Stick Packaging Solutions For Liquid Dose Pharmaceutical Products

PTI Packaging Systems offers innovative solutions for packaging liquid medications, nutraceuticals and supplements in unique stick pack formats.

Jeffrey Crangle, PTI Packaging Systems general manager, commented, "A perfect example of the success of liquid stick is the Reckitt Benckiser Gaviscon pharmaceutical product. Reckitt Benckiser, a global force in household, health & personal care products, pursued new & improved packaging and delivery methods for their Gaviscon liquid medicine. Their goal was to eliminate the bottle/cup/spoon and achieve a more cost effective, lightweight single dose packaging solution."

The Gaviscon 10ml liquid stick package is produced on a Toyo Machine line that consists of two Model™ 80 12 Lane Stick packers with output of 696 sticks per minute. The sticks are then collated into 10, 12, 20, and 24 counts prior to cartoning and case packing. Total combined line speed is 1392 sticks per minute.

Crangle adds, "This operation has successfully achieved Reckitt Benckiser's goal of providing a better delivery method for their Gaviscon product. From start to finish, this is a world-class operation engineered to produce a high quality stick package with excellent seal integrity, efficient utilization of roll stock and minimal product loss. Toyo™ Series Stick Packing machines have been chosen by the world's leading pharmaceutical and food companies. Their form, fill and seal methods are unique to Toyo and provide outstanding reliability, accuracy and efficiency."

Liquid Stick Advantages

• Adaptability to various package sizes and styles.
• Flexibility and compatibility with multiple processing and filling methods.
• Dispensability that also enables packs to collapse around the product.
• Barrier properties tailored to thousands of specific products.
• Convertibility that makes printing, decorating, shaping, and sizing easy.
• Toughness and durability to get product safely through the supply chain.
• Direct delivery of product – protects sterility – more sanitary
• Unit dose package insures precise dosage
• Direct delivery eliminates need for spoons and cups, adding convenience for on-the-go dispensing.

"In recent years the pharmaceutical industry has responded to an increased demand for both prescription and over-the-counter products which are packaged for "unit dose" dispensing," Crangle stated. "Toyo Machine has supplied over 1500 systems to the top 10 Japanese pharmaceutical companies for packaging products into stick packs and four-side seal sachets. This confirms Toyo's capabilities for class leading weight control, seal integrity and pack presentation. Their high levels of operational efficiency produce exceptional standards of pack quality."

SOURCE: PTI Packaging Systems