Predicted to reach a global value of $80 billion by 2020, pharmaceutical packaging is a lucrative market. AUSPACK has provided an overview of the pharma trends you should keep an eye on.
1. Plastic bottles on the up
With the decline of glass pharmaceutical bottles, plastic bottles are quickly becoming the most popular pharmaceutical container globally. Sales of plastic pharmaceutical bottles are estimated to hit $20.6 billion by 2020.
2. Continued growth of blister packaging
Blister packaging is expected to soon become the second best-selling pharmaceutical packaging due to the growing popularity of unit dose formats and built-in track-and-trace technology.
3. Farewell, pharmaceutical pouches
Although pouches are gaining ground in other markets, particularly in the food industry, pharmaceutical pouches are on their way out due to their limited use.
4. Spike for prefillable syringes
In a recent study, Freedonia predicted that prefillable syringes would become the fastest growing aseptic packaging type with growth of 11 per cent per year.
5. Shelf-impact vs eco-efficiency
The market for OTC pharmaceuticals is highly competitive, so for brand owners, packaging has to provide maximum shelf impact and include eco-friendly options to cater for environment-conscious consumers.
6. A surge in serialisation
With regulations requirements set to get more stringent, pharmaceutical manufacturers are stepping up their serialisation strategies. And for processors wanting to export to overseas markets it’s never been more important to implement serialisation.
Companies exhibiting at Auspack are developing products and technologies that provide the industry with the opportunity to leverage the state of the market and meet the growing needs of consumers.
Reliable identification in laboratory analysis
The new Leuze (Stand 116 at Auspack 2017) electronic DCR 80 and DCR 85 camera-based code readers are specially designed to read the smallest high density codes regularly used in the pharmaceutical industry.
When it comes to the reliable identification of samples in laboratories, zero-error tolerance is essential. Leuze electronic have developed the CMOS imager in two models – The DCR 80 as a scan engine for direct integration, and the DCR 85 in a protective metal housing. Due to the metal housing option, the new code reader is particularly well suited to the automation of code readings in laboratory analysis.
High speed and accurate dosage measurement
Qualicaps (Stand 788 at AUSPACK 2017), a leader in gelatin and HPMC capsules, has developed the Multi-Dosage Weight Inspection Machine (MWI) to ensure the accurate measurement of a product's mass. Designed for optimal usage, this MWI inspects the weight of two-piece capsules, soft gel capsules and tablets of various shapes and sizes in the same machine. Fewer change parts are needed, which reduces changeover time and costs.
Detecting metal contaminants in pharmaceuticals
CEIA (Heat and Control, Stand 72 at AUSPACK 2017) continues to innovate and lead in inspection through metal detection, as can be demonstrated by the evolution to its latest metal detector system, the THS/PH21N.
This platform is specifically designed for the pharmaceutical industry and offers high quality detection, construction and reliability, which makes it the most suitable and effective solution to automatically eliminate metal contaminants from your pharmaceutical products.
The THS/PH21N features extremely high detection sensitivity and precision for detecting all types of metals, whether ferrous, non-ferrous or stainless steel.
Once a contaminant is detected, a signal is triggered to quickly eject the contaminated product, and verification is swiftly performed to ensure that it has in fact been eliminated.
Auspack 2017 will run from 7-10 March at Sydney Showground, Sydney Olympic Park. Free registration is available at www.auspack.com.au.
