SmartWallet, launched by Bosch Packaging Technology, is an easy to manufacture wallet-style pack for solid pharmaceuticals that is convenient, easy to use, tamper evident, reclosable and cost-effective.
Until now complex production requirements have limited the scope of wallet-style packs in the pharma marketplace, but with SmartWallet, production investment is similar to conventional folding boxes, Bosch claims.
The key to SmartWallet's efficiency is the pre-glued outer sleeve of the wallet, which can be erected and loaded with the blister on a conventional cartoning machine. The blister, optionally with an additional paperboard card, is glued into the outer sleeve by means of lateral holding flaps. Leaflets or booklets with further patient guidance can be pre-configured in the outer sleeve, introduced into the wallet during packing, or be integrated into the outer packaging.
SmartWallet cartoning machines have a smaller footprint and require a lower overall investment compared with conventional wallet packing machines. They can also be built to produce both wallets and conventional folding boxes.
The system is capable of production speeds of up to 100 wallets per minute; however, continuous motion wallet cartoners offer production speeds of 300 wallets per minute for higher volume applications. This is ideal for a dual strategy of production, says Bosch, allowing better utilisation of the line, particularly if only a smaller part of the production volume is in a wallet.
Bosch Packaging Technology also showed its GKF 1400 capsule filling and closing machine for filling powder, pellets, liquids and a diverse range of tablets or a combination or media into capsules.
The GKF 1400 operates on an intermittent mode principle and with several dosing stations if required. It is designed for a production capacity of 84,000 capsules per hour and its filling process is especially economical in the event of frequent product changes and medium batch sizes.
Its special capsule cap and body scanner determines whether all capsule parts are contained in the transportation segment. Blockages in the infeed are rectified automatically and incomplete capsule parts are sluiced out.
The dosing station works on the slide gate principle. The tamping pins fill sticky and fine-grained powder into capsules accurately at low loss. This station also processes pellets and other non-tampable products with ease. With the height-adjustable dosing disk, the amount of filling can be quickly adjusted to other products.