Meeting High Standards in the US Pharma Packaging Sector
Across the US pharmaceutical industry, producers are already thinking ahead in terms of packaging. With production methods, drug development and accessibility to patients evolving, meeting vital high standards could become more complex than ever.
We take a look at some of the drivers of change in the pharma packaging sector and how some operations are handling them.
The changing face of pharma packaging
One of the biggest bottlenecks in recent times, pharma packaging is facing an evolution to meet innovative advances in the production and delivery of medicines. As drugs develop and move away from traditional production methods, they have become increasingly complex to store and distribute. Biologics, for example, require more protection due to their sensitivity to their surrounding conditions. Some can interact with glass and increase the risk of chemical contamination, which is leading producers to explore other materials.
This is driving pharma packaging to a new level, to reduce the risk of particulate contamination and also to increase their accessibility to patients. One of the growing trends is the issue of pre-filled delivery devices, often for self-administered medicines in very precise doses.
Rising standards in packaging, storage and distribution
Across the US, packaging standards are extremely high within the pharmaceutical industry. With pharma evolving and requiring more and more complex packaging, businesses are under immense pressure to meet and maintain these high standards.
The human intervention aspect of pharma packaging has always been challenging and never more than today. Rising hygiene standards, new packaging mandates and also rising costs are driving producers towards automating much of the packaging process as a result.
A hands-off approach has a wider range of benefits for all types of packaging operations in addition to hygiene. With many sectors experiencing recruitment issues, turning to automation offers a solution that can also be fully scalable.
Automating the pharma packaging line
Complex materials and exacting standards require a comprehensive, modern approach to packaging. This is why it is important to select the right level of automation at the right point of production. Whether you’re producing blister packs, medical bottles, specialist delivery devices or a combination of all these products, the solution needs to be robust, reliable and easy to adjust to minimise downtime.
At Jacob White, we worked with a US pharma industry supplier of a range of different products to find a solution to packaging. They needed increased speed and consistency, strict hygiene and minimal intervention, yet high quality control. After close consultation, they selected a carton sealing machine to meet their needs. Find out more about their story here or read all our case studies here.
We work closely with all our clients to deliver functionality, compliance and operational agility where they need it most. Talk to us about your requirements and let us help you harness the opportunities in the pharma sector.
