If you’re looking for a company to provide pharmaceutical printing packaging solutions, look no further. PPMI has a unique mission to transform innovation and technology into packaging solutions for the pharmaceutical industry. Our facilities are located in the epicenters of pharmaceutical manufacturing: NJ and NC. Our two locations are nearly identical in capabilities and represent a superior backup. Through the use of cutting-edge technologies and information technologies, we continue to develop new solutions for packaging components that help our customers meet the demands of the FDA.
Flexographic Printing
Flexographic printing is an excellent option for decorating secondary packaging, laminate tubes, and labels. However, the process is not inexpensive. Flexographic printing requires special plates to carry the image. But these plates can be reused many times, making the process less expensive than other print methods. This makes it a popular choice for pharmaceutical packaging.
The process is also very efficient, allowing higher resolution prints and more complex prints. Another benefit is the high speed of the process. It eliminates plate lifting risks, and requires little to no set-up time. It also produces a lower volume of pharmaceutical packaging waste. This means you can reduce the cost of packaging.
Accurate Colour Reproduction
For pharmaceutical packaging, accurate colour reproduction is essential. Printability, gloss, durability, and scratch resistance are all important considerations. FlexiProof UV technology can help with this. These devices can help you determine the printability, gloss, and durability of your labels. With FlexiProof UV, you can also check the material’s flexibility.
Flexographic printing can be applied to a wide variety of substrates. Its versatility makes it a desirable choice for high-volume labeling. This technology can print labels and packaging at speeds of 500 to 2000 feet per minute. It also reduces press downtime, and allows for longer print runs.
Inkjet Printing
Inkjet printing is an attractive printing option for pharmaceutical products, as it offers a wide variety of benefits over traditional offset printing. For one, it is more cost-effective, provides a more range of print results, and can switch print widths quickly. In addition, it can help pharmaceutical manufacturers meet regulatory requirements and improve the visual appeal of their products.
The high-resolution nature of inkjet printing provides an excellent visual contrast and high throughput. It can also produce durable and permanent materials. Inkjet printing can also produce DataMatrix codes, which are capable of containing more data than a traditional barcode. Therefore, it is the perfect solution for Pharmaceutical Printing Packaging.
Another advantage of ink-jet printing is the ability to produce full-colour swatches. It is also a preferred method for printing hazard or warning labels. This makes it extremely relevant for the pharmaceutical industry.
Laser Etching
The LANG laser is an effective tool for modern pharmaceutical packaging, offering various features and applications. It is the ideal solution for cutting and scribing medical devices, such as vials and syringes. Window-cutting, for example, involves the cutting of a film or laminating a film with an opening aid that allows patients or healthcare professionals to access the medication. Tablet packaging, for example, usually consists of a deep-draw blister and a cover film made of aluminium foil.
Laser etching is effective in a variety of materials, including thermoplastic elastomers, plastic, glass, rubber, and metal. In addition, it offers anti-counterfeiting benefits, as the information can’t be erased. The relevant code can be queried and the source of the counterfeit can be traced.
CO2 laser systems, meanwhile, are commonly used for coding consumer goods. They can also be used in the medical and electronics industries. This imaged-mask laser marking process uses a CO2 laser that illuminates a metal mask to create a pattern. The image plane is aimed at the sample, and the laser beam is then modulated on/off.
Offset Printing
The requirements of Pharmaceutical Printing Packaging are very specific. Not only must the packaging be attractive but also it must convey important information to the customer. Moreover, the pharmaceutical industry requires packaging to be item-level serialized, as this allows for quick and easy verification of the product at any stage of the supply chain. This is achieved by utilizing a unique machine-readable identifier (MRI), such as a 1-D barcode, 2-D barcode, or QR code.
Offset printing is the traditional method used to produce packaging materials. Digital printing is a relatively new technology and it has the advantage of being more cost-efficient. It also allows for shorter production runs, which reduces the amount of packaging material and drugs inventories. Digital presses also eliminate waste as they do not require significant make-ready processes or printing hundreds of feet of non-usable material.
The process of offset printing begins with printing artwork on a plate. These plates can be made from paper or metal, but aluminum gives the best results. The impressions from the plates are then transferred onto the paperboard via cylinders. After the plates are transferred to the cylinders, the paperboard is fed through the offset printing press.
Ink
The pharmaceutical industry uses pharmaceutical inks to print and package pharmaceuticals. Demand for pharmaceutical inks depends on the region where the pharmaceuticals are produced. Most pharmaceuticals are produced in Europe, which accounts for a large share of the global market. Prices for pharmaceutical inks vary by region, with prices in Europe being higher than in other regions. Other prominent markets include North America and Asia Pacific.
Pharmaceuticals come in various forms, from powders to liquids. The liquid versions are usually packaged in bottles, while the solid forms are typically in cartons or cardboard boxes. Liquid Pharmaceutical Printing Packaging has a larger surface area than solid pharmaceutical packaging, and therefore uses more pharmaceutical ink. Listed below are some examples of Pharmaceutical Printing Packaging.
Thermal inkjet is becoming a popular choice for pharmaceutical manufacturers. It is faster and easier to use than traditional inkjet. For example, UK-based AstraZeneca recently installed seven coding stations at its plant in Macclesfield. These coding stations are provided by Travec Ltd. and meet the high-density 2D Data Matrix code requirements.
Coating
Coating pharmaceutical printing packaging helps ensure the highest possible quality and safety for pharmaceutical products. It also helps in identifying errors that cause product contamination or defects. Hence, it is important to monitor the quality of print materials and to fix any flaws immediately. This will reduce waste and increase profit. Moreover, high-quality error data will help in easy source removal.
In addition to this, drug coatings help to prevent drug-induced irritation, improve stability, reduce cross-contamination and ensure quick identification of products. These coatings also help to modify the rate of drug release. For example, delayed-release (enteric) coating can control the release of drugs from the tablet over a long period of time.
Digital printing is another option for Pharmaceutical Printing Packaging. This technique allows manufacturers to get full-colour swatches for regulatory codes and warning labels. As a result, it has gained wide acceptance in the pharmaceutical industry.
Inspection Rewinder
An inspection rewinder for pharmaceutical printing packaging is a vital piece of equipment for a pharmaceutical packager. Its sensors and strobe light enable it to inspect each label’s printed information. In addition, it can count labels, check for missing ones, and scan bar codes.
A fully automatic inspection solution for pharmaceutical printing packaging can reduce production costs and improve quality. The EyeC ProofRunner Label rewinder is capable of inspecting 100 percent of the print before it leaves the press. This is particularly helpful in light of an upcoming change in regulation regarding packaging. The new regulations require pharmaceutical products to have unique identifiers. The EyeC ProofRunner Label can check serialization and detect duplicated or missing data.
An inspection rewinder with a high-speed slitter can produce labels with superior quality. This type of machine has a larger unwind/rewind diameter and runs at 300 m/min. It also includes advanced slitting inspection technology and can handle a variety of multi-substrates, including SA labels.
