Whether you are a pharmaceutical company or an investor in the pharmaceutical industry, there are a few trends that are emerging in pharmaceutical printing packaging that you will want to consider. These include on-product marking, coatings and laminates, and micro-taggants.
Variable Data on the Labels Can Improve
Increasingly, pharmaceutical manufacturers are using special printing techniques and color effects to provide a visual and textual message about the pharmaceutical printing packaging product. These features may include a 'first opening' label. They also provide consumers with the ability to confirm the authenticity of a product. However, if the label is faulty or mismatched, it may not be read accurately.
Traceability and Counterfeiting Measures
The pharmaceutical industry needs to ensure the security of its products. Traceability of pharmaceutical products is important for the safety of patients, manufacturers, retailers, and other supply chain actors. Using a unique identifier to identify each product allows for quick and safe identification and removal of counterfeit or falsified medicines.
Currently, the most common serialization method for pharmaceutical products is thermal inkjet with labelling technology. The thermal inkjet printer guarantees fast and accurate resolution of the QR code.
Micro-Taggants Are Microscopic Particles Containing Coded Information
Detecting the source of a medicine is an important factor in determining its quality. Using Micro-taggants (microscopic particles) is an effective way to do this. These particles contain coded information that can be read with a variety of hand held devices.
Microtaggants have become very popular in the pharmaceutical industry. Taggants are used to deter counterfeiters and diverters. They can also be used on a variety of products. They can be incorporated into a complex global supply chain. Compared to printed bar codes, taggants are more secure.
Microtaggants are used to encode information into inks, films, and packaging resins. They also come in several different delivery formats. Some of them include laser systems, which can mark pharmaceutical tablets with barcodes. Others are induction wads, which can be read with a special reader.
Coatings and Laminates Enhance the Visual Appeal
Adding a coating or laminate to a label is a great way to enhance the visual appeal of a pharmaceutical print services provider and packaging product. These types of coatings are available in both matte and gloss finishes. Depending on the product's specific requirements, the appropriate coating can elevate the packaging from a mere box to a highly branded object.
The main purpose of these coatings is to provide a layer of protection to a label. While it is not uncommon for a label to be damaged, a coat of the right type of coating will protect your product from scratches, dirt, dust, and water. These coatings are also useful in applications such as adding covert security protection for high value products.
Label coatings can also be used
to highlight specific areas of the design. This can be a useful and inexpensive
technique for ensuring that your label isn't lost in the crowd.
On-product marking technologies
allow for special images or codes to be placed on conventional oral dosage
forms
Using special images and codes on oral dosage forms is a way to enhance security for a product. This type of coding is often used in conjunction with other security measures. A common application is the use of color shifting pigments and films, which change colors when exposed to different light wavelengths. These pigments are deposited in a thick opaque film and may be suitable for screen printing or gravure printing.
Other applications include the use of color shifting films, which have a unique diffractive property and can be used as a tamper evident feature. These pigments require a very dedicated supply source and can only be acquired through specialist ink manufacturers.
These technologies are also used to provide a unique identifier for each dosage unit. This identifier may include the lot number, the strength of the drug, and the expiration date. The unique identifier is assigned during the manufacture of the product and remains with the product until consumed.
Recent Pharmaceutical Packaging Trends
Increasing demand for medications has contributed to strong growth in the pharmaceutical packaging market. However, the industry is experiencing some changes, especially in the Asia Pacific region. The pharmaceutical packaging market in the APAC region is expected to experience a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 12.9% from 2021 to 2030.
The pharmaceutical packaging industry is redefining itself, focusing on the consumer and improving efficiency in its packaging operations. Packaging solutions have evolved to enhance the safety of medicines during storage, transportation and use.
Pharmaceutical companies are also working to find a more sustainable packaging solution. New packaging technologies include eco-friendly packaging and smart technology, such as temperature monitoring and the ability to adjust inventory levels based on consumer demand.
The pharmaceutical packaging industry also focuses on tamper-evident properties, such as a clear label and closure, to enhance safety. These features also allow users to easily read the packaging and understand the drug's dosage.