Pharmaceutical and Medical Packaging News Magazine
PMPN Article Index

Originally Published May 1998

PRODUCT UPDATE

Innovative Lidding

New lid stock materials are helping drug and device packagers meet new package guidelines.

For years packagers have sealed flexible lid stock to blister packs and medical device trays simply to secure and protect delicate drugs and devices. Now, given the increasing demand for higher-barrier materials that can pass new ICH stability testing guidelines, pharmaceutical packagers are looking for innovative lid stock that can lengthen product shelf life. Medical device packagers are also searching for lidding that can complement intricately shaped trays. Suppliers are successfully meeting these needs with a variety of materials and material combinations.

A new lidding material ensures critical seal integrity and resists sterilizer creep. SBP2000 lasts 27 times longer in seal creep testing than conventional lidding, is very porous, and maintains a cold, flexible seal retention rating of 99.7%. Together, these features provide high seal integrity during EtO sterilization and low-temperature exposure. SBP2000 is compatible with rigid PerfecForm custom thermoformed trays and PerfecFlex forming films. When used together, the SBP2000 lidding and flexible or rigid bottom web films provide a completely integrated packaging system. Perfecseal, Philadelphia, PA.

Spunbonded olefin, when coated by a variety of sterile packaging manufacturers, is suited for use as lidding with rigid trays and with bottom webs formed by form-fill-seal machinery. Tyvek 1073B is compatible with all major sterilization methods, including newly emerging techniques, and provides protection against bacterial penetration. DuPont Nonwovens, Wilmington, DE.

Zone-coated lidding contains specific sealing areas onto which heat-seal adhesive is applied so that no adhesive material comes into contact with product. This process, when used with paper or Tyvek spunbonded olefin, also maximizes lidding porosity. Adhesives based on the company's SealScience coating technology can be applied to Tyvek, paper, film, or foil. The zone-coated lidding can be sterilized using EtO, radiation, or steam and peels cleanly with almost no particulate. Zone coating also allows adhesive to be applied to tray surfaces of any configuration and is adaptable to pouch or form-fill-seal applications. Tolas Health Care Packaging, Feasterville, PA.

An FDA-registered medical device manufacturer provides innovative, cost-effective, flexible packaging and lidding to the pharmaceutical and medical device packaging industries. The firm retains flexible packaging engineers and converting technicians on staff to help clients meet particular needs. Apple Converting Inc., Norwich, NY.

A manufacturer of flexible healthcare packaging offers blister lid stock for pharmaceutical applications. Products include push-through foil in either plain or printed on one or two sides; paper and foil laminations for push-through, tear, or peelable uses; child-resistant peel-push structures; and cold-formed foil for 100% protection. In-house graphic and printing services are available. American National Can, Chicago, IL.