Pharmaceutical and Medical Packaging News Magazine
PMPN Article Index

Originally Published January 1998

PRODUCT UPDATE

Advanced Thermoformers

New thermoforming equipment is designed to meet increased needs for healthcare packaging.

According to statistics from The Freedonia Group (Beachwood, OH), demand for pharmaceutical blister packaging will increase annually by nearly 4% to more than 5 billion units and demand for medical trays by nearly 5% to almost 3 billion units by 2000. To meet such demand, many thermoformers and thermoforming machinery manufacturers are offering a variety of new products and services.

For instance, new thermoforming machines are often equipped with fewer mechanisms that require routine servicing or replacing, enabling operators to use them continuously at rapid speeds. And advanced thermoforming molds are giving packaging engineers the tools to create dynamic new designs.

A blister forming machine can produce up to 400 blister packs per minute. The TLT 1400 uses a PLC to control and coordinate numeric-controlled servomotors located at each workstation. Changes to production parameters, including drive reduction ratios, temperature settings, and machine speed can be made from a touch screen control panel. TL Systems/Bosch Group, Minneapolis, MN.

A form, fill, and seal machine can handle all types of thermoforming materials, even polypropylene. The Compacker-3 is a tabletop unit with a touch screen that offers a range of options including coldforming, vision inspection, automatic feeding, on-line printing, and data collection. Klöckner Medipak, Inc., Clearwater, FL.

A thermoforming supplier offers a range of thermoforming tooling, components, accessories, and services. Products include tooling, mold bases, pressure boxes, and adjustable tooling platforms. Services include deep-hole gun drilling for mold bases and tool maintenance and repair. Edward D. Segen & Company, Inc., Milford, CT.

Thermoforming services and machines are available for packaging medical products. The company produces packaging in cleanroom facilities in both Ireland and the Netherlands. It also designs and builds compact units that hermetically seal blister packaging for use in either general production areas or in cleanrooms. Nelipak Thermoforming, Venray, Netherlands.

Thermoforming tooling made from a microporous aluminum material eliminates the need for drilling holes in thermoforming molds and dies. Metaphor F100 consists of 70­90% aluminum powder and 10­30% special epoxy resin. Users can create intricate shapes including special surface textures and engraved details. It is sold in 20 * 20-in. slabs in thicknesses ranging from 1Ž2 to 12 in. Portec­North America, a div. of NEST Technologies, Studio City, CA.

A high-speed thermoformer can produce up to 600 blister packs per minute. The UPS 1040 offers intermittent motion, platen forming, and sealing and can be monitored, controlled, and changed over with the push of a button. The Pacmation communication system constantly sends information back and forth among the production line, its operator, and integrated networks. Uhlmann Packaging Systems, Inc., Towaco, NJ.

THERMOFORMERS SOURCE LIST

• Klöckner Medipak, Inc., Clearwater, FL
• Nelipak Thermoforming, Venray, Netherlands
• Portec—North America, a div. of NEST Technologies, Studio City, CA
• Edward D. Segen & Company, Inc., Milford, CT
• TL Systems/Bosch Group, Minneapolis, MN
• Uhlmann Packaging Systems, Inc., Towaco, NJ