Süd-Chemie’s Healthcare Packaging division was honored with the Pharmapack 2009 “Safe-Use Product” Award for its Handy Active Tube® (HAT®-Snap) pharmaceutical package design. The award was earned for the package Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMS) adopted for Efferalgan® 1G, an effervescent analgesic sold principally in Europe.
The Handy Active Tube package system is designed with multiple integrated functionalities that provide safety, ergonomics, product protection, and brand appeal for pharmaceutical and nutraceutical packaging applications. The patented injection-molded polyethylene flip-top closure was customized for BMS to include particular ergonomic features and an embossed logo. The closure includes a breakaway tamper-evident ring, as well as an integrated desiccant to protect the product from moisture and enhance shelf life.
“Customer feedback to the new package has been extremely positive,” states Edmond Krol, purchasing manager of Bristol-Myers Squibb’s UPSA Group. “The new package design has contributed to an already strong brand loyalty for Efferalgan throughout our market.”
A major requirement from BMS was to create a functional package to promote better medication compliance for arthritic patients who often have difficulties using traditional forms of packaging.The package needed to have several value-added functions:
• Better ergonomics: opening with only one hand
• Better usage security: tamper evidence, desiccation, and more assured reclosing of the package after use
• Processability in line with the production environment at BMS
• Cost effectiveness
The Süd-Chemie package design is conducive to the high-speed packaging process required by BMS. The plant that packages Efferalgan was recently redesigned and now fills the tubes at a rate of 150/min.
The closure is designed and molded with an integrated hinge system and snap-on ring. As a result, a traditional and efficient tube design is used that does not need to be molded with a “female” hinge. Once the tube is filled with the effervescent tablets, the closure is snapped onto the tube using the same packaging process as a traditional desiccant stopper. The rigid polypropylene tube and polyethylene closure create a tight seal. Once assembled to the tube, the tamper-evident closure’s one-handed flip-top capability is ready to be used.
