Hard Capsules — OEM & Private Label — Sports & Fitness

Two-piece hard capsules are the workhorse of the supplement industry — versatile, cost-efficient and compatible with almost every powder, granule or pellet. They carry high active loads with no taste compromise, and support enteric or delayed-release coating. Hubogen fills hard capsules in-house at scale. As a capsule manufacturer, Hubogen offers hard capsule OEM with enteric and delayed-release coating options.

Why brands choose hard capsules

• Maximum versatility — powders, granules, pellets, micro-tablets and multi-phase fills.
• High active load — a large dose in a compact, easy-to-swallow shell.
• Vegetarian options — HPMC (plant) shells for vegan and halal lines.
• Enteric and DR — protect probiotics and enzymes from stomach acid.
• Clean, clinical shelf presence.

Format at a glance

• Shell — gelatin or HPMC (vegetarian).
• Sizes — 000, 00, 0, 1 and smaller on request.
• Fill — powder, granule, pellet, micro-tablet or multi-phase.
• Options — enteric coating, DR, opaque or clear shells.
• Packaging — bottles, blister packs or bulk cartons.

Specification range

Sizes 0 to 000 cover fill weights from roughly 250 mg to over 1,000 mg depending on bulk density. Shells are gelatin or HPMC, clear or coloured, opaque or translucent. Two-piece construction lets us combine actives in one capsule, or use pellet and granule blends for controlled release. Fill weight is customised to your dose.

Typical applications

Probiotics and digestive enzymes, herbal and botanical extracts, ashwagandha, lion’s mane and adaptogens, multivitamin and mineral blends, turmeric and curcumin, glucosamine and joint formulas, amino acids and sports nutrition, and immune-support combinations.

What decides whether a project runs smoothly

• Fill type — powder, pellet, granule or liquid; each needs different dosing equipment, and pellets usually add a coating step.
• Shell material — gelatin or HPMC for vegetarian/halal; HPMC is more prone to static and dry conditions.
• Hygroscopic actives — moisture-pulling fills need a desiccant and a moisture barrier; a packaging decision.
• Sealing — banding adds tamper evidence and a costed production step.
• Weight uniformity — flow-test the blend first; it is cheaper than rejecting a batch.

Sourcing and specification notes

• HPMC and gelatin shells are not interchangeable — HPMC supports a vegetarian label, gelatin is more economical.
• Capsule size is a physical ceiling: a size 0 holds roughly 500 mg of powder.
• Powder flow and bulk density decide whether fill weight holds consistently.
• Band sealing suits liquids and semi-solids, and changes equipment and minimum batch.
• Very low-dose actives need a carrier or premix for even distribution.

Quality and shelf life

Capsules are released against fill weight, shell integrity and disintegration. A heavy-at-start/light-at-end run is a dosing problem even when the average looks right. Shelf life is confirmed per formulation, typically 24 months sealed and stored as directed; a desiccant extends the window where the fill is moisture-sensitive. Storage instructions travel with the COA.