APC-B8 Automatic Tablet Counting Machine
Eight-channel counter for benchtop and small-batch production
The APC-B8 counts tablets, capsules and softgels into bottles at 10 to 30 bottles per minute, across eight channels. It’s the smallest counter we build. If you’re moving off hand-counting or running R&D and clinical batches, this is where the range starts.
1. ≥99.9% counting accuracy — Infrared sensor array with an algorithm that separates product from dust and overlapping units.
2. Dust compensation — Self-cleaning sensor windows hold accuracy on uncoated herbal tablets and other high-dust products.
3. Gentle feeding — Three-stage electromagnetic vibration separates delicate softgels and coated tablets without chipping them.
4. No bottle, no count — The gate stays closed until a bottle is in position, so product doesn’t spill between bottles.
Direct from our factory · Lead time | approx.1-3months· Installation and operator training | included · Spare parts stocked
Is the APC-B8 the right size for you?
✓ This is a fit if…
- You're counting tablets, hard capsules or softgels into bottles
- You need up to 30 bottles per minute
- Your product is less than Φ22 mm, or capsules from 000# to 5#
- You're running R&D, clinical batches or small commercial runs
- You're moving off hand-counting and want repeatable counts
- You run several products and change over often
✕ Look elsewhere if…
- You need more than 30 bottles per minute → the APC-12 runs 20–40, the APC-16 runs 20–80
- Your product is very dusty or heavily coated → the APC-16C has a fully enclosed track and a reject station, which holds accuracy through a full shift
- You're counting gummies → send us a sample first. Gummies deform and stick, and that's a test-before-you-buy product
- Your product is outside Φ3–25 mm → tell us the dimensions and we'll say whether it runs
- You only fill a few bottles a day → hand-counting is probably still cheaper. We also make a semi-automatic benchtop counter where you place the bottles yourself, which costs a fraction of this. Ask us which fits your volume
Technical specification
| Parameter | Value | What this means for you |
|---|---|---|
| Number of channels | 8 | Sets your speed — more channels, more bottles per minute |
| Counting speed | 10 – 30 bottles/min (based on 60 tablets per bottle) | Your actual rate depends on count per bottle |
| Tablet size range | Φ3 – 25 mm | Your product has to fall inside this |
| Capsule size range | 000#, 00#, 0#, 1#, 2#, 3#, 4#, 5# | All standard capsule sizes |
| Counting accuracy | ≥ 99.9% | Verified on your product at factory acceptance testing |
| Control system | PLC with 7-inch colour touchscreen | Stores settings for over 100 products |
| Product-contact materials | 316L stainless steel; frame 304 | Material certificates available on request |
| Power supply | 220V / 50Hz / 0.6 kW | Runs on a standard single-phase supply |
| Dimensions | 1050x700x700 | Fits on a standard lab bench — 1.05 m wide, 150 kg |
| Weight | 150 | |
| Changeover time | 30 minutes | Under 45 minutes |
| Fill range | 2 – 9999 pieces, adjustable |
Eight models. Which one is yours?
Model | Channels | Speed | Best for… |
|
APC-B8 | 8 | 20–50 btl/min | R&D, clinical batches, small commercial runs | You are here |
APC-8 | 8 | 20–50 btl/min | Continuous production at the same speed | View → |
APC-12 | 12 | 30–70 btl/min | Growing manufacturers with frequent changeovers | View → |
APC-16 | 16 | 40–100 btl/min | Standard commercial bottling lines | View → |
APC-16C | 16 | 40–100 btl/min | High-dust products — enclosed track and reject station | View → |
APC-24 | 24 | 60–150 btl/min | Large-batch continuous production | View → |
APC-32 | 32 | 80–240 btl/min | Multi-product facilities where changeover cleaning matters | View → |
APC-48 | 48 | 120–360 btl/min | Ultra-high-speed lines | View → |
All eight count the same way — infrared sensing, three-stage vibration, ≥99.9% accuracy. What changes is throughput and, on the enclosed models, how well accuracy holds on dusty products.
Three-stage vibration
Three vibration plates thin the product flow progressively instead of forcing it apart in one step. Sticky softgels and irregular tablets arrive at the sensors in a single layer — which is what stops two overlapping units being counted as one.
Dust compensation
Dust on the sensor window is what makes accuracy drift through a shift. The sensors compensate for airborne particles rather than reading them as product, so you clean less often on uncoated herbal tablets and other high-friction products.
Recipe storage
The 7-inch touchscreen stores settings for over 100 products — vibration frequency, bottle height, counting speed. Switching from a 60-count multivitamin to a 120-count softgel is loading a saved recipe, not re-finding settings by trial. If you run a lot of SKUs, this is where your output actually comes from.
