Pharmaceutical packaging is a necessary component for Ophthalmic products. It guarantees the stability and integrity of the products and represents the pharmaceutical brand itself. It also provides critical information to patients and medical professionals during drug delivery.

Pharma packaging must be in accordance with drug compatibility and patient compliance. The information must be clear, as to advise patients and medical professionals when no other source of information is available. Its not just the label claim but interaction between the drug & packaging material, shelf life, functionality and regulatory clearance.

In addition to the labeling and leaflets provided, proper packaging guarantees accurate use of medicinal products. This promotes compliance and safe administration, as in the case of blister packs indicating which medications to take at what time. Safety is another component of proper pharma packaging reducing the risk for children in the way of safety caps.

Most importantly, pharma packaging helps users identify correct drugs. Confusion with inadequate pharma packaging can lead to serious consequences for patients as well as medical professionals.

The impact of packaging on pharma products is great and warrants serious consideration when choosing the right pharmaceutical products for Ophthalmic products.

Ideal Packaging for Pharma Products

Containers should be tested for resistance against various elements, such as chemicals and water. Proper packaging for pharmaceuticals preserves the therapeutic effectiveness of medicines until consumed. This includes testing done during the packaging process, storage, transportation, and also dispensing.

Another critical factor is the interaction between printed label & the container. Many a times some unwanted ingredients may migrate to drug from packaging like Benzophenone. So the study of extractable & leachable is critical even though the label on the container is secondary packaging but plastics are porous in general.

The factors that are most important to consider in ideal packaging for pharma products are:

·       Medicinal products should be safe from leaking or spoiling.

·       They must be protected against moisture, light, and other elements that could impact the integrity of the medicinal product.

·       Resistant to transportation demands.

Each medicinal product requires its own type of packaging to ensure ideal preservation. Consideration involved in selecting the right container is chosen according to:

·       The shape and amount of the medicinal product determines the shape and size of the container.

·       Container must be easy to open for patients, but hard to open for children.

·       Container must resist water and moisture to preserve the integrity of the product.

The amount of medicine being dispensed at one time can also determine type of container. For instance, blister packs improve patient compliance as only a certain amount of medicine can be dispensed at one time, while with a bottle, a number of medicines can be taken at one time.

Many pharmaceutical companies have improved their compliance packaging designs to improve adherence. For example, in one design as doses are taken, perforated tabs can be removed, so patients take the correct next dose. While many people use pill containers, this solution isn’t as effective as with pharma packaging that comes pre-scheduled. Patients often fill pill containers incorrectly, which can lead to missed doses and worse, overdoses. In addition, removing pills from containers to place in pill reminder containers expose the medications to toxins and environmental elements affecting the integrity of the products.

Pharmaceutical Packaging Solutions

The pharmaceutical packaging industry has grown significantly over the last few years in attempts to provide adequate solutions for medicinal products. Many of the pharma packaging systems designed in the past do not adhere to the terms and conditions set forth by various regulatory authorities but now you can get packaging components with regulatory compliance. Reviewing current pharma packaging solutions is an integral part of any successful pharmaceutical company. Contact us today for more information about how we can help improve pharma packaging for Ophthalmic products. We offer packaging consulting services at www.PackagingConnections.com

8^th April 2019 - Product focus - PACTO

What comes first in our mind when we listen this word PERFUME? “Fragrance”. And when we give a thought about its packaging, we imagine a classy glass bottle with an innovative shape, design, cap and what not….

But when it comes to carry it while travelling, well, we may end up thinking number of ways to carry this glass bottle and save it from any damages or we may even end up not carrying it at all.

Ever thought of carrying your perfume with you in your pocket for using it anytime and anywhere? Yes, it is possible with Aptar’s new product range - PACTO

This new packaging format is of convenient size to fit anywhere in small spaces. This comes in varied colours to compliment the style, is free from any mess, no dripping and overall gives a smart look and appeal to your product. Net sprays in 25ml product is equivalent to 350 sprays, lasts longer, hence, gives value for money.

Not only for perfume, this technology can be implemented for diverse range of products such as facial sprays, toner, cosmetic spray, makeup remover, automotive (freshness sprays), room freshener, deodorant, and similar products.

Aptar supplies this product as an assembly of three components:

1. Bottle + Shoulder cap assembly (1) 
2. Pump module with tube
3. Actuator assembly (blue color)

So, this product PACTO complements to the subject - Pocket Friendly. First, it is a small sku that means less cost (pocket friendly) than that of bigger variants. Second, it fits into your pocket perfectly.

