Burgopak looks to automated production in US by 2010

March 12, 2009

Packaging News


Burgopak is continuing its expansion in the US pharmaceutical market after gaining child-resistant certification and expects to have automated production up and running next year.

 

London-based Burgopak achieved the US Consumer Product and Safety Commission's F=1 standard for child-resistant effectiveness of its patented sliding packaging in mid-December with a pass rate of 98%.

 

The single- and double-blister packs are also certified to the senior-friendly standard, with a pass rate of 95%.

 

Burgopak chief operating officer Tim Clarke said that added functions "such as compliance and safety information" made the Burgopak ideal for the pharmaceutical market.

 

The pharmaceutical market requires automated pack assembly and the firm hopes to bring production to the US by 2010, following a partnership with RxPak, a subsidiary of McKesson Corporation, that was signed last year.

 

In the UK, Brecon Pharmaceuticals already has fully automated production of the pack using the Bosch Sigpack machinery that will be introduced in the US.

 

"Automation is key for a lot of brands and there's no reason why we can’t adapt machines to give a fully automated solution, perhaps even to offer filling as well as creating the pack itself," said Clarke.

 

The Burgopak ensures that the customer information remains with the product at all times, and the compact size makes it perfect for travel and on-the-go. It can be customised to accommodate nearly any pill, blister of leaflet size, the firm said.