Technology
Hybrid Printing
Systems for pharmaceutical and medical package printing blend traditional and
novel technologies to achieve variability, quality, and cost-efficiency.
Hapa AG (Zurich, Switzerland) is
suggesting the use of just-in-time
inline printing of pharmaceutical
and medical device packaging. Drop-on-demand (DOD) ink-jet and flexo/
digital hybrid printers are designed to
deliver quality printing coupled with
operational efficiency across many
packaging formats and materials.
In addition, worldwide regulatory
interest in sequential numbering and
unit-dose coding can be supported by
digital systems, reports Hapa.
At the same time, pharmaceutical
and medical device manufacturers are
looking for efficient systems that help
them innovate without having to invest
significantly high capital.
“Hapa’s primary focus is on full package printing, not just variable data,”
explains Steve DiAngelis, director of
Hapa, North America (Rockaway, NJ).
“Our print systems are developed to
print at the highest print quality, allowing us to print the entire package in
multiple colors as well as variable data
on each package.”
DiAngelis says that using “hybrids of
different printing technologies allows
the end-user to gain the cost savings
and flexibility of the different areas
of the package that are printed. For
example, in most cases, it is less expensive for the end-user to print product-related information, which repeats
every cycle, with flexotechnology,
which also provides the best online
printing quality. Variable information [can be printed] with noncontact
digital printing technology. This pro-
The Hapa Hybrid 200/700 UV flexo/digital printer can help users apply unique codes cost-effectively.
vides the best of both worlds for the
customer.” He adds that Hapa has
had requests to serialize and bar code
down to the blister tablet.
Adds Hapa’s commercial director
Christoph Staub: “Over the past 12
months, we’ve experienced a surge in
demand for hybrid solutions. Just-in-time printing has evolved from a niche
activity to a mainstream function in
pharmaceutical packaging: as the technology has matured, the efficiencies and
cost savings afforded by online printing
have been embraced by an ever-larger
community.”
Interest in traceability along with a
shift toward reducing inventory is generating demand for late-stage customi-zation via digital printing, adds Staub.
At Pack Expo International, Hapa
displayed a hybrid digital/flexo printer
planned for installation on a medical
device packaging line. The system
features Hapa’s 200-series UV flexo-printer for printing the relevant background for each product as well as
Hapa’s 700-series digital printer for
handling product-specific variable
data like text, bar codes, graphics, and
logos. The system replaces an existing
thermal-transfer printer.
Other systems from Hapa include the
new Easyflex for inline printing of blister foils. Hapa developed the system to
help pharmaceutical companies achieve
efficiency and environmental friendliness. Easyflex can be installed on all
small- and mid-sized blister machines.
A format-free universal print cylinder
can be used for every project.
Also, the Hapa 800 LabelJet UV
DOD ink-jet system produces high-quality print at up to 720 dpi given drop
placement. It can print at full label web
width.
DiAngelis says that with changes
in printing requirements occurring
to handle track-and-trace initiatives,
companies “are taking the opportunity of change to explore full packaging
component printing, giving the additional benefits of packaging component cost savings, reduced logistics, and
warehousing as well as elimination of
packaging component waste and obsolescence.”
Recent projects for DiAngelis have
involved demonstrating quality and
flexibility along with lowering the total
cost of ownership over the life of the
product. ■