For more information about this product, contact our team here: https://www.packagingconnections.com/aptar/pacto/

By definition –

• Benchmarking is an improvement process used to discover and incorporate best practise into operation.
• It is a process of identifying, understanding and adapting outstanding practices from organization anywhere in the world to help tour organization improve its performance
• It is a highly respected practice in the business world

Specific to packaging, Benchmarking determines –

• Which is the best packaging in terms of appeal, material selection, space utilization, consumer convenience and so on?
• How effectively the product is being packed?
• How is the competitive brand doing that?
• Where does our brand stand in competition?
• What are the areas where our brand can be optimized?
• What are the cost breakups of the packaging involved?
• If we are already optimized, is there a scope to look for some new innovations?
• Identifying new vendors, new materials, new systems in packaging

Benchmarking aims at INNOVATING and not IMITATING

Testing a package can be done inhouse or by outsources laboratories. However, the later doesn’t analyse the data, they only present it in a codified manner. To analyse the data either a packaging professional had to dedicate his/her time else they simply use the data and present. We at Packaging Connections provides “Value Additive Benchmarking” across various companies and product categories.

Our detailed analysis include –

• Benchmarking for competition companies/brands/locations/products and even cross category also.
• Tear Down Analysis of the product (Rigid / Flexible packaging)
• Technical data in a detailed matrix of different parameters
• Inhouse test + outsourced testing
• Visual, Analytical, Calculated and Measurable parameters – all covered
• Data analysis and identification of improvement areas
• Cost analysis and cost breakup of various packaging formats
• Innovative ideas of the related product packaging and cross categories
• Detailed pdf report to follow along with parameters analysed
• Present the data in a “ready to use” format for quick implementation and presentation by any packaging professional
• Post project support for any discussions on technical inputs being provided

For more information emails us at – info@packagingconnections.com

The key message here is that few positive actions must be repeated and that too daily. Repetition is the mother of learning, it brings consistency. Consistency results in proficiency, it is proficiency that shapes our lives. Afterall consistency signifies credibility. 

Same is true for the success in packaging, since packaging function is largely a service function so we must make sure that our external or internal customers are well taken care, and to do that we have to formulate few actions which must be repeated daily, for example sharing packaging news

But why can’t NGT or various municipalities work kn creating collection and recycling infrastructure, simply banning is the band aid solution but not the permanent solution, in fact it leads to more corruption. It is also spoiling #swachhbharat mission and I wonder what is national premier packaging institute doing?

​I think we need to form a sincere NGO by packaging and plastics professionals to address this issue. Developed nations like Europe, US use much more plastics per capita than we developing/emerging nations but we have all the problems, the real issue is we only look at one side of doing good business but not in totality.

​The premier national packaging and plastics institute who are not sincere to resolve such issues should be questioned and have to be accountable. Plastics institures can not simpy teach plastics and run away or packaging institutes simply tell how to use but nothing more on disposable should also be accontable. The sustainability has to be part of curriculum

Every packaging professional needs some tools to be handy to observe any packaging situation and those tools need not be expensive. We observed that those tools could be:

1.) A Flexible Measuring Scale:- Flexi scale tool used to Measure the circumference of any glass bottle or vial, Plastic container, tree, or any other round object.

2.) Vernier Calliper: - A calliper is a device used to measure the distance between two opposing sides of an object. It can be as simple as a compass with inward or outward-facing points.

3.) Screw Gauge: - The screw gauge is an instrument used for measuring accurately the diameter of a thin wire or the thickness of a sheet of metal or thickness of flexible film.  It consists of a U-shaped frame fitted with a screwed spindle which is attached to a thimble.

4.) Cutting Knife: -  Cutting Knife is a tool often found in Industry,Lab, offices and classrooms, designed to cut a set of paper at once with a straight edge.

​5.)Hot knife: cutter used for cuts foam, EIFS, ICF, nylon rope, webbing, synthetic fabric and plastic closure.

6.) Magnifying glass with UV light : The UV-light emitted is useful to collectors of stamps and currency, as well as having uses around the home, Industry and office.  In packaging Industry, the UV light Magnifier illuminates hidden security features, and helps authenticate your product.

​
 

7.) Nose Plier : Pliers are common tools that are found in any common tool box. However, nose pliers have also become pretty common due to their usefulness. Industrial uses You can use these pliers to use in places which are hard to reach and where you need to grab a hold of materials such as O-rings, gaskets, washers etc.

