Soft Capsule Gelatin
Gelatin Designed for Reliable Softgel Capsule Production
Xushang Gelatin Co., Ltd. manufactures and supplies gelatin developed for pharmaceutical, nutraceutical and dietary-supplement soft capsule production.
Our soft capsule gelatin is selected and controlled for gel strength, viscosity, film formation, elasticity, ribbon strength, sealing performance, transparency and processing stability.
A typical supply grade is 180 Bloom gelatin with a viscosity target of approximately 4.5 mPa·s and a particle size of 8–15 mesh. Final specifications are confirmed according to the agreed test method, production requirements and Certificate of Analysis.
With a 37,000 m² manufacturing facility, annual production capacity exceeding 20,000 metric tons and exports to more than 30 countries and regions, Xushang Gelatin provides stable bulk supply, batch inspection and technical support for international capsule manufacturers.
What Is Soft Capsule Gelatin?
Soft capsule gelatin is a specially selected gelatin grade used to prepare the flexible shell of soft gelatin capsules, commonly known as softgels.
During production, gelatin is combined with purified water, a plasticizer such as glycerin or sorbitol, and other permitted formulation ingredients. The prepared gelatin mass is converted into two continuous ribbons, filled with the required material, sealed and formed into individual capsules.
The gelatin must provide a balanced combination of strength, flexibility, sealing ability and drying performance. Gelatin that is too weak may cause ribbon breakage or capsule deformation, while unsuitable viscosity or drying behavior may affect encapsulation speed, sealing quality and finished-capsule stability.
Main Applications
Our soft capsule gelatin can be evaluated for use in:
Pharmaceutical Soft Capsules
For the encapsulation of oil-based, suspension-based or other technically compatible pharmaceutical fill formulations.
Nutraceutical Softgels
Suitable for vitamins, minerals, botanical extracts, fatty acids and other dietary-supplement formulations, subject to compatibility testing.
Fish Oil and Omega-3 Capsules
Used to form flexible capsule shells for fish oil and other lipid-based nutritional products.
Vitamin Soft Capsules
Suitable for single-vitamin and multivitamin softgel products, depending on the fill composition and shell formulation.
Herbal and Botanical Softgels
Can be evaluated for compatible botanical oils, extracts and suspension formulations.
Contract Manufacturing
Suitable for capsule manufacturers and private-label producers requiring consistent gelatin supply for repeated production batches.
Key Performance Characteristics
Reliable Film Formation
The gelatin forms continuous and uniform ribbons under properly controlled gel-mass preparation and encapsulation conditions.
Balanced Gel Strength
Appropriate gel strength helps the gelatin ribbon withstand stretching, filling, sealing, transfer and initial drying.
Controlled Viscosity
Consistent viscosity supports stable gel-mass preparation, ribbon formation and encapsulation-machine operation.
Good Elasticity and Flexibility
The capsule shell must remain sufficiently flexible during forming and sealing without becoming excessively soft or brittle.
Strong Sealing Performance
Suitable gelatin properties contribute to stable seam formation and reduce the risk of weak seals, leakage or capsule separation.
Controlled Drying Behavior
Balanced moisture migration and drying performance help capsules retain their shape while reaching the required final shell condition.
Suitable Transparency and Appearance
Controlled raw materials, filtration and processing help produce gelatin suitable for clear, translucent or colored soft capsule shells.
Batch-to-Batch Consistency
Stable gel strength, viscosity and particle size help capsule manufacturers maintain consistent processing parameters between production batches.
Typical Supply Specification
The following table describes a typical soft capsule gelatin grade. It is intended as a product-selection reference rather than a final contractual specification.
