Discover your next big idea for life sciences at PACK EXPO Las Vegas
Experience a breakthrough in life sciences packaging—explore solutions from 2,300 suppliers spanning all industries, all in one place this September

Gas prices and healthcare packaging

Gas prices continue to climb. A good survival strategy for truckers is waiting for trailer loads to be full before hauling. Unless, of course, the trailer contains sensitive pharmaceuticals. Clearly, the implications are that the packaging of temperature- and humidity-sensitive drugs and the monitoring of their shipping conditions are becoming key issues. Sandy Cook, engineer and president of Thermal Packaging Solutions, an independent consulting firm in New Jersey, agrees. Cook is seeing changes brought on by the high cost of transportation in general. He has been asked to look into shipping pharmaceutical products by ocean-going vessels, a slow, but cost-effective method for United States suppliers to make the product in Europe or Asia and transport it back to the U.S. for sale.

"The biggest advances have been in monitoring. These go way beyond what RFID can do. Chips that used to cost hundreds of dollars are now available for forty or fifty dollars that can give you a picture of what is happening inside the pallet load."

Information on time, temperature, humidity, and even UPC codes can be tied into system logistics. For anti-diversionary monitoring (hijacking and counterfeiting) you can add a global positioning system.

"Large pharmaceutical companies are tying the information coming from an indicator the size of a quarter right into their IT systems," according to Cook.

--By Jim Chrzan, Publisher
Pharmaceutical Innovations Report
Discover the latest breakthrough packaging technologies shaping the pharmaceutical sector. This report dives into cutting-edge innovations, from smart containers that enhance patient safety to eco-friendly materials poised to transform the industry’s sustainability practices. All from PACK EXPO. Learn how forward-thinking strategies are driving efficiency and redefining what’s possible in pharma packaging.
Learn More
Pharmaceutical Innovations Report
Medical Device Innovations Report
Cutting-edge packaging technologies are transforming the medical device sector in PMMI’s “Innovation in Medical Device” report, featuring advanced materials, smart solutions, and evolving regulations. Editors share insights from nearly 300 PACK EXPO booth visits—each product deemed new and truly innovative—alongside video demonstrations of the equipment and materials on display.
Learn More
Medical Device Innovations Report