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Packaging a blockbuster prescription drug such as AstraZeneca’s Nexium blister- and wallet-packs (shown in photo) demands efficiency. At AstraZeneca’s plant in Södertälje, Sweden, nine robotic cells, featuring a mix of 16 robots from ABB Robotics and other suppliers, is providing that efficiency during case packing and palletizing on multiple packaging lines.
* Pharmacarton Coding System II provides in-line, high-resolution digital printing of lot and expiration dates and bar codes for pharmaceutical and medical cartons
* design overcomes the challenge of printing high-density bar codes and 2D codes in-line by controlling the carton during the print and vision process
* turnkey system combines a precision conveyor with synchronized belts for horizontal or vertical printing, and is integrated with a Hewlett-Packard ink-jet printer and a customer-designated vision system
Providing quality healthcare while holding the line on costs continues to be a priority throughout much of the life sciences industry. Watching expenses is a critical task at Group Health as well, where the company’s Seattle facility handles mail-order prescriptions and serves as a central fill location for its 26 pharmacies located in both Washington and Idaho. Since adding a Maverick Enterprises UPM B/T (Universal Packaging Machine with Bottle and Tote infeed), Group Health has reduced its labor needs, improved efficiency within its confined 7,000 sq’ area, and readied itself to handle growing sales volume. In turn, those benefits help to hold down Group Health member costs.
Qiagen adopts a laser imaging system to increase line speeds and improve the print quality of its blister packs. Key benefits also include performance improvements, reduced waste, and financial savings.
Late last year, the International Society for Pharmaceutical Engineering introduced a new packaging Community of Practice (COP). The COP held its first meeting at ISPE's annual meeting in Orlando, FL. Chairing the packaging COP's Steering Committee is Linda McBride, senior director of regulatory affairs for Leawood, KS-based medical firm Enturia, Inc. (formerly Medi-Flex). McBride is a former columnist for Healthcare Packaging.
* IP9000 controller can be paired with four different print heads and print up to four lines of text in an area up to 1.9" high
* new family of high-resolution print systems print on one or two sides of secondary packs such as cartons or trays
* the most economical unit uses the LC2 print head equipped with 224 ink nozzles in a daisy pattern that can print alphanumeric characters or graphics at speeds to 1,000'/min
• complete track-and-trace line includes the company’s ink-jet, laser, and outer case coding equipment, integrated with RFID systems capabilities
• demonstrated at Interphex 2006, the line showed unique EPS serial product numbers, 2D and data-matrix bar coding, from individual item level to pallet marking and tagging to final dispatch
• SolarJet coder provides high-resolution marking on products and packages at speeds to 1,000 characters/second
• operates in wet, dusty, or dirty environments
• marks permanent text, bar codes, and graphics as small as .02” high
• works on paper, corrugated board, foils, coated metals, plastics, glass, and wood
