In Focus on Packaging and Printing

Supplier of Packaging Services Designs and Builds Own Production Equipment In House
Operating out of a 2500-sq-m facility with two Class 8 and five Class 7 cleanrooms, Riverside Medical Packaging Ltd offers an array of medical packaging services and products. In addition to manufacturing peel pouches, the company designs and builds machines that manufacture the pouches together with print and UV curing systems and thermoforming machines. The company recently commissioned and validated its fourth thermoform line that was designed and built in-house.

The company’s blister packing machines feature narrow webs that enable cost-effective tooling and the use of semirigid or flexible blisters. This functionality affords a greater number of custom packaging options to manufacturers who might otherwise have to settle for a standard solution, according to Riverside Medical. In-line single colour printing capability is combined with innovative machine design features to enable rapid tool changes, making blister packs suitable for short runs.
Riverside Medical Packaging Ltd
Derby, UK  +44 1332 755 622
www.riversidemedical.co.uk

Tray sealer shuttles
Beginning with its 2010 models, Atlas Vac Machines will include electric shuttles as standard equipment on its entire line of auto shuttle medical device tray sealers. Previously available only as a special order option, the electric shuttle provides ultra smooth shuttle movement with no operator intervention or adjustments. Unlike manual shuttles, which are operator dependent on each cycle, or optional pneumatic auto shuttles that can be adjusted by operators, the electric shuttle
is smooth and features PLC-driven repeatability.
Atlas Vac Machines
Cincinnati, OH, USA  +1 513 407 3513
www.atlasvac.com

Medical pouch packaging machine
A maker of packaging equipment has developed a machine that it claims provides medical device manufacturers with a way to dramatically lower overall packaging costs for products that use Tyvek, Mylar and other barrier pouches. To reduce labour costs, packagers traditionally have had to choose between a high-cost form, fill and seal machine or a low-cost machine that requires the use of expensive preformed pouches. The new Magnum MD system from PAC Machinery Group is described as a relatively inexpensive machine that allows packagers to use low-cost tubing materials rather than preformed pouches. This results in labour savings of 60% compared with manual packaging operations. Material costs also can be reduced, because preformed pouches are not used, according to the company.

The Magnum design uses tube stock, rather than flat stock, eliminating the need for forming collars, special tooling and complex web controls. The tube stock system engenders a simple, low-maintenance design that still provides the benefit of low material costs by forming pouches in-line as they are filled and sealed. 
PAC Machinery Group
San Rafael, CA, USA  +1 866 773 6736.
www.pacmachinery.com

Marking system
A portable dot peen marking system is designed for handheld use or integration into existing and new machinery. Preloaded leadscrews and ball slides give the Mini  Mark system machine-tool-quality performance and durability. Twelve mounting holes are provided so that it can be mounted at virtually any position or angle. The controls feature CF card storage and local area network and RS-232 connectivity. The Type & Mark function allows users to begin marking without learning new software or reading complex manuals. Graphic importing and 2-D data-matrix marking are included, as are Stick, Dot and Radius fonts.
Kwik Mark Inc.
McHenry, IL, USA  +1 815 363 8268
www.kwikmark.com