ACG is positioning its ACGcaps H+ and ACGcaps TSafe technologies as complementary solutions for pharmaceutical and nutraceutical manufacturers looking to simplify capsule formulations while retaining processing performance, opacity and visual differentiation.
Clean-label HPMC
ACGcaps H+ is an HPMC capsule manufactured using proprietary thermogelation technology, which eliminates the need for conventional gelling agents.
The company says the capsule shell comprises only cellulose and water and describes it as the world’s first independently certified clean-label capsule.
The certification was awarded following testing by the US-based Clean Label Project, which examined ACGcaps H+ for more than 400 industrial and environmental contaminants.
For nutra manufacturers, ACG says the HPMC capsule’s low inherent moisture makes it suitable for moisture-sensitive and hygroscopic ingredients.
The company also reports pH-independent dissolution, resistance to cross-linking, high mechanical strength and machinability, with the capsule compatible with powders, pellets, granules and liquids, including combinations of fill types.
Titanium dioxide-free opacity
ACGcaps TSafe addresses capsule shell appearance.
The titanium dioxide-free opacifier can be used with ACGcaps H+ and other vegetarian HPMC capsules, as well as ACG’s gelatin capsule variants.
It is designed to provide opacity and brightness while allowing manufacturers to add a range of colours.
ACG also offers a pearlescent version containing neither mica nor titanium dioxide.
The combination could be particularly relevant as supplement manufacturers look to simplify ingredient declarations without sacrificing the visual characteristics associated with opaque capsules.
Why it matters for nutra
For brands, capsule appearance can serve a functional as well as marketing role, including helping products stand out on shelf and providing visual differentiation between formulations.
ACG says its wider capsule portfolio offers extensive customisation through colour, opacity and printing.
The development reflects the broader focus within the nutraceutical sector on capsule technologies that can combine formulation flexibility with cleaner-label positioning.
For manufacturers, the ability to pair a gelling-agent-free HPMC shell with a titanium dioxide-free opacifier provides another route to developing vegetarian and clean-label supplement products while maintaining capsule performance and brand identity.
