Clariant expands global desiccant capacity to support pharmaceutical industry growth

Clariant, a world leader in specialty chemicals, represented by its Business Unit Masterbatches with business segment Healthcare Packaging, today announced major capability enhancements to its desiccant solutions for pharmaceutical packaging at INTERPHEX 2013 in New York on April 23-25 at booth 2071. To meet growing requirements across the globe, Healthcare Packaging is significantly expanding production capacity at its U.S. site in Belen, New Mexico, for desiccant canisters and packets, which are shipped to customers worldwide via Clariant’s robust and efficient distribution system. In addition, Healthcare Packaging is incorporating Lean Six Sigma methodologies, a pillar of Clariant Excellence, to ensure the highest quality and consistency of its products. Both these strategic initiatives are designed to support the pharmaceutical industry’s strong growth, which is sharply increasing the demand for innovative moisture control solutions.

Several key trends are driving the increase in demand for protective packaging. The aging of populations and the growth of chronic diseases worldwide continue to increase the need for medications. Additionally, the patent cliff has resulted in the growth of more affordable generic drugs, leading to a higher consumption. Governments improving access to healthcare for their citizens, such as the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act in the United States, means increased spending on medicines. Newer drug formulations – such as those incorporating sophisticated delivery systems like rapid release and drug powder inhalers – more often require special protection against moisture and oxygen.

“We are investing in greater capacity and enhanced quality management to ensure that our global customers benefit from ample supplies of high-quality Clariant desiccants to protect their pharmaceutical products over the life cycle,” said Andy Walti, head of Clariant’s global Medical Specialities Business Line. “A number of industry trends, from stricter regulatory requirements requiring longer shelf life to growing volumes of generic drugs, are contributing to an increase in pharmaceutical production. Clariant understands the increasing needs of our customers and is committed to meeting them.” Clariant is expanding worldwide capacity with new equipment and processes. Specifically, Healthcare Packaging is increasing production of its market-leading desiccant canisters for high-speed insertion and its wide range of desiccant packets, including Continu-Strip® hole-punch packets. Unlike other packets on the market that are designed to run on manufacturer-specificied equipment, versatile Continu-Strip packets are compatible with any desiccant inserters on the market.

Clariant designs and manufactures standard and custom active packaging solutions for pharmaceutical, nutraceutical and diagnostic applications that incorporate desiccants, ergonomics, tamper evidence, child resistance, dispensing and barrier protection. The company offers U.S.-produced printed tubes and desiccant stoppers for effervescent and diagnostic markets, and oxygen barrier pharmaceutical bottles, as well as a full line of desiccant canisters, packets, inserts, containers, closures, dispensers, desiccant polymers, oxygen absorbers, aroma enhancers and diagnostic kit components.