Packaging is a key issue in any pharmaceutical plant. Not only because it protects the medicine, but also because it determines delivery speed, traceability, and compliance with increasingly demanding regulations.
The problem is that many lines still rely on manual or semi-automatic processes. This causes delays, sealing errors, material waste, and difficulties in adapting to format changes. All of this translates into extra costs and more pressure on production teams.
The automation of pharmaceutical packaging is the answer to these challenges. By integrating technologies such as flowpack wrappers and automatic feeding systems, companies achieve faster, safer, and more flexible processes, with total control over each package.
What is automated flowpack in the pharmaceutical context?
Flowpack is a horizontal packaging system that wraps individual or grouped products in flexible film, sealing the ends to protect the contents. When automated, sensors, quality controls, coding systems, and automatic feeders are incorporated to ensure a constant and orderly flow of product to the machine.
Synchropack’s automatic feeding systems allow products to be organized and delivered to the wrapper with consistent precision and cadence. This eliminates bottlenecks, minimizes misalignment errors, and reduces downtime, ensuring that the line operates at maximum efficiency even with different product formats or sizes.
Technical benefits of automating pharmaceutical packaging with flowpack
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Sustained productivity and performance
Automation significantly increases production capacity. Modern flowpack wrappers reach speeds of up to 1,000 packages per minute and, combined with automatic feeders, ensure a stable and continuous flow.
This translates into tangible advantages:
- Consistent production rates.
- Reduction of downtime and unnecessary stoppages.
- Ability to meet delivery forecasts without sacrificing quality.
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Consistency, quality, and regulatory compliance
Each package must meet strict safety and traceability standards. Automation ensures uniformity and reduces the variability of manual labor.
In-line sensors and controls verify that:
- The product is correctly aligned and positioned.
- The seal is airtight and uniform.
- The batch and date printing is legible and correct.
This ensures compliance with regulations while minimizing errors that could affect patient safety or regulatory compliance.
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Economic efficiency and waste reduction
Automated control reduces operating costs and material waste. Thanks to the precision of the film dosing and cutting, shrinkage and defective packaging are minimized.
In addition, less human handling reduces the risk of product deterioration or contamination, generating a tangible return on investment in the medium and long term.
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Safety and hygiene in the process
Reducing direct human intervention protects the sterility and stability of the medicine. The hermetic seal of the flowpack acts as a barrier against external agents and ensures that each package maintains the integrity of the product until it reaches its final destination.
Manufacturers benefit from:
- Lower risk of batch recalls.
- Greater confidence in package safety.
- Compliance with hygiene and safety standards.
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Format flexibility and adaptation to demand
The pharmaceutical market, like other sectors such as food, requires rapid adaptability. Flowpack wrappers allow you to switch between formats and sizes quickly and easily.
Automated systems also support different materials:
- Conventional films for standard batches.
- Recyclable mono-materials or barrier films for sensitive or sustainable products.
This offers agility to meet production demands and environmental requirements without losing efficiency.
Use cases in the pharmaceutical sector
Blister packs or packs of sensitive tablets. Tablets that are sensitive to air or moisture can be packaged in flowpacks with barrier film, combining automatic feeding and in-line quality control. This ensures product integrity and facilitates format changes between presentations without losing efficiency.
Sterile medical devices. Devices such as syringes or medical kits require minimal handling and hermetic sealing. Automated flowpack systems maintain sterility, integrate visual inspection and batch coding, ensuring safety and regulatory compliance.
Flexible production and variable batches. Companies that handle niche products or small batches benefit from the ability to change formats quickly, thanks to the modularity of the machines and automatic feeders. This allows them to respond to demand quickly without compromising quality or efficiency.
Automation with flowpack wrappers and automatic feeding systems is a strategic investment for the pharmaceutical industry. It increases productivity, ensures consistency and quality, reduces costs, protects product safety, and offers flexibility in the face of market demand.
For manufacturers looking to optimize their packaging line without compromising safety or traceability, the combination of flowpack and automatic feeding represents a reliable, efficient, and adaptable solution.
