Avery Dennison unveiled the Sharp Tear label featuring new anti-counterfeiting technology that enables serial numbers to be read directly through the label, providing an extra layer of product security for pharmaceutical brands.
The thin and clear co-extruded film has been designed for tamper-evident applications, where an easy tear is required in the label.
‘Counterfeiting has become a very significant threat to all pharma brands,’ said Hans Eichenwald, senior product manager Specialty Segments at Avery Dennison Materials Group. ‘Today, around 10% of drugs sold are already counterfeit according to the World Health Organisation. Sharp Tear offers a rapid and reliable way to secure both product safety and brand reputation without having an impact on productivity or product margins.’
The product reveals tampering immediately by providing a seal that remains intact during normal handling, but which tears easily in one direction if attempts are made to open the package.
Both high clarity (clear) and high opacity (white) versions of Sharp Tear are available, allowing maximum flexibility across different packaging and product types. Sharp Tear can either mask unwanted packaging information or allow important product details to be visible through the label. The label material also delivers high mandrel performance with long-term adhesion, and it comes with the regulatory compliance needed in pharma applications.
The firm also showed pre-filled syringe labels that provide stable light transmission, heat, steam and chemical resistance, and blood plasma bag labels that can be applied permanently onto plasma bags straight out of the freezer, without wiping. Moisture-resistance ensures reliable identification from blood collection through to distribution.
Low-migration labels that improve drug safety by reducing the risk of migration are particularly beneficial with low density polyethylene (PE) containers are also available, plus hanging labels that offer tear resistance and use high shear adhesives for hanging intravenous bottles or pouches.
