Counting Down the Top 10 Articles of 2020 - #10: Ramping COVID-19 Test Medium Production

Join us as we look back at the most-read Healthcare Packaging stories of 2020. At #10 is this article about Thermo Fisher’s journey to ramp test medium to the millions per week for public health needs.

Dec 21st, 2020

Screen Shot 2020 09 16 At 1 23 32 Pm

In our top 10 of 2020, we take a look back Thermo Fisher Scientific’s incredibly fast production ramp-up of viral transport media tubes from 50,000/week to 10 million/week in six months. The effort was remarkable, and made possible by collaboration efforts between the brand owner, OEMs, and partners.

Remote installation and use of Microsoft's Holo Lens also played a role due to travel bans affecting employees in based in Europe. Recently, PMMI released two related resources to help companies navigate this “new to some” virtual arena: the Virtual Factory Acceptance Test (vFAT) guide from the OpX Leadership Network and the Trends in Adoption of Remote Access report.

Continue to the full article here: COVID-19 Test Medium Production Ramped Up By 20,000% in Six Months.

Check out the links to our coverage of the 2021 PDA Annual Meeting. While the live event has passed, the event site is full of on-demand content covering pharmaceutical filling, supply chain considerations, vaccine manufacturing, and more through May 16.

2021 PDA Annual Meeting: Trend Roundup

The Parenteral Drug Association (PDA) virtual conference offered plenty of new perspectives in aseptic filling, flexible facilities, and more.

The TipFil Syringe Filler utilizes a piston mechanism that draws the needle back via the plunger, the amount of drug filled being dictated by the distance the plunger is pulled back.

TurboFil Benchtop Syringe Filler for Compounding Pharmacies

TipFil mimics manual syringe filling technique in single or dual operation, offering expedience and consistency for a variety of infeed scenarios.

Robots for Partition, Vial and Leaflet Loading.

Packaging Line for Vaccine Vials Meets Urgent Demand for Production

The end-of-line system received up to 150 vaccine vials/min, producing 15 ten-pack cartons/min. ESS integrated a customer-supplied serialization system to track unique codes on the vials and cartons throughout the packaging line.

Pr Pcmc Virus Killing Wipes 041421 Final Web 3

Wet Wipes Folding Machines

Paper Converting Machine Co. redesigned its Rx200 and Mako Clipper wet wipes folding machines to safely operate with a higher alcohol content, measuring as much as 70%.

Steriline designed an auger filling head equipped with a customized screw shape added to the PVFCM50 to protect product integrity

Bess Pro Creates Small Batch System for Powder Filling Line

Turnkey system to improve vial filling from manual and lab-scale to up to 200 vials/min provided in only 10 months despite the pandemic.

Brenton orion Logos

Brenton and Orion Ramp up Production to Support Operation Warp Speed

Brenton and Orion responded to its customers’ needs by expediting the design and building of end-of-line packaging and stretch-wrapping systems as part of Operation Warp Speed.

V Mek Abacus+ Counting System

Counting System Achieves High Speeds

Is suitable for a variety of products

NR Instant Produce PCL Leverages V-Shapes Sachet Packaging for Continued Growth

Four V-Shapes ALPHA lines enable the company to manufacture non-food products for domestic and international distribution and to differentiate itself in the global marketplace.

Versynta FFP can be easily converted to different container types such as vials, syringes and cartridges, as well as different filling systems including single-use solutions.

Syntegon: Modular Small Batch Systems for Liquid Pharmaceuticals

Versynta FFP, Flexible Filling Platform, offers a unique transport system and safety for vials, syringes, and cartridges.

ESS Technologies supplied three Model VC30 cartoners to create a complete COVID-19 test kit packaging line.

COVID-19 Test Kit Cartoning Line Increased Productivity to Meet Urgent Testing Needs

ESS Technologies supplied three Model VC30 cartoners to create a complete COVID-19 test kit packaging line, increasing the manufacturer’s production capacity when it was critically needed.

SencorpWhite and Urania Engineering Announce Partnership

SencorpWhite and Urania Engineering developed a strategic partnership that will link Urania’s engineering solutions with SencorpWhite’s technical expertise and broad service capabilities in medical heat sealers.

Syntegon’s newest cartoner, Sigpack TTMD, combines core components of the TTM platform with one or more seamlessly integrated Delta robot cells – this allows flexible packaging of different products.

Syntegon: Cartoner with Integrated Delta Robots

Sigpack TTMD—designed for flexibility in product feeding—features flexible product presentation thanks to flat or on-edge carton loading as well as patented tool-less format changeover for vertical restart.

Stevanato Group is also adopting a personalized after-sales approach designed to better address the full life cycle of its range of equipment.

Stevanato Group Launches Global Network After-sales Service Offering for Technologies and Manufacturing Equipment

Offering includes full lifecycle management via the newly established SG after-sales department, with customized ongoing customer service that also leverages digital technologies.

Spee Dee Cannabis

Cannabis Packaging System

Spee-Dee’s automated cannabis jar filling system can fill up to 40 jars/min per. A dual tare gross weighing system checks jar tare weight and gross weight at high speeds.