8.) Writing notebook with small squares and a pencil

Being into Packaging sector for more then 30+ years now, I have witnessed the shifts, changes and trends happening in all the sectors related to packaging field. Be it new developments, innovations, testing, trials, finding the right candidates for the team or even finding the right job for career growth. The challenges were everywhere and they have increased many folds now in terms of packaging as a career.

With more number of post graduates searching for jobs every year, the gap between demand and supply have become imbalanced.

To understand the current status, actually prevailing across the world, Packaging Connections team did a small survey and analyzed the results. Key finding of the survey shows –

·      Clear gap in packaging industry to find the right candidate for a particular job.

·      There is also a missing link in packaging as a career and right guidance that may help in hitting the bull’s eye and achieving success goals.

·      71% of people said that “they do not get timely information about the new packaging jobs”

·      50% mentioned that they get information about new jobs through job portals like naukri, times-job etc. While 36% said to know from their direct contacts or references.

·      “Key Words” in generic job portals don’t work exactly for packaging. Ex - Job portals misinterpret packaging as ‘Software package’, ‘Application Packaging’ and other non-packaging profiles.

·      Hence 47% said they are not happy with the calls received from job portals since many a times the profile doesn’t match.

·      As a company also, 39% responded that “it is difficult to find right candidate for their packaging team”

·      Majority of around 90% shown their interest to try a “packaging dedicated portal” for both job search and candidate search

Getting understood from you, Packaging Connections team have developed a new platform for packaging, printing and related fields only – PACKAGING BRAINS. The site is simple to use with quick upload of resume and new job postings. Currently everything is free and you can upload both by logging in at http://www.packagingbrains.com/

Businesses are to create wealth, this is the general understanding. So its said that all major industries create wealth but if there is one industry that plays a unique role by way of both creation of wealth through a wide range of manufacturing activities and also by way of preserving the value created by many other industries, it is PACKAGING

Apart from the huge value addition and employment involved in these activities, packaging has been serving various economies by helping preservation of the quality and lengthening the shelf life of innumerable products – ranging from milk and biscuits, to drugs and medicines, processed and semi-processed foods, fruits and vegetables, edible oils, electronic goods and also to domestic appliances, industrial machinery and other hardware needing protection while transportation. We would talk about this more here for India.

Serving the purpose of not only preservation, packaging also influences buying decision in retail stores thereby acting as “silent salesman”. India is witnessing a boom in retail and has been ranked among top 30 emerging markets for retail across the globe. Indian Govt. announcement of 100% FDI (Foreign Direct Investment) has created positive sentiments in retail sector leading to emerging opportunities. Current Indian retail market is estimated to be of US$ 500 billion with 20% growth rate, dominated by small shops and stores as of now. Organized segment accounts for 8% of the total retail landscape (Source: Retailers association of India). With this growth rate it is expected to reach US$ 850 billion by 2015

Industry follows three standards now for a product - 'On Pack', 'In Pack' and 'In use'. On pack relates to packaging aesthetics and compliance to legal requirements. Consumers need to be attracted first to the pack and then only the product will get a chance to be picked up from shelf for testing In pack and In use properties.

Considering this basic thumb-rule, companies are now investing in designing attractive, consumer friendly packaging for their retail products. Studies show that packaging can increase customer satisfaction, visibility on shelf and set a product apart from its competition. Key role of shopper’s marketing thus becomes:

Attraction >>>> Interaction >>>> Transaction

Primary packs are designed in unique ways to create an impact on shelf – Eg: Technology that gives illuminated graphics once the pack is touched by a customer; Profile shaped perfume pack that immediately relates to its target customer; Beer shaped shampoo bottle that immediately gives an idea on product variant; Soup packaging that can be formed as serving container; Display carton for combo pack of perfumes wherein colour effect gives product idea; Honey bottle that gives high shelf appeal

Another area where packaging acts as salesman is “brand identity”. Ex: Same colors of primary pack gains consumer attention when products are stacked together on a shelf; Similar colour, shape, design, text all gives brand identity to the product; Flag tag that may be used for adding product detail or any message for the customer; Surface cleaner bottle with a label tag that allows customer to sniff and feel the fragrance of product

Targeting Indian retail stores, one can see increased usage of POP’s (Point of Purchase) and dispensers for various brands that immediately gains consumer attention thereby leading to product pick up. Companies follow various innovative trends ranging from Easy to hang dispensers; Perforated dispensers; Multi cavity POPs; Profile dispensers, Sleeve hangers. 3-D graphics, Pull string type dispensers and so on (refer pictures).

