Upperton, a leading contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) based in Nottingham, UK, has increased its high precision filling capability with the installation and commission of the Fill2Weight gravimetric powder filling machine from 3P innovation.

The system has been installed at Upperton’s state-of-the-art 60,000-square-foot GMP facility in Nottingham, UK. The site supports formulation development and clinical manufacturing across a broad range of dosage forms, including oral solids, nasal, pulmonary and parenteral.

The Fill2Weight system enables high precision and efficiency in capsule or device filling through its gravimetric dosing mechanism. This ensures consistent weight verification for each capsule, making it ideal for low-dose and high-potency active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), as well as challenging powder formulations.

The technology also supports working with limited-quantity APIs and offers versatility for a wide range of powder types and fill weights, for oral (capsules), nasal and pulmonary including dry-powder inhalers.

Accelerating development timelines

With the addition of the 3P innovation’s Fill2Weight system, Upperton enhances its expertise as a leading CDMO for the development and clinical trial manufacture of solid oral dose and dry powder medicines for small to medium pharmaceutical companies and innovators. The enabling technology ensures clients benefit from faster routes to market and reduced development risks​.

Ian Lafferty, Chief Technical Officer at Upperton, commented:

“This addition marks a significant advancement in our GMP manufacturing capabilities, increasing our capacity to manufacture small-molecule and high potency medicines for clinical trials”.

3P innovation, Tom French, Head of Process Technologies, commented, “We are delighted that Upperton has selected Fill2Weight as a key technology to support its business growth. A Flagship technology for 3P innovation, Fill2Weight enables precise dosing of challenging powders into diverse delivery devices, meeting the industry’s need for small dose weights and tight tolerances.”

Upperton Pharma Solutions specialises in formulation development, clinical trial manufacturing, and manufacturing across various dosage forms, including oral solids, liquids, semi-solids, inhalation and sterile products.

Notes to editors:

About Upperton Pharma Solutions

Upperton Pharma Solutions has over 25 years’ experience of delivering science-led, high quality, innovative early drug development solutions to pharmaceutical and biotechnology clients worldwide. 

Based in Nottingham, UK, Upperton has formulation and analytical development laboratories, alongside a fully equipped GMP manufacturing and Quality Control testing capability and is licensed by the MHRA to manufacture materials for clinical trial supplies. In addition to supporting conventional oral solid dosage form development, Upperton has a strong history in spray drying which is applied to address both the challenges with poorly soluble molecules and as a particle engineering technology for targeted deposition for pulmonary and nasal drug products.

The company employs around 100 highly skilled personnel and has its headquarters in Nottingham, UK. 

About 3P innovation

3P innovation delivers robust, precision-engineered automation solutions for pharmaceutical and industrial manufacturers facing complex production challenges. The company’s advanced process control systems help scale efficiently, ensure consistency, and maintain compliance throughout development and manufacturing.

With premium engineering quality and exceptional adaptability, 3P innovation specialises in intricate applications where standard equipment falls short. Pairing the technical capabilities of larger competitors with superior responsiveness and attention, the company mitigates development risk through proof-of-principle validation and rapid issue resolution. This approach empowers clients to innovate with confidence, accelerate time-to-market, and achieve manufacturing excellence even in the most stringent environments.

For further information, images, and interview opportunities, please contact:
Rob Halliwell, Associate Director of Marketing, Upperton Pharma Solutions
rob.halliwell@upperton.com
upperton.com