As a contract packaging company, Stegemann is responsible for serialising packaging materials according to customer requirements and various country standards. For rolled label printing, they rely on the T11 Manual Mark & Verify from Mettler-Toledo.
Serialisation solution for various applications
The T11 system enables the creation and inspection of labels with serialised data using a single integrated system. A smart camera checks all data for presence and correctness. Any faulty printed labels can be identified and removed.
Stegemann receives the serial numbers of the products from their marketing authorisation holder (MAH). Cloud-based software from tracekey acts as the interface that receives the serial numbers. Orders are then created by Stegemann in tracekey and forwarded to PCE Line Manager Direct (PLM Direct), the track and trace software from Mettler-Toledo. The PLM Direct software is located on the line and imports the information required for labelling and serialisation.
After processing and reporting back the serial numbers from PLM Direct to tracekey, the serial numbers are finally sent back to the MAH to be recorded in the database. “The advantage is that we can configure or set the parameters ourselves, so that we can implement the requirements we receive from the customer directly into the system one-to-one,” explains Nancy Fricke, who’s responsible for GMP compliance at Stegemann.
Ms Fricke is not only pleased with the newly created interface, but also with the entire set-up process. “We have always been very satisfied with our track and trace solutions from Mettler-Toledo. Therefore, we were looking for software that we could connect to the existing system,” she adds.
The decision was finally made to go with tracekey, a company providing Software as a Service (SaaS). tracekey solutions offers Levels 4 and 5 software solutions in the cloud, helping pharmaceutical companies to meet global serialisation requirements.
"tracekey is a particularly good fit for us because we are only a small company with about 120 employees," says Ms Fricke. During the set-up, Stegemann received support from both sides. “Mettler-Toledo understood our requirements and explained to us exactly how we could implement this project. The co-operation with tracekey was also very straightforward, as we received answers to our questions whenever we asked,” says Ms Fricke.
Stegemann's customers also like the Mettler-Toledo solutions combined with tracekey software. “We were able to keep an existing customer because we were able to create this interface exchange. Other orders were also secured," Ms Fricke comments. “Many customers are also familiar with both our Mettler-Toledo solution and tracekey software. This provides confidence in our processes."
Conformity with international standards
As a contract packaging company, it is important for Stegemann to comply with international standards. All of the track and trace systems used help to meet the standards of the pharmaceutical industry, including the GS1 standard and good manufacturing practice (GMP) guidelines.
Another advantage is the user friendliness of the interface. "Of course, it always depends on how experienced people are with using the software. However, the tracekey software is self-explanatory and therefore intuitive to use," says Ms Fricke. "The interface between the Mettler-Toledo solution and tracekey software is very stable. I don’t have to worry about data being lost or the system not working. This trust is very important for our daily work."
Regular service support
To ensure that the equipment and software are always up to date, Stegemann relies on service support from both sides. "We are very satisfied with the service from Mettler-Toledo. The technicians on site are always there to help us with any questions. Even when we purchased a new system some time ago, we were trained by the Mettler-Toledo service technicians," explains Ms Fricke.
"With a SaaS system, the main responsibility for validation and for the functioning of the system lies with the provider. However, we were happy to hand over these responsibilities. The extensive service and regular updates we receive through tracekey are wonderful."
Stegemann not only relies on the regular updates to protect the systems from failure, but is also excited about new features. "I was very happy about the last update because the feature was a request of mine. I feel that customer requests are really heard at tracekey."
Stegemann has recognised that the greatest challenges in everyday work are the constantly growing requirements and regulations. In this context, the contract packaging company particularly appreciates Mettler-Toledo’s solutions, as these are kept up to date through constant development and cover all requirements as they change.
