Pharma EXPO 2014 Processing and Packaging Conference and Tradeshow debuts Nov. 2-5, 2014 at Chicago’s McCormick Place, where it will be co-located with PACK EXPO Intl. 2014.
Pharma EXPO, a joint venture of the International Society for Pharmaceutical Engineering (ISPE), and Pack Expo owner and organizer PMMI—The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies, will present products and services that address challenges along the entire pharmaceutical, biopharmaceutical, nutraceutical, and medical device lifecycle. Overall, PACK EXPO is expected to draw more than 2,000 exhibitors and 50,000 attendees. Pharma EXPO will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nov. 2-4, and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Nov. 5.
Pharma EXPO will include the following events:
• The Innovation Stage, located at the entrance to the Pharma EXPO exhibit hall, will offer free 30-min educational seminars focusing on breakthrough technologies and processes with applications in the pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, biotechnology, and medical device sectors.
• ISPE’s Facility of the Year Awards (FOYA) display, also located in the West Hall near the entrance to the show floor. Each year, through FOYA, ISPE recognizes state-of-the-art projects that use new, innovative technologies to improve quality, reduce production costs, and demonstrate advances in project delivery. And, unlike any other program, FOYA provides a platform for the pharmaceutical science and manufacturing community to showcase cutting-edge approaches to facility design, construction, and operation.
• A conference program Nov. 3–5, with sessions covering manufacturing, compliance, and packaging topics such as maximizing productivity, protecting vial integrity, thermal image inspection and detection on high-speed production lines, new options in anti-counterfeiting, and eliminating 483’s based on regulatory observations.
Curated by ISPE, conference presentations are divided into three tracks: Manufacturing Operations on Monday, Nov. 3, Compliance Trends on Tuesday, Nov. 4, and Pharmaceutical Packaging on Wednesday, Nov. 5.
“These three tracks cover essential areas for industry professionals to consider when looking to expand their operations,” says Nancy Berg, President and CEO, ISPE. “Each educational track represents a critical path for evolution in the pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, medical device, and biotechnology sectors.”
Sessions on Monday will include topics such as the Internet of Things, single-use systems, and automation. On the second day, attendees can learn about serialization, quality assurance, and nutraceuticals, while the third day of the conference will focus on subjects such as 3D printing, inspection methods, single-use facility design, and 2D barcode technology.
“Topics such as product integrity, serialization requirements, and security within the pharmaceutical supply chain are some of the challenges the pharmaceutical industry is facing,” says Julianne Rill, Director of Education, ISPE.
Keynote sessions, one each day of the conference, are free and open to all registered attendees. A full, searchable schedule of Pharma EXPO conference sessions is available here.
Challenges and technologies
The global pharmaceutical industry is facing significant changes. Compliance with current and pending regulations on state, national, and international stages demands the attention and resources of already strapped pharmaceutical manufacturers. To overcome challenges to meet new regulations and increase production efficiency, pharmaceutical manufacturers are stepping up their operations by implementing advanced automation and robotic solutions.
Super-advanced robotics technology is leading the way in cartoning, labeling, filling, and material handling equipment. Many new production units on display will feature advanced inspection, sensor, and control systems. Newer production units have been engineered to combine the best in computer robotics with a need for flexibility on production lines.
