Inline carton feeding boosts quality, aids pharma traceability
Posted to News on 2nd Oct 2015, 18:50

Inline carton feeding boosts quality, aids pharma traceability

Rotech's new RF Line Feeder uses patent-protected technology to help pharmaceutical manufacturers print erect cartons with high-quality information that complies with ISO/IEC15415 and thus remains clear and scannable at each stage of the supply chain.

Inline carton feeding boosts quality, aids pharma traceability

Ensuring that on-pack information such as two-dimensional barcodes, batch numbers and expiry dates is printed clearly is an important step towards making medicines traceable all the way back to the manufacturer. Regulators around the world have been ramping up traceability requirements for medical packaging in recent years to help combat the problem of fake medicines, as well to facilitate more effective product recalls in case of a manufacturing issue.

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that counterfeit medicines account for less than 1 per cent of pharmaceuticals sold in highly regulated markets such as the USA and Europe, but says they are much more prevalent in other regions. WHO also estimates that over 50 per cent of medicines purchased from illegal Internet sites that hide their identity are fake. Various national and regional regulators have been fighting back with new legislation designed to secure pharmaceutical supply chains, such as Europe's Falsified Medicine Directive and The Drug Quality and Security Act in the USA.

Rotech director Richard Pether says: "They require data to be legible so it can be scanned at any stage from the manufacturer, right down to the pharmacy that's dispensing it. Our RF Line Feeder combines a top and a bottom conveyor to gently grip and transfer primary cartons securely so they're stable and orientated correctly as they approach the printer. This technique is vital if a supreme print quality is to be achieved".

Rotech's inline feeder uses a patent-pending drive arrangement to operate the top and bottom belts in synch so the cartons cannot become skewed. Richard says: "The top belt is driven mechanically from the bottom belt using a single drive. It keeps the whole thing simple and makes it very cost-effective compared to competing systems that use two drives."

The drive is also positioned in the centre of the feeder, leaving both ends of the conveyor clear and making it easier to integrate the system within existing packaging lines. A compact overall conveyor length of just 750mm also makes it easier to squeeze the RF inline feeder into a tight space. The system accepts pre-formed cartons, passes them first through the end user's chosen printer and then past a camera to spot any defects, which are ejected from the line using compressed air.

The height of the top belt is adjustable to accommodate primary cartons from 15 to 125mm high. The feeder can also handle cartons with a width from 55 to 200mm and length of up to 150mm at conveyor speeds of up to 60m/min. The on-board human machine interface makes it quick and easy to adjust the system for different pack sizes.

Rotech specialises in feed systems and does not manufacture its own printers or cameras. This means that Rotech can recommend and supply a range of suitable third-party systems, and end users have the added flexibility of opting for printing and vision systems from whichever manufacturer they prefer.

The RF inline feeder is Rotech's first system to feed cartons for inline printing and scanning, complementing the company's established range of feeders for offline printing.

Richard explains: "Offline systems can offer advantages for companies who aren't looking to run an integrated packaging line from start to finish. Some manufacturers may still carry out some packaging operations by hand, for example. But those users who are looking to streamline their operations and integrate their entire production and packaging operations will be looking for a system like the RF inline feeder. This new addition means that Rotech can now provide systems to suit every type of pharmaceutical packaging operation".

More information about the RF Line Feeder can be found at www.rotechmachines.com.


Rotech Machines Ltd

1 Brownfields Court
AL7 1AJ
UNITED KINGDOM

+44 (0)1707 393700

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