Inspection Items | Inspection Standard | Value | ||
Smell | 1.Color: Light yellow to yellow 2.State: Solid 3.Odor: Without any unpleasant odor | Yellow solid, without any unpleasant odor | ||
Identification Test | 1.Prepare 120 ml of a 6.67% gelatin solution. After cooling it to 30 °C, cover it. Then, cool it in a low-temperature bath at 10 ± 1 °C for 16 to 18 hours. The sample should turn into a gel-like state, and it can be turned back into a solution after heating. | It is in a gel state, and it can be reformed into a solution after heating. | ||
2.Add a few drops of potassium chromate test solution - dilute hydrochloric acid (4:1), and an orange - yellow flocculent precipitate will be produced.
| There is an orange - yellow flocculent precipitate produced. | |||
3.Add a few drops of tannic acid test solution, and turbidity will occur immediately.
| There is turbidity occurring. | |||
Viscosity（6.67%,60℃） mpa.s | Customer Requirements | 3.98 | ||
Gel strength（6.67%）/(Bloom g) | ≥50 | 184 | ||
Transparency/mm | Customer Requirements | 500 | ||
Transmittance |
Wavelength/nm
| 450 | ≥30 | 82.6 |
620 | ≥50 | 97.8 | ||
Ash，w/% | ≤2.0 | 0.1 | ||
SO2/(mg/kg) | ≤30 | 20 | ||
Peroxide/(mg/kg) | ≤10 | No color development | ||
Water，w/% | ≤14.0 | 11.1 | ||
Cr/(mg/kg) | ≤2.0 | 0.5 | ||
Pb/(mg/kg) | ≤1.5 | 〈1.5 | ||
Total number of colonies/(CFU/g) | ≤10000 | 〈10 | ||
Coliform group/ (MPN/g) | ≤3 | 〈3 | ||
Salmonella | Shall not be detected | No detected | ||
As/(mg/kg) | ≤1.0 | 〈1.0 | ||
Water - insoluble matter，w/% | ≤0.2 | 0.06 | ||
Conclusion | This product has been tested for the above items in accordance with GB 6783-2013 and the customer's requirements, and the results meet the specified standards. | |||
Gelatin Selection for Softgel Production
Selecting soft capsule gelatin should not be based on Bloom strength alone. The following factors should be considered together:
Gel Strength
Gel strength affects ribbon strength, capsule structure and resistance to deformation.
Viscosity
Viscosity affects gel-mass handling, ribbon thickness, machine performance and processing stability.
Plasticizer System
The type and amount of glycerin, sorbitol or other permitted plasticizers affect shell flexibility, hardness and drying behavior.
Fill Material
Oil-based fills, suspensions, hygroscopic ingredients, volatile components and acidic or alkaline substances may interact differently with the gelatin shell.
Capsule Size and Shape
Large, elongated or complex capsule shapes may require different shell strength and processing parameters.
Production Environment
Temperature and relative humidity influence gel-mass handling, encapsulation, tumble drying and tray drying.
Required Disintegration Performance
The shell formulation and finished moisture content must be aligned with the required disintegration and product-stability targets.
Documentation
Depending on the agreed product standard and destination market, the following documents may be available:
Certificate of Analysis
Technical Data Sheet
Safety Data Sheet
Product specification
Animal-origin statement
BSE/TSE statement
GMO statement
Allergen statement
Manufacturing-process statement
Packing list and commercial invoice
Certificate of Origin
Veterinary or health documentation, when applicable and available
Third-party inspection report, when separately agreed
Document availability must be confirmed before order placement.
Packaging and Storage
Packaging
Standard packaging is normally 25 kg net per bag with a moisture-resistant inner liner and a suitable outer bag.
Pallets, shipping marks and customized export packaging can be discussed according to the order.
Storage
Store the product in a cool, dry and well-ventilated warehouse.
Keep bags tightly closed and protect the gelatin from:
Moisture
Excessive heat
Direct sunlight
Strong odors
Pests
Chemical contamination
Do not place bags directly on the floor or against warehouse walls.
Request a Sample or Quotation
Looking for gelatin for pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, fish oil, vitamin or botanical soft capsules?
Send us your current specification, target Bloom strength, viscosity requirement, particle size and estimated purchase quantity.
Our team will review the requirements and provide a suitable product specification, quotation, Certificate of Analysis or sample for evaluation.
