Extrusion is a very common manufacturing operation across multiple industries. It’s a shaping process where an object is created (or extruded’) across a fixed cross-sectional profile. A good example of this is tubing or piping manufacturing. An unshaped material (blank) is pushed through a die, creating the final product (extrudate). A more, close to home example would be a garlic press or when you form noodles.
The ultimate goal of extrusion is to form a specific shape of a product. The extrudate can then be cut into desired lengths. This process can occur at different temperatures, leading to three types of extrusion: Hot, Warm, and Cold.
For the purposes of pharmaceuticals, specifically Drug Product manufacturing, we will focus on Hot Extrusion.