacture Your Softgels With Us

Halal and HPMC vegan options — both genuinely available

Not every facility actually runs both. We do. Halal certification is current and verifiable. HPMC shells require different drying parameters — our production team has the experience to run them correctly, not just theoretically.

Private label and branded packaging in one flow

Encapsulation and branded packaging happen at the same facility. No handoff between manufacturing and packaging contractors. Your finished, branded, QC-cleared softgels dispatch from one location with full traceability.

Nitrogen flushing available for oxidation-sensitive oils

Omega-3s and certain other oil fills degrade quickly on oxygen exposure. We use nitrogen flushing during encapsulation and for headspace in packaging where the formulation requires it — standard practice for quality fish oil manufacturing, often skipped elsewhere.

In-house peroxide value and assay testing

Outsourcing QC testing to third-party labs adds time and reduces batch-to-batch feedback speed. Our in-house laboratory runs the full testing panel — peroxide value, assay, moisture, microbials — so QC clearance happens faster and problems are caught before they compound.

Rotary die encapsulation for consistent fill accuracy

Rotary die machines deliver better fill weight consistency than alternative encapsulation methods. For high-potency fills where dosage precision matters, this isn't a minor detail.

WHO-GMP certified — same standard for every order size

Small first-order clients get the same manufacturing standard as large recurring ones. GMP applies to the process, not the batch size. COA issued per batch, automatically.

Quality Control — What Every Softgel Batch Goes Through

Softgel QC has more parameters than most other dosage forms because the shell and fill interact. Here’s the full testing sequence we run on every batch before dispatch:
Responsive Test Parameter Table
Test Parameter What It Confirms
Fill Weight Variation Dosage accuracy — each capsule delivers what the label claims
Shell Thickness Consistent shell integrity across the batch
Seam & Leaker Test No fill seeping through the seal — a critical visual and pressure test
Disintegration Test Shell dissolves within the required time for bioavailability
Moisture Content Shell hardness and shelf stability — over-dried or under-dried shells both fail
Assay (Potency) Active ingredient content matches label claim within acceptable variation limits
Oxidation / Peroxide Value For oil-based fills — confirms fill material hasn't oxidized during production
Microbial Limits Bioburden within acceptable limits for the product category

Softgel Manufacturing — FAQ

Starting from 3,000 to 5,000 units per SKU depending on softgel size and shell type. HPMC vegan softgels may carry a slightly higher MOQ because of the longer drying cycle and more involved shell preparation. First-time clients — particularly for market testing — are encouraged to discuss their specific situation with us before assuming the standard MOQ applies.
Yes — HPMC (hydroxypropyl methylcellulose) vegan softgels are available from our facility. They have different drying requirements and a slightly higher production cost compared to gelatin softgels, but the encapsulation process is well-established at our facility. If your brand is positioned for vegan consumers or you’re exporting to markets where gelatin creates a restriction, HPMC is the right choice.
Yes. We use BSE-free, Halal certified gelatin as our standard supply. The Halal certification covers the gelatin source and is documented in our raw material records. Fish gelatin is also available as an alternative for Kosher compliance or brands specifically targeting pescatarian markets. Relevant certificate available on request.
Most fixed oils and oil-soluble actives can be — fish oil, vitamin E, vitamin D3, CoQ10, CLA, evening primrose oil, astaxanthin, and similar. Water-based fills, highly volatile actives, and materials with melting points that conflict with encapsulation temperatures are generally not suitable. If you’re unsure whether your specific formulation is feasible as a softgel, tell us the fill material and we’ll give you a direct answer based on what we actually run.
The drying stage is what makes softgels slower than tablets or hard capsules — properly dried softgels take longer to process than most people expect. Total timeline from production start to dispatch: typically 15 to 25 working days for an existing formulation. Custom fills or HPMC shell development adds time for initial parameter setting. Repeat orders on established formulations move faster.

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