Quick hits:
- This past fall, editors from PMMI Media Group covered tons of innovations that we found at PACK EXPO Las Vegas. These are the innovations we found in pharmaceutical and medical device packaging.
- Orics' new M10 machine was designed specifically for a Child-Resistant package that holds CBD-infused candy bars.
- R&D leverage came up with a patent-pending concept for an injection stretch blow molded bottle called DispensEZ , which has a sort of a ramp on one inner sidewall where the shoulder meets the neck. So when you reach inside to pull out a tablet or capsule, it slides right out on the ramp rather than getting hung up on the inner shoulder.
- Sometimes in the life sciences arena it’s the solutions that are suitable for small to mid-sized outputs that matter a whole lot. Several of these were on display at the show. But to pinpoint one, let’s check out Antares Vision Group which showcased its new standalone module for manual case aggregation at Healthcare Packaging EXPO.
- Marchesini Group’s TurboMek was introduced in 2017, but a new version of the TURBO-MEK 1000 vacuum turbo-emulsifier for processing liquid and cream products appeared at the show offering a more compact and eco-friendly design.
- Innovative New Pharma & Medical Devices at PACK EXPO Las Vegas, 2022
- PACK EXPO Connects Innovations Report, 2021
 | Read the transcript below: |
Hello, I’m Natalie Craig, I’m the features editor of Packaging World Magazine, and I’m back with another edition of Take Five.
This past fall, I attended PACK EXPO Las Vegas with other editors from PMMI Media Group. We covered tons of innovations that we found on the show floor and we published our findings in the annual PACK EXPO Innovations Report, which can be found in the January issue of Packaging World.
Since we only have five minutes here, I wanted to dive into the latest innovations in pharmaceuticals and medical device packaging.
Medical marijuana represents a portion of the briskly growing cannabis market, which is why you’ll find innovative cannabis-related packaging technologies in the Pharmaceutical and Medical Device section of our PACK EXPO Innovations Report.
One of the innovations we reported on is Orics’ new M10 machine designed specifically for a Child-Resistant package that holds CBD-infused candy bars. The intermittent-motion machine follows a routine modified atmosphere packaging procedure, but what makes this application notable from an innovation standpoint is that the thermoformed PET container has two notches left and right that are designed to fit into a slot in the paperboard carton into which the primary package is inserted. Children can’t read the package-opening instructions on the carton, and thanks to the notches left and right on the primary package, they won’t know how to pull the package out of the carton. There’s also a flap designed into the top of the pack to further impede a child’s access to the primary package.
In the innovative container realm of things, let’s take a look at this clever tablet and capsule container. R&D leverage came up with a patent-pending concept for an injection stretch blow molded bottle called DispensEZ , which has a sort of a ramp on one inner sidewall where the shoulder meets the neck. So when you reach inside to pull out a tablet or capsule, it slides right out on the ramp rather than getting hung up on the inner shoulder.
Sometimes in the life sciences arena it’s the solutions that are suitable for small to mid-sized outputs that matter a whole lot. Several of these were on display at the show. But to pinpoint one, let’s check out Antares Vision Group which showcased its new standalone module for manual case aggregation at Healthcare Packaging EXPO. Also capable of supporting post-lot reworking operations in warehouses and distribution centers, the system is a fit for those looking to meet upcoming DSCSA supply chain security requirements with small to mid-sized volume outputs that don’t require full automation. As a manual system, the unit is designed ergonomically with easy, multi-point access and an always-on handheld scanner for fast, reliable code reading. The Mini Manual Station is currently operating in pharma, med device, and nutraceutical facilities.
Rounding out our coverage of PACK EXPO innovations in the pharmaceutical and medical device space, let’s take a look at Marchesini Group’s TurboMek. It was introduced in 2017, but a new version of the TURBO-MEK 1000 vacuum turbo-emulsifier for processing liquid and cream products appeared at the show offering a more compact and eco-friendly design.
The TurboMek system is produced by Dumek, a Marchesini Group company that specializes in machinery for processing cosmetics and pharmaceutical products. The new TURBO-MEK 1000 has been designed to accommodate hygiene and cleaning guidelines with energy and water savings during wash cycles.
The system’s energy efficiency is thanks to Dumek’s patented SMART TC, an intelligent control system that offers energy savings during the heating and cooling stages, as well as more precise control of processing stages for greater repeatability.
That’s just the tip of the iceberg for pharma innovations at PACK EXPO. You can read about all of them in the January issue of Packaging World magazine or you can check out packworld.com. Thank you so much for joining me today on this episode of Take Five. I’ll see you in the next one!
