Pharma

Plastic with exceptional barrier properties is the principal material used for pharmaceutical packaging, based on the range and diversity of applications. Paper and paperboard is right behind plastics and is mostly used as secondary packaging. Glass is primarily used for liquid medication bottles. Aluminum foil is used mainly in blister packs, tubes and unit dose pouches.

Braille embossing on carton and inline serialization within a defined track and trace, included in many cases a direct printing on the product, are critical elements for the packaging production within the pharmaceutical industry.

The development of self-medication and the increase of pharmaceutical products sold online and in drugs stores is driving the demand for more sophisticated packaging. Various sizes, bright colors, special effects and connected packages taking users to a video or a web site via their smartphone are on the rise.

Product counterfeiting is a major and prominent issue in the healthcare market, especially as counterfeiters use more sophisticated techniques that are not easily identifiable. National governments, international organizations, industry associations, standard institutes, manufacturers and brand protection suppliers have stepped up their efforts to deter and prevent the incidence and impact of counterfeiting. Legislative, regulatory, standardization and new technology initiatives have a major impact on the market potential for brand protection technologies. Connected packaging is one major area to monitor closely in the coming years.

With environmental concerns growing, especially around plastics, more countries are formulating stricter regulations for the use of plastic in pharmaceutical packaging including effective recycling procedures.

To reduce drug spend, some governments are investigating unit sale of prescription drugs. Such decisions would impact the packaging of some pharmaceutical products.

Pharma is dominating by small boxes in many shapes. The narrow- and mid web inline flexo printing line like the MASTER M5 handle all-in-one-pass multi-process printing, enhancement and converting incl. braille at very high productivity and low TCO. Usage of the Digital AutomationTM will further increase the integration of multiple processes for production of boxes. Production of multi-layered labels is becoming increasingly popular as it enables the inclusion of long medical information, sometimes in multiple languages on the same surface as a single label. The BOBST M series are specifically designed for such label requirements. The machines in the CO coating range can be tailor made for coating of blisters while VISION D 850 LAMINATOR or MASTER TX 1000 LAMINATOR machines can be used for cold form packaging. For the films sealing the drugs, the BOBST EXPERT K5 can produce thin films at the highest productivity and provides significant cost saving innovations. The BOBST VISION K5 is able to handle many different film types including heat sensitive and thin gauge substrates.

Due to stringent pharmaceutical regulations, most small size products as well as light weight products are packed in folding carton. When these small items are showed in a table top display a laminated board solution is obvious to combine the offset printing with the strength of corrugated board. MASTERFLUTE TOUCH Inline laminating solutions of BOBST provides highly efficient production lines for litho laminated corrugated board hot foil stamping.

When talking about pharmaceuticals, braille comes to mind. The patented device ACCUBRAILLE will perfectly emboss braille onto all four panels of a carton, even across the running direction and emboss images, letters and/or numbers. Braille is one of BOBST's historical core competencies.

Pharmaceuticals also imply short runs. The fast changeovers, high quality, highly automated and ergonomic MASTERCUT 106 PER die-cutter is the top of the range machine that delivers the unmatched productivity required for this market segment.

Versatility goes hand in hand with producing impressive number of box styles on a wide range of materials. This is exactly what the folder-gluer EXPERTFOLD 50 does. With speed capability of up to 450 meters per minute, it's the perfect machine to carry out in-line processes. The pre-feeder EASYFEEDER 4 will ensure minimal setting up time and quick production start-up while the in-line inspection system ACCUCHECK will guarantee zero-fault packaging. The high performance packer CARTONPACK 4 increases your productivity by automatically filling your shipping containers.

For brown boxes used in shipping and for very high productivity, the BOBST FFG 8.20 EXPERT is the industry benchmark in terms of speed and fast order change for a fully automated line.