In October 2012, Aragan, a French laboratory specializing in the development of health products based on natural ingredients, relaunched its probiotic drug, Restaure, in a patented slider pack from Burgopak Healthcare & Technology. The drug is a combination of two probiotic strains that help maintain or regain balance of intestinal microflora.
Previously marketed in a blister and carton package, Restaure is available in pharmacies throughout France. To open the new pack and access the product, the consumer pulls on a highlighted tab. The pack slides open to reveal the blistered product on one side with the consumer information on the other. To close the pack, the consumer simply pushes the tab back to its original position.
Nicolas Brodetsky, managing director at Aragan, says: “Initially, I was looking for a standard packaging system. In the OTC and food supplement markets, it is necessary to offer the patient/consumer a real benefit to attract their attention. Burgopak provided the answer to this.”
The pack measures 66x102x11 mm (2 19/32 in. x 4 1/64 in. x 7/16 in.) and includes four separate components: outer carton, band material, blister, and pull tab. The paperboard carton thickness is 378 microns (1/64 in.)/250 grams/sq m, and is printed via offset lithography in CMYK colors.
There are two single blister products on the market, with a variety of sizes/formats in the development stage, including double blisters and non-blistered products. Burgopak reports that Aragan will sell a new SinuFlash pack (shown) in French pharmacies this month. The Burgopak slider can accommodate any capsules, tablets, or soft gels, enabling Aragan to use a variety of sizes of the pack design.
Aragan delivers bulk product to a Burgopak-preferred vitamin fulfillment partner. It is then sent to one of Burgopak’s licensed manufacturers to assemble the final product. Standard blister machinery is used to create the blister.
Working closely with Aragan and their manufacturing partners, Burgopak completed the blister tooling development and manufacturing to deliver the final product three months from order placement. Brodetsky says, “In addition to a higher quality of product, Burgopak was extremely responsive throughout the entire process helping to deliver the product within three weeks of the artwork being signed off.”
The pack is designed to meet the modern consumer’s lifestyle. Its functionality keeps the product, information, and outer carton permanently connected. Important product information is readily available every time the pack is opened, encouraging the consumer to take the product as instructed. The design also eliminates unnecessary space, keeping the pack compact and portable, which is convenient for the consumer on the move. The slider design also provides maximum protection for the blister, reducing the risk of tablets being accidentally released.
The slider design adds value for brand owners. Unique printable areas on the pack offer maximum opportunity for brand communication. The sliding mechanism supplies a competitive point of differentiation, encouraging consumers to engage with the product through the interactive opening and closing mechanism. The compactness of the design also optimizes retail shelf space, while simultaneously reducing shipping costs.
