At Wautoma, tablets are pressed and capsules are filled during processing. The Deitz machine then counts the appropriate amount of tablets and fills them into plastic of glass containers. Atrium relies on a variety of venders and materials for the FDA-approved bottles. Filled bottles are capped with what Sommers refers to as a "J" cap that's supplied with a film/aluminum foil/film inner seal, again supplied by multiple vendors. "The snap-cap includes a tear strip that works in conjunction with the induction sealer to provide proof-positive tamper evidence," he points out.

After caps are applied, operators snap the closure onto the bottle, which then passes under an induction coil which emits a magnetic feild. The foil and plastic of the liner is heated, with the bottom layer of film bonding with to the lip of the bottle, forming a hermetic seal. Induction sealing does not loosen the cap, Sommers says, sono retorquing is neccessary.

Besides the Atrium product line for professionals, the firm also produces a Nutipak line for health food stores, and a Club-Nutri line for direct mail sales. For nearly all its products, induction sealing is a vital part of the packaging proccess.

"We induction seal about 75 percent of all our products," says Sommers. "Only our smaller bottles that contain less than 100 cc are not induction sealed and that's because the bottles that accomodate the J-cap are not yet available. We don't fill those bottles at Wautoma. At Atrium, we've used Pillar machines for about four years and they've done quite a job for us." As further proof the company president tell PW, "We'll soon have another Piller Sealer at Wautoma."