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A Sneak Peek into Pharmaceutical Packaging Innovations

A Sneak Peek into Pharmaceutical Packaging Innovations

Pharma Industrial India

2024-04-04

Packaging, especially when made of plastic, is often today the target of criticism, focusing on excessive volumes of waste, carbon emissions and resource consumption. In this process, their most important function is often forgotten: protecting products so that they reach the consumer unscathed; and packaging is crucial to ensuring this outcome. It makes it possible to transport and store goods as well as ensuring their hygiene, quality, authenticity and integrity. It is particularly the case for pharmaceutical products, but plenty of other goods would also end up being thrown away unused in the absence of packaging. As a result, keeping products safe is a major priority in the packaging industry and was naturally also the focus of last year’s interpack exhibitors.

The main task of a good packaging solution is to provide the best possible protection for the contents inside.

Making defects and foreign matter history

VisioPointer: Visual inspection for quality assurance of packaged products. Image: Minebea Intec

Inspection solutions are highly important for the protection delivered by product packaging. There are a variety of systems on the market that can detect different types of foreign matter. For metals, industrial metal detectors are suitable for reliably detecting metallic foreign bodies and removing them from production lines. These systems help manufacturers maintain compliance, minimise the risk of recalls and reduce production downtime. If other foreign matter needs to be detected, X-ray inspection systems are recommended. This year, Mettler-Toledo exhibited a new X-ray solution that inspects individually packaged foods or pharmaceuticals at high production line speeds. The process of checking labels, printed material and use-by dates is also part of product protection, and visual product inspection systems provide precise results. Minebea Intec’s VisioPointer, for example, comes with three cameras and multiple lighting modes as standard, with side and satellite cameras offered as optional extras for analysis from multiple angles. In addition, it can carry out a reliable seal seam inspection. This inspection is an important visual quality check, as the product can only reach its shelf life if its packaging is absolutely airtight.

The sustainable way to prevent counterfeiting

New paper labels offer protection against counterfeiting and can be recycled. Image: Securikett

Anti-counterfeiting solutions are another major factor in the product protection world, most notably affecting pharmaceutical products. For example, security labels ensure that attempts to open a product are clearly visible. However, when used on folding pharmaceutical boxes, they prevent recycling since part of their film remains stuck on the cardboard packaging. Securikett has now developed sustainable and eco-friendly security labels made of paper with an integrated tear-open tab and peel-off barrier. The company’s ‘It’s Paper’ family now includes a wide range of different paper labels, which are equipped with a multitude of security features and can be easily recycled along with the cardboard.

New anti-corrosion brand

More active material is added to the packaging when creped VCI paper is used. Image: Antalis Verpackungen GmbH

Components made of metal, often also require more than just a simple protective shell. Their packaging must also protect against corrosion during shipping. Packaging manufacturer Antalis has been pooling its expertise under its own dedicated anti-corrosion brand since 2023. Korus offers VCI paper and film packaging for the European market. A VCI (volatile corrosion inhibitor) is a special volatile material that evaporates into a lasting coating on airtight paper or film packaging, forming a protective environment around the sensitive metal inside. After the packaging is opened, the inhibitor evaporates without leaving a residue – unlike oil or grease solutions, which are also used for anti-corrosion purposes.

The packaging can still be briefly opened, at customs for instance, without losing the corrosion protection. The protective atmosphere redevelops automatically after it is resealed. The new Korus VCI papers and films from Antalis are recyclable after use. The company’s product range also includes a VCI paper grade that can be creped, maximizing the surface area and adding even more active VCI material to the packaging. The creping also makes the paper stretchier and elastic, allowing even sharp corners and edges to be securely sealed up.

Articles about articles | April - 04 - 2024

 

 

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