How a Gel-Pouch Phase Change Solution Offers Extra Thermal Protection

3C! Packaging, an independent privately-owned pharmaceutical packaging solutions company specializing in the design and manufacture of custom folding cartons, printed literature, inserts/outserts, labels/foils and unit-dose applications, has realized rapid business growth since introducing its Clear Code coating system.

Through the use of lasers and a proprietary color-change technology, Clear Code offers high-contrast imaging on a colorless coating, enhancing the customer serialization and coding experience sought by pharmaceutical customers.

The bump in business prompted 3C! Packaging to add more than 3,000 sq-ft of additional facility space, as well as hire several new front-end personnel. On the production side, to accommodate the growing demand for its label operations, 3C! Packaging installed a new Nilpeter FB-3 flexo press, one of the fastest on the market. The 10-color press delivers a top speed of 228m/min (750 ft/min) with no compromises to print quality on webs up to 350-mm (13.75-in.) wide. Despite being designed as a high-performance press, the FB-3 remains competitive over a wide range of run lengths, including short runs.

The new Nilpeter press includes movable unwind/rewind towers with rail system, allowing multiple label configurations. A short web path yields fast job changeovers with minimum start-up waste. Each of the ergonomically designed printing units includes five servo systems to automate all adjustments for saving, loading and changing jobs, as well as for job pre-setting, impression settings, and side register load. A dual-axis servo transport system ensures high levels of print reproduction and precise registration. The new press also will feature an additional slitter/rewinder and LVS system.

Quick-release systems for handling anilox rolls and plate cylinders are improved by Nilpeter’s quick-change revolver die-cutting system. This offers on-the-fly loading and unloading of dies to reduce setup times and save material waste. Full job changeovers—of all 10 color stations as well as the die—have been achieved in as few as five minutes.

At the forefront of 3C! Packaging’s recent growth spurt is Clear Code, the company’s next-generation coating system that enhances customers’ serialization and coding experience. By employing a low or high wattage CO₂, fiber, or YAG laser, and a proprietary color change technology, 3C! is able to offer high-contrast imaging on a colorless coating that provides a superior quality image tailored for Optical Character Recognition (OCR) Vision Systems.