Name: Complete Range of Pharmaceutical Packaging Machines
Address: 98, Gajanan Industrial Hub-2, Behind Matrix Plaza, GIDC Vatva, Vinzol, Ahmedabad, 382445, IN
Telephone: 9687731331

Faq's

This is one of the most important distinctions to understand in pharmaceutical packaging — and it trips up a lot of manufacturers when they're building or upgrading their production lines.
A regular vial washing machine (like the LI-VW or LI-VRW) is used before filling — it cleans the inside and outside of empty vials before any product goes in. That's pre-filling cleaning.
An Automatic External Vial Washing Machine (Model LI-EVW) is used after filling and sealing — it cleans only the outer surface of vials that have already been filled with liquid product and sealed with a rubber stopper and aluminium flip-off cap. During the filling process, even the most precise filling machines can leave small traces of product spillage, residue, or particulate deposits on the outer glass surface of the vial. These residues — if left uncleaned — can cause stickiness, particle formation on the glass, label adhesion failure, visual inspection failures, and in regulated environments, regulatory non-compliance.
The LI-EVW solves exactly this problem — it's a post-filling, post-sealing external surface decontamination machine that ensures every vial leaving your production line looks clean, professional, and meets GMP standards for final inspection and dispatch.

The working principle is elegant and continuous. Here's how it flows:
Filled and sealed vials are fed into the machine through an infeed turntable, which lines them up in a controlled, continuous stream. They then move through a precision-designed transport system where water spray nozzles direct jets onto the outer surface of each rotating vial — cleaning the glass body, shoulder, and bottom of the vial while protecting the cap area. The vials rotate during travel, ensuring full 360-degree coverage of the outer surface. Once washed, the vials pass through a drying zone where hot air eliminates residual water from the outer glass surface — so vials exit the machine with a clean, dry exterior, fully ready for visual inspection, labeling, and secondary packaging.
Critically, the machine incorporates a "No Vial – No Washing" smart sensor system — when there is no vial on the conveyor, the water and air supply automatically shuts off, eliminating wastage and reducing utilities consumption during production gaps.

The Lodha Automatic External Vial Washing Machine (LI-EVW series) is designed to handle a broad range of pharmaceutical vial sizes:

2 ml to 100 ml glass vials — covering virtually the entire standard range of injectable pharmaceutical vials used in Indian and international markets
Both tubular glass vials and moulded glass vials formats are accommodated
Round-shaped vials — the machine is specifically optimized for round cross-section vials

Change parts are available to switch between different vial sizes, making it a flexible solution for multi-product manufacturing facilities.

Every pharmaceutical manufacturer who produces injectables, liquid APIs, eye drops, or any sterile liquid product in vials faces this requirement — and it's more critical than many realize.
During the vial filling and sealing process — even with the most advanced filling machines — a small amount of product can coat the outer neck, body, or base of the vial. This happens due to: drip-back from filling nozzles, overfilling and overflow, stopper insertion causing splashback, or aluminium capping operations leaving metal particulate on the vial surface.
Under cGMP guidelines (Schedule M, WHO-GMP, and EU GMP Annex 1), all containers intended for injectable products must be visually clean and free from particulate matter on their outer surface before passing through 100% visual inspection or Automated Inspection Machines (AIM). Dirty vial exteriors directly cause visual inspection failures — either false rejects (costing you product) or false accepts (missing actual defects, costing you patient safety and regulatory standing).
Regulatory inspectors from CDSCO, WHO, USFDA, and EU GMP authorities specifically check whether your post-filling cleaning process is validated and in place. Having the LI-EVW in your line — with documented wash and dry cycles — is a powerful demonstration of process control during audits.

