New machine for packaging vials celebrates its premiere at ACHEMA
ACHEMA is the leading trade fair for the process industry, where 2,700 exhibitors from around the world present their products from the chemical, pharmaceutical, biotechnology, energy and environmental sectors to an international trade audience. The fair aims to inspire the industry to adopt new technologies and approaches that reduce environmental impact, optimise the use of resources and improve product quality and safety. In line with this approach, Schubert-Pharma is presenting its new vial machine for the first time at a fair. Karin Kleinbach, Director of Pharma Unit, adds: “We are delighted that our machine for packaging vials is celebrating its premiere at ACHEMA. It’s an ideal opportunity for us to showcase and explain the new table-top design to our customers.”
User-friendly: Table-top design facilitates line clearance
Schubert-Pharma has many years of experience and expertise in packaging vials, ampoules, syringes and other products for the pharmaceutical and healthcare industry. The rationale behind the development of the new machine was to enable manufacturers to meet line clearance requirements even more effectively. Klaus Dierolf, Head of Pharma Project Management, explains: “Line clearance basically means ensuring a streamlined, orderly work area to prevent product mix-ups. Pharmaceutical technicians have to carry out a line clearance after packaging a batch to ensure that all products have been removed from the machine before a new batch is started. This innovation prevents mixing.’
Due to the open design of Schubert-Pharma’s top-loading machines, it had been possible in theory that products would get into the base of the machine during the packaging process. Schubert-Pharma was keen to close this gap and thereby developed a table-top design for the TLM machines. Karin Kleinbach adds: “With our new vial machine, we have made fulfilling line clearance specifications more pharmaceutically compliant and user-friendly. Manufacturers also benefit from time savings during batch changeovers as well as a higher level of safety and reliability.”
Packaging materials such as folding cartons, leaflets and adhesive labels should be taken into account as early as possible in the development of new medicinal products. Schubert-Pharma and Faller Packaging will be providing advice on this and other packaging topics at the trade fair.
A vial machine for different formats
One, three, five or ten vials can be packed on the new packaging machine – either horizontally or vertically in the carton compartment. Packaging five vials into cartons will be demonstrated at ACHEMA. They are fed into the machine using a turntable. At the same time, the 5ct cartons are erected in two lanes and placed on a Transmodul, Schubert’s transport robot. The compartment for the 5ct carton is then erected and glued into the carton. A pick & place robot picks up the vials arriving on the infeed conveyor and groups them upright on the Transmodul. During this packaging step, there is no glass-to-glass contact thanks to the robot’s individual picks, so that everything is packaged securely for the pharmacists.An F2 robot is then used to load the 5-pack formation of pre-grouped vials into cartons. A tool tilts the upright vials into a horizontal position. Finally, the booklets are fed to the magazine in two lanes, destacked and loaded into cartons following a code check. The glued cartons are then closed and placed on the outfeed conveyor.
Schubert-Pharma will be presenting its new vial machine for the first time at ACHEMA 2024. Visitors can experience the vial packaging process live at the stand.
Services relating to all aspects of pharmaceutical product packaging
In addition to the live demonstration of the new vial machine, Schubert-Pharma experts will be providing information about their extensive range of services relating to all aspects of packaging solutions for pharmaceutical products at various dedicated islands. Experts from collaboration partner Faller Packaging will also be on site to inform visitors about packaging materials; cardboard samples resulting from the collaboration will be available at the stand. Johannes Schubert, Managing Director of Schubert-Pharma, concludes: “When it comes to packaging solutions, we always provide our customers and interested parties with comprehensive support. They can rely on sound advice and take advantage of our first-class Schubert-Consulting service. On request, we can supply either complete machine solutions or semi-automated processes using our cobots. We look forward to welcoming many visitors to our stand.”
