More flexibility in the packaging of small batch sizes

MULTIVAC sup-plies the worldwide medical products industry with its innova-tive packaging solutions. At Compamed, the international trade show for components, primary products and raw materi-als for medical manufacturing, the packaging specialist is showing selections from its extensive range of packaging technologies, as well as marking and identification systems for the medical industry.

The highlight of the MULTIVAC exhibits at Compamed is a packaging solution, which enables large and small batch sizes of sensitive or sterile products to be packed fully automatically and in compliance with GMP. "Medical products are being packed today in ever smaller batch sizes, in order to fulfil regional or other specific requirements. For this reason, the producing companies set very high requirements for a quick format change, reliable line clearance and intelligent automation technologies for loading and unloading. We have optimised our packaging solutions for the medical industry to these requirements", says Luc van de Vel, Senior Manager of the Business Division of Medical Devices, Cosmetics and Pharmaceuticals (MCP), in which MULTIVAC has for several years now pooled all its know-how in this sector.

Frequent and reproducible format change

The packaging solution, which MULTIVAC is showing at Compamed, is based on a thermoforming packaging machine with a newly developed machine concept, in which the areas for the packaging process and the machine technology are largely separated from each other. The installed units for the machine technology have been moved from the interior of the machine to the rear. MULTIVAC'S proven 'drawer' system meets the requirements of frequent, reproducible and rapid format changes, and this system has also been extended to the tools of the complete cutter, which are usually used with medical products for the single-piece cutting of the sealed packs. This means that MULTIVAC can achieve a high level of packaging flexibility with varying batch sizes. Reject packs can be automatically separated out and ejected into a con-tainer. It is very easy to see into the machine, which is also very accessible to operators.

MULTIVAC is also at the forefront when it comes to automation technology. With the packaging solution which is being exhibited, the finished packs can be removed directly out of the cutting tool and placed into cardboard outer cartons. MULTIVAC offers a wide range of handling modules for these requirements. The line-motion control is carried out via MULTIVAC's HMI 2.0 user interface and it is largely self-explanatory. The sensor technology of the machines is highly sensitive and this ensures that a consistently high product quality and an overarching quality assurance are maintained. With its track-and-trace function, MULTIVAC also meets the serialisation and marking requirements of individual countries.

Exhibits in the MULTIVAC Clean DesignTM

The packaging machines, which MULTIVAC is presenting in Düsseldorf, fulfil the high requirements of the medical products industry: its proven MULTIVAC Clean DESIGNTM machine concept ensures that cleaning can be carried out simply and in compliance with GMP. In addition to this, MULTIVAC's packaging solutions ensure a relia-ble, reproducible, and traceable packaging procedure.