Any pharmaceutical product filled into vials where surface contamination is a risk — which in practice is most injectable manufacturing lines. The most common applications include:

Liquid injectables — antibiotics (ceftriaxone, piperacillin-tazobactam), analgesics, antifungals
Dry powder injectables (DPI) — residual powder settlement on vial surfaces during fill operations
Ophthalmic products in vials — where even microscopic surface residue compromises sterility assurance
Biological products and vaccines — where stringent visual and surface cleanliness standards apply
Oncology / cytotoxic products — where surface contamination is not just a quality issue but a operator safety and cross-contamination hazard requiring mandatory external washing before further handling
High-value API formulations — where even small surface deposits represent product loss that can be recovered and where visual presentation for export markets must be impeccable

For cytotoxic and hazardous drug vials specifically, external washing is not optional — it is a mandatory safety and containment requirement under international regulatory guidelines.

Lodha offers two variants of the External Vial Washing Machine to match different production throughput requirements:

LI-EVW 100 — output of 100 vials per minute (6,000 vials/hour) for 5 ml vial size
LI-EVW 200 — output of 200 vials per minute (12,000 vials/hour) for 5 ml vial size

This speed range makes the LI-EVW suitable for both mid-scale and high-volume pharmaceutical injectable manufacturing lines. The machine is designed to be placed immediately downstream of the vial capping/sealing machine and upstream of the visual inspection station — fitting naturally into the post-filling section of your production line without creating bottlenecks.

Yes — and in fact, having the LI-EVW in your line is one of the best ways to improve the performance and accuracy of your visual inspection station, whether you use manual inspection or an Automated Inspection Machine (AIM). Here's why:
Automated inspection machines use high-resolution cameras and light transmission to detect particles, cracks, fill level deviations, and container defects in vials. When the outer glass surface of a vial carries product residue, water marks, or particulate deposits, the AIM camera registers these as visual anomalies — generating false rejections that reduce your line efficiency and waste good product. After external washing and drying with the LI-EVW, the vial glass surface is optically clean and dry — allowing the inspection camera to see through the glass clearly and make accurate assessments. This directly improves your AIM pass-through rate and reduces false rejects — which is measurable ROI from the machine.

Yes — and this is a question many Ayurvedic manufacturers haven't considered, especially those who are scaling up from small-batch to regulated manufacturing. Ayurvedic injectable preparations — including Ayurvedic formulations classified as parenteral preparations under Schedule T and the Drugs & Cosmetics Act — are subject to the same container cleanliness and visual inspection requirements as conventional pharmaceutical injectables.
Even for non-injectable Ayurvedic liquid formulations in vials — such as concentrated herbal extracts, Ayurvedic eye drops (Kriya Kalpa preparations), or nasal preparations in small vials — regulators expect clean, presentable, properly labelled containers free from surface contamination. If your Ayurvedic products are packaged in glass vials and you're seeking AYUSH export approval or targeting premium domestic markets, having external vial washing as part of your process adds credibility to your manufacturing standards and supports regulatory submissions.

For Ayurvedic eye drops and nasal drops in particular — yes, this is highly critical. Ophthalmic and nasal preparations, even those based on Ayurvedic formulations (like Anu Taila nasal drops or medicated eye drops), are administered directly into sensitive mucous membranes and ocular surfaces. The visual cleanliness standard for ophthalmic vials is extremely high — any surface residue, staining, or particulate visible on the outer vial surface raises immediate quality concerns during inspection and in the hands of the dispensing pharmacist or end consumer.
Moreover, AYUSH GMP guidelines for ophthalmic preparations specifically mandate visual inspection of each container before labeling and dispatch. An externally dirty vial will be rejected at inspection — meaning product loss and production inefficiency. The LI-EVW ensures every vial exits your filling line with a spotlessly clean external surface, ready for accurate visual inspection, proper label adhesion, and professional market presentation.

This is a very common situation for growing Ayurvedic manufacturers transitioning into sterile or semi-sterile liquid vial packaging. The good news is that the Lodha LI-EVW is designed to be installed as a standalone machine — it doesn't require you to restructure your entire production line. You simply place it between your capping machine output and your inspection/labeling station. Vials come off the capper, feed into the LI-EVW infeed turntable, get washed and dried automatically, and emerge clean into your next station.
The machine's compact footprint and straightforward connection to your facility's water and compressed air supply means installation is typically fast and does not require major civil or electrical work — making it accessible even for manufacturing units that are in the growth phase and working within budget constraints.

