Client Challenge
We were consulted by a major laboratory in Argentina that required a blister packaging solution suitable for oncology products. The client was looking to incorporate a blister machine that was:
- Basic, for the primary packaging of tablets, easy to operate and maintain.
- Modular, with the possibility of adding accessories or options as needed.
Solution: Neopackaging NBM-100 Blister Machine
After analyzing their needs and evaluating the different options and their performance, it was decided to proceed with an NBM-100 configured according to 21 CFR 11 regulations, which can produce up to 120 blisters per minute.
In this case, we also worked on a special development of the oven to process PVDC specifically according to the blister design. The equipment was also successfully tested with other materials such as PVC, Aclar® Alu Alu, and PET-PE.
The extended loading area allowed us to incorporate an automatic universal feeder with a hopper designed according to GMP principles for tablet loading.
Like all equipment produced by Neopackaging, its main structure is made of AISI 304 stainless steel structural tubing, and the main stations are individually operated by pneumatic actuators.
The control system is PLC-based and features a touchscreen graphical interface for operation, allowing for the configuration of different access security levels with username and password.
Equipped with a pneumatic cold forming system for Alu Alu, a pre-cutting station, and a scrap collector, this blister packaging machine meets all of our client’s requirements and enables efficient, high-quality primary packaging.
In addition, the machine incorporates:
- A Lixis High-Resolution Vision System that detects: color variations, missing product, shape, size, breaks, tears, positioning errors, multiple fillings, cross-contamination, stained, discolored, or pickled product, empty blisters, foreign product, and combinations thereof.
- Microcrack and pore detector for aluminum-on-aluminum blisters, which can occur during the cold forming process of the blister cavities and are generally visually imperceptible.
- Full-pass automatic rejection system. Rejection is performed transversely to the outfeed conveyor to allow integration of the machine into an automatic cartoning system.
Key Benefits for the Laboratory
The acquired machine offers several advantages that optimize productivity, including:
- Simple operation with a user-friendly and intuitive interface.
- High efficiency and reliability, allowing primary packaging of 100 blisters/minute, with minimal waste and low rework.
- Simple maintenance, reducing downtime.
- Compact and modular design. It occupies little space in pilot plants or production lines.
- Optional features such as various types of automatic feeders, vision systems, pressure and temperature or ultrasonic sealing, pre-cutting, photo-centering, laser, inkjet, or other printing; scrap processing, cartoning integration, etc.
- Material flexibility, compatible with a wide range of base materials (PVC, PVDC, Aclar®, Alu-Alu, PET-PE) and lid materials (aluminum, Tyvek®, paper, PET), according to the product’s preservation and presentation needs.
- Energy and operational efficiency. It requires only 3kW and a moderate airflow (400L/min), keeping operating costs under control.
The integration of this packaging solution at our client’s plant resulted in increased productivity, achieving a constant nominal speed without sacrificing the integrity and final quality of the packaging, reducing setup times, and ensuring scalability.
The acquisition of the Neopackaging NBM-100 became a strategic success story. The laboratory not only strengthened its oncology drug production capacity with an efficient and reliable machine, but also built a scalable platform: a basic solution today that can be adapted with additional modules tomorrow, supporting its growth.
This case illustrates how a well-chosen blister packaging machine not only meets immediate needs but also becomes a growth tool for the specialized pharmaceutical industry.
Mauricio Catelotti
Commercial Manager of Neopackaging
Send us your inquiry:
📨 commercial@neo-packaging.com
📲 +54 9 11 6800-7428