These not only attract consumer attention but also give product an upper edge to competition, ease in searching product in a crowd of millions of brands, fast product pick up through dispensers. In essence innovative packs interact with the customer.

These all examples says “If you get noticed; only then you will be picked up” and luckily companies have accepted this fact. Not only in retail stores, packaging is also changing the online shopping world. E-commerce giants are exploring innovative solutions to make their secondary packs lighter in weight to optimize shipping cost. New materials, new designs and creative thinking are putting their roots deep in online world also.

Standing today in a retail store we all can witness this change as consumers and validate how packaging has transformed the retail scenario. And that is why I

1. Easy to find
2. Environmentally friendly
3. Cost effective
4. Low investment
5. Excellent protection

The history of adhesives dates back to ancient Egypt. Man's first application of a water remoistenable adhesive to paper made use of naturally occuring water-activated gums. It was in the 1830's that the British Postal Service first put an adhesive on the back of a postage stamp. It was not until 1841 that an envelope appeared which could be sealed without the use of sealing wax. By 1850, envelope-folding machines were in operation.

Remoistenable adhesives are dried adhesive coatings on a substrate. These coatings upon moistening with water develop adhesiveness.

Source: Thesting of Adhesives, TAAPI Monograph Series no. 26

Capsules are nothing but a form of packaging to contain various type of powdered drugs that needs to be taken in metered quantity but are difficult to compact in the form of tablets. So these are kind of small containers made from safe edible material liek gelatin or some plant based materials. 

So these capsules had been their in the market for decades and are the perfect example of edible packaging

pogonotomy in British. (ˌpəʊɡəˈnɒtəmɪ) the cutting or shaving of a beard

Pogonotomy is basically an art of cutting or shaving of a beard or you can say it’s a simple way of getting rid of unwanted hair from your face. Proper pogonotomy can present you well and create good impression. Same is the case with PackagingBrains.com. We have tried to do away with anything unwanted and present you simply packaging & related jobs with a pool of interested and sincere packaging & related professionals. Try for yourselves today and you will see the difference. Currently all postings are free for you to try. In case of any issues, please feel free to email to info@packagingbrains.com

This is an initiative support by PackagingConnections to bridge the gap between packaging jobs and packaging professionals,

Happy searching, joining and recruiting,

Sandeep Goyal

Did you ever hear Pomodoro?  I am sure yes but if not , then its a tomato shaped timer generally kept in kitchen to help monitor various kithen processes like baking, toasting, roasting etc.  So looking at this Francesco was amazed with this tool in kitchen and developed a technqiue called Pomodoro technique in the '80s. It basically depends on the following 5 steps to implement:

1. Decide the task
​2. Set your timer to 25 minutes
​3. Work on your task for 25 minutes non stop
4. Take a break 3-5 minutes and then move to next task
​5. Complet 4 such tasks of 25 minutes with 3-4 minte break, and then go for longer break of say 15-30 minutes.

It basically breaks the tasks in small segments so that you can manage better with no boredom. Ideally speaking you should not be repeating the same task after task but it shoudl have variety. If you have similar task then try to bring some variation. Say read emails, make calls, search internet , reply emails , meet people etc. It all depends what type of task you have. 

​I have just started using it for myslef and it seems to bedoing wondrs for me and now I have all the time available, and do not feel time pressed. Try yourselves!  I got to know this from Ashwin Sanghi/Ashok Rajani's book 13 Steps to Bloody Good Marks, a must read not for students but busy corpoaret executives too, here is the Amazon link for the book https://www.amazon.in/13-Steps-Bloody-Good-Marks/dp/9386224763/ref=sr_1…

TwinPak handles to club store customers that require a bundle of pharmaceutical bottles, most commonly for multivitamins and ibuprofen. Its a great way to bundle. This is quiet efficient and sustainable way of bundling. PakTech is the comapny offering this systema nd have many more options. You could see some for yourselves at http://www.paktech-opi.com/handle-applicators/twinpak/ , in fact you can also see many applicators that they offer.

Fortune favours the prepared mind, Louis Pasteur

It’s the great saying. Companies are built with good team. To develop the good team, you need good talent. And if you have good team then you will do well and that means will make more profits, means more money or say fortune. Same way, if you join the good company, you will get good atmosphere and will do well, that means you will get paid nicely or other words you will be fortunate.