Absolutely — and it's a machine that forward-thinking cosmetic manufacturers are increasingly adopting as they move into premium and export market products. In the cosmetic industry, vials are widely used for:

Ampoule-format serums — hyaluronic acid, Vitamin C, anti-aging concentrates
Single-use cosmetic ampoules — increasingly popular in luxury skincare
Hair care treatment vials — keratin ampoules, scalp serum vials
Essential oil vials — aromatherapy and spa product lines
Cosmeceutical formulations — products straddling the pharma-cosmetic boundary

For all these products, the vial's exterior appearance is as important as the product inside. A serum ampoule with product residue or smearing on the outer glass surface will be immediately rejected by a quality inspector — or worse, by a distributor or end consumer unboxing a premium product. The LI-EVW ensures every cosmetic vial or ampoule leaving your filling line has a pristine, clear, professionally clean exterior.

Yes — and this is an area where having the right equipment makes a tangible difference to your export readiness. For cosmetic manufacturers exporting to:

European Union — under EU Cosmetics Regulation (EC No 1223/2009) and ISO 22716 Cosmetic GMP, the cleanliness and presentation of finished products is a documented requirement of your manufacturing process
GCC / Gulf markets — ESMA and GSO standards require GMP-compliant manufacturing, and buyer audits from Gulf distributors specifically examine production line hygiene standards
UK market — UK Cosmetics Regulation mirrors EU requirements post-Brexit

Lodha International LLP manufactures its equipment to ISO 9001:2015 standards, and the LI-EVW's cGMP-compliant design, stainless steel construction, and documented process compatibility give your manufacturing line the credibility that international buyer audits and regulatory submissions require.

Yes — the LI-EVW accommodates vial and ampoule sizes from 2 ml to 100 ml, which covers the typical range of cosmetic ampoule formats (1 ml, 2 ml, 5 ml, 10 ml). The transport system within the machine is designed for continuous, controlled movement of glass containers — the rotating travel mechanism ensures gentle but thorough external surface cleaning without mechanical stress on the glass. For delicate cosmetic glass ampoules where breakage and chipping are concerns, the machine's smooth infeed turntable and guiding system minimizes impact and vibration during the washing cycle.

This is one of the most practically useful features of the LI-EVW, and it directly impacts your operating costs. The machine is equipped with smart sensors that detect the presence or absence of a vial on the conveyor at all times. When there is no vial — during a production pause, a line stoppage, or a gap in the feed — the machine automatically cuts off the water spray and air drying supply. The moment vials resume on the conveyor, the water and air automatically reactivate.
Why does this matter? In high-speed pharmaceutical and cosmetic production environments, even brief pauses happen regularly — for batch changeovers, line stoppages, or inspection holds. Without this feature, the machine would continue spraying water and blowing air into empty space — wasting purified water, compressed air, and energy continuously. Over a production shift or month, this adds up to significant utility cost savings and also reduces wear on the spray nozzles and air components. It's a smart, GMP-aligned design feature that demonstrates genuine engineering thoughtfulness.

The Lodha LI-EVW is built to full cGMP material standards:

SS frame structure — the entire machine base and body is fabricated from stainless steel, providing corrosion resistance, cleanability, and a professional GMP-compliant finish
All water-contact components — nozzles, piping, and water-pathway parts are made from SS 316, the pharmaceutical and food-grade material standard for corrosion resistance and non-reactivity with cleaning media
Acrylic cabinet enclosure — provides full visibility of the washing process during operation, allows operators to monitor the wash cycle visually without interrupting the process, and also acts as a safety enclosure that automatically stops water and air supply when opened during operation

The machine is compatible with normal plant water for washing — it does not require hot water, which simplifies utility requirements. For pharmaceutical manufacturers using purified water (PW) systems for the final rinse, this can also be configured — the Lodha technical team can advise on this based on your specific regulatory requirements and water system setup.

