Almac installs Uhlmann Blister Line in new US Commercial Packaging Facility

Almac, a leading provider of contract services to the global Pharmaceutical and Biotech industries, is pleased to announce the acquisition of a state-of-the-art, high-speed blister line for their new 100,000ft² US commercial packaging facility in Audubon, PA.

The versatile UPS 4 blister line will process solid oral dose products, providing primary packaging into a range of materials including PVC, PVC/PVDC, Aclar and Alu/Alu.  Complete with an integrated C2206 cartoner, the line will provide a highly efficient packaging solution with an output of up to 12,000 blisters per hour, in a wide range of blister sizes.

The line is capable of both multi-product blister processing and online blister printing (both flexographic and digital) addressing the need for enhanced patient compliance, whilst ensuring flexibility of supply.

Enhancing product compliance, the line will include a Total Quality Control Center (TQCC) incorporating a checkweigher and integrated print and vision system for auto – rejection of incorrect print / serialisation data including 2D codes.

The blister line will complement the full suite of highly flexible and state of the art commercial packaging equipment already installed in the new Audubon facility.  Supporting high volume marketed products to niche/orphan drug launches, additional key technologies include bottling, walleting and vial labelling/packaging.

Geoff Sloan, VP Manufacturing Operations explained that the partnership with Uhlmann, one of the leading US Pharmaceutical equipment suppliers, was a natural choice.  “Uhlmann were able to provide us with a versatile, high-spec blistering line to match ourUSclient requirements for a high quality, flexible commercial packaging solution.”

Ralf Klotz, Regional Sales Manager, Uhlmann commented “The construction and installation of this equipment proved to be a great project. We are looking forward to a long term partnership with Almac as their US Operations continues to grow. The flexibility of this equipment certainly puts Almac in a position as a leader in contract blister packaging”.

For more information on Almac’s service capabilities, visit almacgroup.com/uspack.  Almac will be exhibiting at Interphex (booth 1109).

Notes to Editors

The Almac Group provides a broad range of services from R&D, biomarker discovery and development, API manufacture, formulation development, clinical trial supply and IXRS^® technology (IVRS/IWRS), to commercial-scale manufacture. Almac provides services to more than 600 companies, including all the world leaders in the pharmaceutical and biotech sectors.  The company employs over 3,300 individuals and is headquartered in Craigavon, Northern Ireland.US operations are based in Pennsylvania, North Carolina and California.