Pharmaceutical and Medical Packaging News
Magazine
PMPN Article Index
Originally Published September 1999
PRODUCT UPDATE
Protect Product Integrity with Desiccants
Desiccants maintain the quality of a pharmaceutical product or device during shipping and storage.
Protecting the quality and integrity of a pharmaceutical product or medical device is perhaps the most important purpose of packaging. Many drugs and devices require a desiccant to maintain an appropriate environment within the package. Desiccants are available in many forms, sizes, and shapes to suit a particular product or a particular packaging line.
A line of desiccant products is designed to solve moisture problems. A company offers desiccants for pharmaceuticals, medical test kits, or medical instruments. The company provides worldwide manufacturing, research and development, and technical support. Custom products can be designed to meet particular needs. Grace Davison, div. of W. R. Grace & Co., Baltimore, MD.
A desiccant is available in tape form, which provides a versatile, efficient, and cost-effective way of adsorbing moisture within packaging for pharmaceutical and diagnostic product applications. The DesiMax SLF desiccant in tape form allows the desiccant to be deposited on film in a continuous form or pattern. Bulk quantities of various desiccants are also available for customers to apply to their own base carrier materials. DesiMax SLF is available with a number of different thermoplastic base carrier materials in a variety of widths, lengths, thicknesses, and coatings to meet specific requirements. Multisorb Technologies Inc., Buffalo, NY.
A line of standard and custom desiccant products meets individual needs. A controlled atmospheric packager offers desiccants and adsorbents to the pharmaceutical and vitamin industries. Products include PillowPak, UnitPak, IndicatorPak, Humidity Indicating Cards, Continuous Strip PillowPak, WaterLok Paper, CanisterPak, Desi-Tab, and bulk desiccants. Many styles are available with silica gel, clay, molecular sieve, or carbon. Desiccare Inc., Santa Fe Springs, CA.
Hole-punched desiccants enable manufacturers and packagers of pharmaceutical, diagnostic, and other bottled products to accurately automate insertion of desiccant packets into bottles. The Continu-Strip features holes placed in the seal between each desiccant packet. These holes allow electronic sensors to detect and distinguish individual packets so precise cuts are made in the seals, not in the packets. Complimentary product samples and technical information are available. Süd-Chemie Performance Packaging, Belen, NM.
A moisture absorption cylinder has been developed to protect products during storage and transportation. PermaPack is a perforated stainless-steel cylinder filled with a natural, environmentally friendly drying agent that has unlimited regeneration capabilities, according to the company. PermaPack will absorb 500 ml of water and will not drip when saturated. The drying agent can be regenerated in an oven in two hours. A digital hygrometer is also available, providing for a precise and reliable control of the humidity. J. F. Stanley & Co., Hamburg, Germany.