Yes — and this is a deliberate safety and GMP design feature. The LI-EVW is equipped with an interlocked safety system on the acrylic cabinet doors: if the cabinet is opened during an active washing cycle, the machine automatically stops the water and air supply immediately. This serves two purposes:
First, it protects the operator from high-pressure water jets and compressed air exposure — which could cause injury or water damage to the surrounding area. Second, it prevents the washing process from continuing in an uncontrolled or unmonitored state — which GMP guidelines require as part of process integrity management. When the cabinet is closed again, the machine resumes normal operation. This auto-stop and auto-resume feature is particularly appreciated during regulatory audits, as it demonstrates a documented safety interlock integrated into the machine design.

Yes — PLC (Programmable Logic Controller) integration is available as an optional configuration on the Lodha LI-EVW. A PLC-equipped version offers:

Touchscreen HMI (Human Machine Interface) for parameter setting, recipe management, and real-time monitoring
Data logging of production parameters — speed, vial count, operational time — which supports 21 CFR Part 11 compliance for manufacturers targeting USFDA-regulated markets
Alarm management for fault detection, sensor triggers, and out-of-parameter conditions
Remote diagnostics capability for service support

For pharmaceutical manufacturers working under USFDA, EU GMP, or WHO-GMP frameworks where electronic batch record requirements apply, the PLC option is strongly recommended. For smaller Ayurvedic or cosmetic manufacturers who are early in their regulatory journey, the standard mechanical control version is fully functional and cost-effective — with the option to upgrade later.

The LI-EVW slots naturally into the post-filling section of a pharmaceutical vial production line, specifically between the aluminium cap sealing machine and the visual inspection station. A complete injectable production line typically flows as:
Empty vials → Pre-filling internal washing (LI-VW / LI-VRW) → Tunnel sterilizer / depyrogenation oven → Filling & stoppering machine → Aluminium cap sealing → External vial washing (LI-EVW) → Visual inspection → Labeling → Secondary packaging
The LI-EVW integrates with infeed and outfeed turntables to connect smoothly with your existing line conveyors. It can also be operated as a standalone machine with manual vial loading from a feed table — making it accessible for manufacturers who are not yet fully automated but want to add this critical quality step to their process.

The choice between the two variants comes down to your production throughput requirement:
LI-EVW 100 — processes 100 vials per minute (approximately 6,000 vials/hour for 5 ml vials). This is ideal for mid-scale pharmaceutical manufacturers, Ayurvedic sterile liquid lines, and cosmetic ampoule producers with single-shift or moderate-volume operations. It has a smaller footprint and is the more cost-accessible entry point.
LI-EVW 200 — processes 200 vials per minute (approximately 12,000 vials/hour for 5 ml vials). This is the right choice for high-speed pharmaceutical injectable lines where your filling and capping machines are operating at high throughput and you need the external washer to keep pace without creating a production bottleneck.
Both models handle 2 ml to 100 ml vials with change parts, and both offer the same quality of wash and dry performance — the difference is purely in throughput capacity. If you're unsure which variant suits your production volumes, the Lodha technical team can map your current line speed and recommend accordingly.

Reaching the Lodha Pharma team is straightforward. Share your vial sizes, production speed requirements, and any regulatory compliance specifications — and their technical sales team will recommend the right LI-EVW variant and configuration for your specific manufacturing setup.
📞 +91 9687731331 | +91 9687631331 | +91 9537131331
📧 info@lodhapharma.com
🌐 www.lodhapharma.com
Lodha International LLP has been manufacturing and installing pharmaceutical packaging equipment since 1995, with over 15,500 machines installed across 50+ countries — making them one of India's most trusted names in pharma packaging machinery, from Ahmedabad to global markets.

Model No.	LI-EVW 200
Direction	Left to Right
Production Rate	Up to 200 vials/ min
Electrical Supply	440 Volts 3 Phase 50/60 Hz (5 wire)
Power Requirement	2 HP
Height of Conveyor	900mm (approx.)
Dimensions	1800mm (L) X 1200mm (W) X 1200mm (H)
Net Weight	550 kgs. (approx.)
Gross Weight	1211 kgs. (approx.)

Automatic External Vial Washing Machine