Pharmaceutical and Medical Packaging News
Magazine
PMPN Article Index
Originally Published November 1999
PRODUCT UPDATE
Protecting and Finishing with Bags & Pouches
Bags and pouches offer breathability, peelability, barrier protection, and space for graphic design.
Stronger, lighter bags and pouches have become the trend as packagers look to reduce costs by reducing the amount or thickness of packaging materials used. However, bags and pouches are still expected to have high performance standards. In addition to providing the protection and breathability required, these packages also offer extras, such as the ability to stand or a special area that can be marked by the end-user.
A supplier of pouches, bags, and tubing offers high-performance systems including peelable coated and uncoated pouches, linear tear, and extra-strength header bags. The company is ISO 9000 certified; its Global Prototype Center provides sample pouches and bags to support market testing and material evaluations. The company's proprietary films and coatings include heat-seal coatings for the top web and films for the bottom web. All materials and designs are customized to meet end-use requirements such as high barrier, specialized sealing, puncture resistance, and enhanced porosity. Perfecseal, Philadelphia, PA.
A pouch package is available in sizes ranging from 5 to 85 ml and is used for liquids, viscous substances, pills, tablets, capsules, and granular product fills. The pouches are self-closing and can be used for sample, single-dose, or multidose applications. A stand-up feature is available for 15-, 20-, and 30-ml-size packages. The pouches can be printed with up to seven colors plus a UV varnish. The company attempts to reduce waste and uses recycled content when possible. Xelapack Inc., Saline, MI.
Packaging products, including rollstock, header bags, and peel pouches, are available as individual packages or on a roll. The products can be made from Tyvek, paper, foil, films, and laminations. The company also provides custom die-cut plastic insert cards, which offer a cost-effective way to organize components within the medical device package. The cards can be made of polyethylene or polypropylene and are acceptable for all major sterilization techniques. The cards' design can hold multiple medical devices. Because the cards are made of plastic, there are no paper fibers or dust. Beacon Converters Inc., Saddle Brook, NJ.
Unit-dose zipper bags feature Write-on areas to alert medical staff and patients to special dosage instructions and precautions. The 2-mil-thick polyethylene bags protect medications from contamination and are available in four sizes, all with Write-on areas. Besides sections for special dosage instructions, the bags include spaces for patients' names, room numbers, and dates. The Write-on area accepts pen or marker. Bags can be imprinted with hospital, clinic, or laboratory names, logos, or other messages using the company's imprinting service. Associated Bag Co., Milwaukee, WI.
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