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Start looking for supplies for pharmaceutical packaging at industry directories and providers

Use industry directories or look at major suppliers to find pharmaceutical packaging equipment supplies.

I recommend: Use a products directories list like Pharmaceutical-Industry.Info to fill your need from complete to partial pharmaceutical packaging. This site covers contract packaging, planning and design as to materials and equipment for your packaging needs. While you are there, you can also sign up as a vendor, or you can discuss the topic in their pharmaceutical forum. Medical Device Link also offers a pharmaceutical packaging supplies provider directory. Their listings are separated first by category subtype. Cardinal Health is a solutions provider for both branded and generic pharmaceutical manufacturers. Almac Clinical Services covers the clinical supply chain.

Use foil for your pharma packaging

Purchase vitamin packaging and pharma packaging foil for use in your pharmaceutical blister packaging.

I recommend: Learn how Reynolds, who we traditionally know for kitchen foil, has entered the pharmaceutical industry with their Safety-Pak Plus Pharmaceutical Foil Blister Lidding. Contact Alufoil Products to purchase pharmaceutical foil ideal for blister and pill packs.

Purchase your own pharmaceutical packaging equipment

Some businesses contract out the filling of their prescription drugs while others use equipment to fill their own capsules or make their own tablets. You can purchase or lease the equipment to make your own pills under the supervision and regulation of federally regulated entities.

I recommend: Use the capsule fillers from MG America. Check out the products and equipment from Qualicaps. They offer a wide variety of capsule types as well as filling and sealing equipment.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  If you opt to take your supplies to a contract packaging pharmaceutical company, make sure that your proprietary formulas and materials are protected and that confidentiality agreements are signed ahead of time.

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Know the pharma packaging affiliations

Quality pharmaceutical packaging and vitamin packaging companies will be affiliated with reputable industry groups.

I recommend: Look for companies that are a part of Contract Packaging Association and/or the Institute of Packaging Professionals. Also make sure that they are registered with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Look online for the major pharmaceutical packaging companies

Check out Anderson Packaging, Schott North America, Blenheim Pharmacal and Bosch.

I recommend: Anderson Packaging comes to you as part of the Contract Packaging Association and the Institute of Packaging Professionals. Schott comes to you with the experience of more than 500 production lines in 10 production sites worldwide. They can offer you syringes, vials, ampoules, cartridges, glass or polymer tubing and plastic closure systems. At Blenheim Pharmacal, you can find pharmaceutical repacking and packing of all prescription legend drugs into unit-of-use bottles. They can also offer you private labeling and as custom packaging services and solid dose antibiotic repackaging-packaging in a separate controlled facility. Bosch offers you over 100 years experience in the US, and they are a world leader in the pharmaceutical and packaging industry.

Purchase your own pharmaceutical packaging equipment

If you are licensed to package your own pharmaceutical boxes, pharmaceutical blister packaging, pharma packaging or vitamin packaging, purchase pharmaceutical packaging equipment from a reputable source.

I recommend: Consider T.G. Packaging out of Boyertown, PA for your pharmaceutical packaging equipment. They will impress you with their client list, and they offer a wide variety of products to their packaging customers.

Keep up with the pharmaceutical and packaging industries

Online resources like PackagingDigest.com and Pharmaceutical-Industry.info will help you keep up with the latest industry information.

I recommend: Check out PackagingDigest.com’s latest articles now. The Pharmaceutical Packaging Forum is also a great place for networking and information annually. Pharmaceutical-Industry.info includes industry news, events, projects, and suppliers.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  See a tour of pharmaceutical packaging companies' facilities. A quality provider will be proud to show off their facility.

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Improve your pharmaceutical packaging with blister packs

Use pharmaceutical blister packaging as your pharma packaging of choice. It will keep each pill or tablet separate, waterproof and sterile.

I recommend: Find out more about blister packaging from Solvay. Ameripak Industries offers helpful definition information as well on blister packs for your pharmaceutical business. Discover that you can purchase machines from Industry IDS to test for leaks in your blister packaging.

Try capsule filling for your pharmaceutical packaging

Take advantage of capsule filling machinery for your pharmaceutical packaging equipment. Find out their benefits and how using tablets can benefit your pharmaceutical company.

I recommend: Take a look at a quick overview of capsule filling from Pfizer, or check out their article "Answers to 10 Common Questions About Capsule Filling." Subscribe to Tablets & Capsules, a technical publication for those in the tablet and capsule processing industries.

Use cartons for your pharma packaging

Taking advantage of carton pharma packaging for a colorful marketing tool for your pharmaceutical business. Your drug packaging is a wonderful opportunity to not only list all of the necessary FDA regulated documentation necessary, but it also allows you to bring your marketing message full circle with your graphics, fonts and message purveyed.

I recommend: Find out about pharmaceutical carton packaging printing from H. S. Crocker. Learn more about folding cartons from Doran & Ward Printing Company.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Other pharmaceutical packaging options include the following: bulk bags, drums, pails, closures, pouches, stoppers, syringes, tubes and vials.
• •  Pharmaceutical packaging equipment is a large investment, so research your choices heavily before making a purchase. You can also consider leasing equipment or you can consider contract packaging pharmaceutical services and have another company do the packaging for you.

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Aspetic processing

Aspetic processing is the process of creating packaging for pharmaceuticals that is sterile and will not degrade the contents in any way. Glass and many types of plastic are commonly used in aspetic processing.

I recommend: Britannica Online provides a fell description of aspetic processing.

Blister pack

A blister pack provides unit dosing for medicines, with a single dose contained in a formed plastic cavity. Single blisters are often attached to a large sheet, providing multiple doses.

I recommend: Pharmaceutical Technology Magazine provides information on innovations in pharmaceutical blister packs.

Ingression

In pharmaceutical packaging, ingression is the act of moisture or oxygen entering the packaging, which can result in contamination.

I recommend: Multisorb Technologies provides information on ingression modeling for successful pharmaceutical packaging.

Child safety

Child safety in pharmaceutical packaging often refers to bottle caps that require a complicated motion to be opened, preventing children from obtaining the pharmaceutical. Child safety measures have also been implemented in other types of pharmaceutical packaging as well.

I recommend: In-PharmaTechnologist provides information on blister packs that now feature child safety guards.

Expiration date

An expiration date on pharmaceuticals is the date that determines how long the product can safely be consumed. Expiration dates vary depending on the contents of the packaging.

I recommend: Harvard Medical School offers a discussion on expiration dates.

Tamper evident

A tamper evident feature on pharmaceutical packaging allows a consumer to be sure that a package is in its original condition and has not been opened.

I recommend: Penton Media's PPFC Magazine provides information on the many products that use tamper evident packaging and the different types of packaging available.