Our research showed that currently most of packaging jobs are filled through personal references or smaller social media groups. You hardly see any organized global platform to bring companies and packaging professionals together so that both companies and professionals can have wider choices & more opportunities to explore.

In order to fill this gap, we sponsored the creation of PackagingBrains.com. This is a simple platform for packaging professionals and recruiters to find packaging talent. The site is simple to login and start applying. Just try. Given below are the links:

• Job Postings: Click here to View All Job Postings
• Applicant registration: : Click here to Register as Applicant
• Recruiter Registation: Click here to Register as Recruiter [ Post Jobs for Free ]

Good luck hunting and capturing good talent & good companies,

Yours Packaging Enthusiast

Sandeep Kumar Goyal 

Money makes money is the popular saying.

“For whoever has will be given more. And they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them” Matthew 25:29)

We say same is true with many other areas too. Packaging is also not far away from it. So if we will promote the packaging profession and create more & more jobs, then more and more professionals will be in demand. I understand from the market that there are many packaging  or packaging related jobs are available in various fields like R&D, Sales & Marketing, Customer support, Purchasing, Quality, Device management, Innovation management. Venture capital, eCommerce and the list goes on.

Therefore to make this even stronger, now we support www.PackagingBrains.com where you can post jobs and resumes. Some of the important links are given below:

• Job Postings: Click here to View All Job Postings
• Applicant registration: : Click here to Register as Applicant
• Recruiter Registation: Click here to Register as Recruiter [ Post Jobs for Free ]

Please visit and make the packaging community stronger and better, its an important field to support in our society so that products can be protected.

Yours Packaging Enthusiast

Sandeep Kumar Goyal

BitSecure copy detection pattern by the Competence Center Schreiner ProSecure is a printed digital security feature  based on a high-resolution, cloud-like random pattern. In an attempt to copy the BitSecure pattern, which has a size of only a few square millimeters, the printed image will suffer a loss in precision and optical details. These differences can be reliably detected by means of a smartphone app or a handheld reader.

At Pharmapack 2018, Schreiner MediPharm will present a new app for BitSecure authentication with selected smartphones as well as the latest generation of handheld readers. As a result, authentication can then be performed easier and more reliably. Improvements include user-friendliness and an enhanced app back-end: The user interface of the app is intuitive and the analysis algorithms have systematically been further developed. The back-end data management system is integrated into a powerful and future-proof development environment.

Versatile and Reliable: Multi-Level, Customized Security Systems

Reliable product and brand protection in the pharmaceutical supply chain can only be successfully achieved by combining analog and digital security features. Schreiner MediPharm will be showcasing its extensive portfolio of products for tampering and counterfeiting protection: from diverse closure seal solutions for clear, irreversible first-opening indication through to a wide range of integrated overt, covert and digital anti-counterfeiting features enabling reliable authentication by laypersons and experts.

https://www.schreiner-group.com/en/press/detail/reliable-counterfeiting-protection-schreiner-medipharm-presents-digital-and-analog-pharma-security-solutions.html

Its a wonderful concept, you do not really need a greeting card but wish directly from the bag, https://www.boredpanda.com/interactive-product-packaging-design/?media_…

The market for injection devices – autoinjectors and pens – is rapidly growing. Factors such as the trend toward self-medication, the increasing incidence of chronic diseases and a growing biotech sector all play a part and require innovative solutions. Therefore, Schreiner MediPharm developed new features for Autoinjector-Labels: an irreversible first-opening indicator with an anti-recapping functionality and integrated dust protection for challenging applications.

Injection aids for the treatment of diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, anaphylactic shock or multiple sclerosis need to be easy and safe to use, particularly for disabled and motor-impaired patients. Functional labels provide valuable assistance.

Schreiner MediPharm developed a new label concept that features a unique functionality combining first-opening protection with an anti-recapping function and dust protection. The label wraps around the autoinjector including the cap, thus providing effective dust and dirt protection before the device is opened for the first time. The integrated perforation clearly indicates that the label has been opened. The label is positioned in a way that prevents undetected recapping of the autoinjector for illegal reuse. In addition, it includes the following features: a hologram for counterfeiting protection, inspection windows with an anti-UV varnish coating to protect light-sensitive active drugs, a room temperature indicator as well as an anti-slip varnish for enhanced grip and safe handling. A label-integrated NFC chip enables diverse interactive applications to optimally assist the patient. Via a smartphone, additional product information, demo videos or special apps can be read, or mobile product authentication performed.