No bottle, no count
The gate stays closed until a bottle is in position under it. If a bottle is missing, or a jam is detected downstream, the machine holds rather than dropping product onto the conveyor. You clean up less, and the count doesn’t break on the bottles either side of the gap.
What people count on these machines
Channel count sets your speed. What you’re counting sets everything else — how the product separates, how much dust reaches the sensors, and how gently it has to land in the bottle.
What changing over involves
What you changed | What gets adjusted | Roughly how long |
Same product, different count per bottle | Enter the new count on the screen | Seconds |
Same product, different bottle size | Bottle height and guide width, by hand-wheel | 10-30minutes |
Different product, same size range | Load the saved recipe; wipe down the track | 10-30minutes |
New product, first run | Set parameters, save as a recipe | 10-30minutes |
Full teardown for deep clean | Hopper, vibration plates and counting head come out by hand | 10-30minutes |
No tools for the parts you touch daily. The hopper, vibration plates and counting head come out by hand. Bottle height and guide width are hand-wheels with scales, so a repeat setting is dialled rather than found.
Save every product as a recipe. With over 100 slots there’s no reason not to. The first run of an SKU takes setup time; every run after is loading a saved set.
Cleaning is the long part, not the mechanics. Between two products in the same family it’s a wipe-down. Between an uncoated herbal tablet and a clear softgel it’s a full teardown. Budget by what you’re switching between, not by an average.
Three things to check before you buy any tablet counter
Accuracy, verified on your product
A demo with someone else's tablets proves nothing. Ask any supplier to run your product and show you the count sheet — how many bottles, how many miscounts, over how long. We do that at factory acceptance testing before the machine ships.
The manual
Your operator sets bottle height, vibration frequency and count from the screen. They need an English manual with the settings procedure in it, not a translated parts list. Ask to see it before you order.
Installation and training
The machine runs out of the crate. Getting it counting reliably across all your products takes someone who's set one up before. Our engineers install it, dial in each of your products, and train your operators.
Why Choose AIPAK？
Factory-direct engineering You buy from the plant that builds the machine. Custom change parts, bottle handling and line layout are a conversation with our engineers, not a request passed down a chain.
Installation and training on site Our engineers install it, dial it in on each of your products, and train your operators before they leave.
Spare parts stocked Standard toolkit, replacement sensors, and seals included.
Lead time approx.1-3months
APC-B8 Counting Machine FAQ
Dust interference is the leading cause of counting errors. The APC-B8 utilizes an advanced Dual-Dust Compensation System. Our infrared sensors are equipped with an intelligent algorithm that differentiates between a solid product and a falling dust particle. Additionally, the sensor windows are designed with a specialized “air-shield” or vacuum port to prevent dust from settling on the lens during long production runs.
Yes. Our sensors detect products based on shape and density using high-frequency infrared scanning. Whether you are counting crystal-clear Omega-3 softgels, opaque hard capsules, or bi-color tablets, the APC-B8 identifies each unit accurately without the need for hardware sensor changes.
The APC-B8 is designed for “Tool-Less Changeover.” Most adjustments—including bottle height, hopper positioning, and conveyor width—are controlled via hand-wheels or the HMI. A complete teardown for cleaning and switching to a new product size typically takes less than 20 minutes, maximizing your daily production uptime.
The machine is integrated with a “Smart Bottle Management” system. It uses an ultrasonic sensor at the intake and outfeed. If a bottle is missing, the counting gate remains closed (No Bottle, No Count). If a jam is detected downstream, the machine automatically pauses production and alerts the operator via the HMI to prevent product spillage.
Absolutely. Unlike traditional mechanical counters, our 8-channel electronic vibration system separates products into a single layer regardless of their geometry. As long as the product falls through the detection zone, the infrared array will capture its profile and count it accurately.
High-speed counting often causes product friction. Our 3-stage system uses gentle electromagnetic pulses to gradually separate the products. This prevents delicate softgels from sticking together and ensures that fragile coated tablets do not chip or crack before they reach the bottle.
Yes. The PLC system on the APC-B8 supports Ethernet connectivity. It can output real-time data including count speeds, batch totals, and error logs, allowing for seamless integration into your MES or SCADA system for Industry 4.0 production tracking.
Maintenance is minimal. Daily tasks include wiping down the sensor windows and cleaning the vibration plates with a standard IPA solution. Because we use a brushless motor system and high-quality electronic components, there are no gears or chains that require lubrication, ensuring a clean, GMP-compliant environment.
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Ensure ≥99.9 Accuracy in Every Bottle
Contact Our Engineers for a Customized Counting & Bottling Solution.
Ready to eliminate counting errors and boost your production efficiency? Whether you need a standalone APC-B8 or a fully integrated automated bottling line, our technical experts are ready to provide a tailored configuration that fits your specific product and container requirements.