The acquisition of Cosmatic will enable the expansion of the Group's expertise in a segment that uses some of the most complex technologies in the cosmetics world.

Marchesini Group opens its Beauty Division and acquires Cosmatic

Acquisition will expand the company’s expertise through Cosmatic’s complex technology for the creation of lipsticks.

Marchesini Group: Continuous Motion Cartoner

Continuous motion high speed horizontal cartoner is designed for life science applications.

Aphena Op Cookeville 200302 214

Aphena’s 500,000-Square-Foot Expansion in Tennessee Nears Completion

Facility includes 10 high-speed bottling lines to start.

Coval Cvgm Coval Rvb 01

Coval: A Vacuum Chamber for Gripping Protective Masks

The CVGM series mini vacuum chamber is designed to handle light and porous objects, such as protective masks, but also fabric or leather cut-outs.

Shemesh Automation Purchases U.S. Facility

Shemesh Automation responded to the growth in its U.S. customer-base with the purchase of a new facility in Green Bay, Wis. It will serve as headquarters for its new subsidiary, Shemesh USA Inc.

Image #1 in the article text.

Report: Innovative New Pharma & Medical Devices at PACK EXPO Connects

PMMI Media Group editors—covering a virtual event instead of an in-person exposition—divided and conquered to collectively take in as much of PACK EXPO Connects as possible. Here’s what they saw in the pharma category.

More in Packaging/Filling

X-FATs enable customers who are unable to physically come to the Group’s offices to connect via streaming with in-house technicians and complete the testing procedures.

Company Carries Out 90th Streaming Test and Launches Remote Assistance Camera Suitcase

Marchesini Group lauds the success of vFATs and offers MIMO to support final Line Acceptance testing.

Provider of end-of-line packaging and technology partner to Pfizer, Robopac, will be packaging and transporting the vaccine.

Robopac's Part in the Pfizer COVID-19 Vaccine Rollout

Human-centered and environmentally conscious efforts on the part of Robopac and Pfizer provide an environmentally friendly packaging and transporting system for the vaccine.

Hypak For Chronic Disease Treatment Rc Ps Psp 0217 0009

BD to Invest $1.2 Billion in Pre-Fillable Syringe Manufacturing Capacity Over Next Four Years

Investment includes new manufacturing facility in Europe.

Theta line comprised of: two Theta machines, two R80C counting and stacking units, two SC80 continuous motion synchronizing robots, and a continuous-motion cartoning machine.

Complete Line for Pharmaceutical Powder Sachets

A global pharmaceutical company improved output speed for 4-side-seal sachets of laxative powders by selecting a new packaging line—complete with remote installation. The system compacts stacks of sachets before transferring them to the cartoning machine.

Custom Packaging Projects Abound in Logistics and More

From microtissues to diagnostics, brand owners are taking an active approach in developing unique, right-sized packaging and automation.

The capper’s technology and parallel belts are used to reduce the expense of making and storing change parts for most bottles.

TurboFil: Linear Chuck Capper with Precision Torqueing & Parts-free Changeover

Designed for accurate, repeatable torque control, the Acrobat Chuck Capper is made to handle a variety of caps and bottles.

Constellation 1

Pharmaceutical Liquid Filling Monobloc with Dual-Weight Verification

BellatRx’s Constellation Monobloc is a new servo-driven fill-weigh-cap system for unstable pharmaceutical microtubes, vials, and cartridges.

Pharmaworks Tf1pro Close Up Final Release Cu

Blister Machine Features Vacuum System for Reject/Transfer

In the compact TF1pro blister machine, a vacuum arm lifts ‘good’ blisters, precisely lowering them to the transfer actuator. Another key safeguard: an upper seal plate that retracts when web motion stops to prevent unnecessary heat exposure.

The new machine platform offers complete versatility: High performance, flexible formats and functional modules, including the OPTIMA Zero L1 for feminine hygiene and light incontinence products.

Modular Platform for Healthcare Manufacturing

Optima's new Zero machine platform offers extreme flexibility in packaging for a range of products in one system, including feminine hygiene and light incontinence products.

Tyvek Roll-Feed, Cut and Seal Machine

Roll Fed Medical Sealing System Increases Speed and Integrity

Eliminating the need for individual cut lidding, the roll-fed system is also designed to reduce material costs and the risk of operator error.

At PACK EXPO Connects, Syntegon showcased its latest intelligent and efficient technologies, including advanced customer services and a variety of digital solutions.

Advances in Pharma

At PACK EXPO Connects, Syntegon showcased its latest intelligent and efficient technologies, including advanced customer services and a variety of digital solutions.

MGS used PACK EXPO Connects to talk about their machinery and line integration capabilities in the life sciences field.

Medical Device Packaging

Specialists in supplying packaging and automation solutions to the Life Sciences Industry, MGS took advantage of PACK EXPO Connects to talk about a remarkably integrated line supplied recently to a medical device manufacturer.