Pharmaceutical business unit helps pharmaceutical and nutraceutical manufacturers safeguard product security and quality while increasing throughput.


Key Technology announces the launch of its new Pharmaceutical Business Unit, Symetix, and the appointment of Richard Hebel to the position of general manager for Symetix. With world-class automated inspection and specialized conveying systems, Symetix helps pharmaceutical and nutraceutical manufacturers safeguard product security and quality while increasing throughput and reducing manufacturing labor. 'Key Technology is a leading manufacturer of innovative technology with nearly 60 years of experience in the food, tobacco, and pharmaceutical industries'.

' We have over 70 FDA-validated inspection systems installed worldwide for capsules and tablets,' noted Kirk Morton, president and CEO.

'With Symetix, we have built a strong team that is 100% focused on addressing the unique needs of pharmaceutical and nutraceutical manufacturers'.

' We are now poised to be a preferred partner to these manufacturers.' Symetix designs and manufactures a wide range of automated inspection and specialized conveying systems based on GAMP 4 guidelines.

Automated inspection systems meet FDA 21 CFR Part 11 requirements.

Symetix offers validation packages to support pharmaceutical manufacturers' validation documentation needs.

Symetix also offers complete project engineering services'.

''As pharmaceutical and nutraceutical manufacturers increasingly look to take product conformance to a higher level, they need to break out of the lab and rely more on technology that monitors processes in real-time on the production line,' explained Rich Hebel, general manager for Symetix'.

' 'We offer best-in-class technology for bulk-flow tablets, capsules, and softgels as well as blister packs - for regulated and over-the-counter pharmaceuticals as well as nutraceuticals.' Hebel brings more than thirty years of marketing and engineering experience to his position at SYMETIX.

Most recently, Hebel was director, Marketing and Business Development for Key Technology.

Previously, he was vice president, Marketing and Operations for Insight Control Systems International.

From 1993 to 2000, he was vice president, Corporate Marketing and Business Development with Key Technology.

* About Key Technology - Key Technology, an ISO-9001 certified company, is a leading designer and manufacturer of process automation systems, integrated electro-optical inspection and sorting systems, and processing systems.

Key systems help processors to improve quality, increase yield, and reduce cost.

With worldwide sales representation, the company maintains demonstration and testing facilities at its headquarters and manufacturing divisions in Walla Walla, Washington, USA, and at Key Technology BV in Beusichem, the Netherlands.

The company's common stock trades on the Nasdaq National Market tier of The NASDAQ Stock MarketSM under the symbol: KTEC.