NEXTEN unveils DOMINA and SOLIDA: a new era of tableting innovation by IMA Active

Villa Erba, Lake Como • October 27–28, 2025

IMA Active showcased the future of pharmaceutical tableting with the world première of its latest tablet presses, DOMINA and SOLIDA, during NEXTEN, a two-day event dedicated to innovation in solid dosage production.

Hosted at the scenic Villa Erba on the shores of Lake Como, the event brought together pharmaceutical leaders and professionals from around the globe to witness IMA Active’s most advanced tableting technologies to date.

The gathering opened with remarks from Alberto Vacchi, Chairman and CEO of IMA, who reaffirmed the company’s commitment to innovation and sustainability:

“We were delighted to welcome our pharmaceutical customers from all over the world in such a magnificent setting. For IMA, the pharmaceutical sector continues to be a powerful accelerator driving innovation, digitalization, and sustainability. Energy efficiency, waste reduction, new materials, and emission control remain central to our mission. Today, being sustainable is not just a moral obligation but a shared necessity.”

Massimo Marchesini, Chief Global Business & Operations Officer and IMA Board Member, emphasized the strategic importance of the new machines:

“Our new tableting machines marked an important step in the technological transformation underway at IMA Pharma. Through our IMA Active After Sales unit, we were already preparing advanced digital services and supply solutions for all our tableting machines, ensuring unmatched precision and efficiency.”

A  première in two acts: technology and experience

NEXTEN Day 1 opened with a memorable night: a light and nature-inspired show revealed DOMINA and SOLIDA in a perfect harmony of metal and nature, innovation and beauty — setting the stage for a new era in tableting.
An exclusive Gala Dinner followed, where guests gathered for a refined lake-view experience surrounded by the architectural charm of Villa Erba. It was a celebration not only of aesthetics, but of vision, a symbolic close to a day that marked a bold step forward in pharmaceutical manufacturing.

Andrea Semprini Cesari, Vice President of IMA Active, captured the spirit of the event:

“At NEXTEN, we are reimagining the pharmaceutical landscape. This is more than just an event: it is a celebration of tableting innovation. The two-day event is dedicated to the world première of the new IMA Active tablet press range. A unique opportunity to preview the new machines, learn about the main innovations during the technical sessions and network with the leading players in the pharmaceutical market.”

NEXTEN Day 2 shifted the spotlight to knowledge, strategy, and innovation. From the evolution of IMA Active’s tableting technologies to process understanding, Pharma 4.0 automation, and Continuous Manufacturing, the future was on stage.
Discussions explored how mechanical innovation meets formulation expertise, how usability and data integrity drive sustainable automation, and how modular, integrated lines are reshaping pharmaceutical production.

DOMINA and SOLIDA: a new generation of tablet presses

The top innovations showcased were DOMINA and SOLIDA, two completely new tablet press concepts designed to redefine pharmaceutical production.

DOMINA introduced a modular technological platform featuring easily removable and interchangeable functional blocks, allowing a plug-and-play shift among different machine configurations. SOLIDA, meanwhile, offered a flexible solution with built-in potential for future upgrades and performance enhancements.

Both machines were designed with Pharma 4.0 principles in mind, enabling integration with advanced production environments capable of learning and optimizing operations in real time.

A key innovation was the Dynamicam, a patented filling cam covering the entire filling range. Combined with motorized independent paddles, this feature enabled highly precise, product-centered fine-tuning.

Luca Cavazzini, Sales & Marketing Director at IMA Active, commented:

“We are delighted to present to our customers from all over the world DOMINA and SOLIDA, a brand-new concept of tablet presses, ready to change the meaning of production in the pharmaceutical industry. We have invested a lot in these new IMA Active tablet presses, which have been designed with an eye to Pharma 4.0. They are easily adaptable to state-of-the-art production environments, able to learn and suggest improvements.”

Smart design for a better user experience

IMA Active also placed strong emphasis on user experience. Once the external doors were opened, the processing area was fully accessible, while the machine basement required access only for maintenance. A rotating arm allowed for turret changeovers in just minutes.

DOMINA featured servo-assisted operations to minimize manual intervention, while SOLIDA offered intuitive, HMI-guided procedures—significantly reducing the risk of operator error.

Built upon the proven PREXIMA platform, the new presses featured a robust cast-iron structure capable of withstanding pre-compression and main compression forces up to 100 kN. The upper and lower structures were rigidly connected to ensure reliability even at high production speeds.