MD&M West 2021: ProAmpac revamps medical packaging portfolio with high-barrier films

11 Aug 2021 --- Flexible packaging provider ProAmpac is exhibiting the high-barrier films of its newly branded HC-series week at Medical Design & Manufacturing (MD&M) West, hosted in California, US, this week. 

The HC-600 is a series of high-barrier films for various products in the healthcare and medical packaging sector. The company has also expanded its DuPont Tyvek microbial barrier portfolio, which offers durable and breathable substrates. 

“This updated branding better represents our extensive portfolio of healthcare packaging materials in an easy-to-understand nomenclature, and further establishes our commitment to the overall healthcare market,” Ron Fasano, ProAmpac’s vice president of home, health and beauty sales, tells PackagingInsights.

“Consumer convenience and packaging safety can exist harmoniously. Including easy-open tear notches into packaging should not negate stringent barrier properties or its converse,” Fasano highlights.

Hygienics Heroics
As the pandemic continued throughout 2021, Innova Market Insights named “Hygienic Heroics” as one of its top packaging trends this year.

“We are seeing the demand for medical and healthcare packaging within our market, and customer engagements continue to grow as consumers have a heightened awareness around hygiene, personal health and safety along with the uptick of preventive medical care,” says Fasano.

ProAmpac is showcasing its new healthcare packaging at MD&D West this week.“Considering the demand for healthcare packaging, we felt that minimizing confusion around brand offerings is essential.” 

Portfolio details
The HC-series includes:

• HC-600W films: Suitable for normal (aqueous) and “hard-to-hold” products containing fragrances, alcohols or germ-killing disinfectants.
• HC-600LE low extractable barrier laminations: Developed for demanding applications where common trace contaminants found in most standard laminations could have a negative impact on the product.
• HC-600Al Free lamination alternative: Incorporates aluminum foil barrier without sacrificing strength or sterility.
• HC-400 Poly and Paper: Targets products that require either poly/poly/foil/poly or paper/poly/foil/poly structures, customizable in one or all layers.
• HC-48SG film: Offers reliable high-barrier options to meet industry sterility requirements.

Meanwhile, Dupont Tyvek’s microbial barrier includes rollstock and pouches, chevron peel and flexographic printing capabilities. Tyvek was previously used in Amcor’s paper-based healthcare packaging and its multi-chamber pouches for drug-device combination products. 

ProAmpac’s expertise in flexible films further ranges from soup packaging to frozen food and food-to-go.

Last month, ProAmpac acquired Euroflex, a producer of flexible printed film, lamination and pouching packaging solutions. ProAmpac indicates Euroflex brings extensive expertise in high-barrier flexible packaging and a track record of R&D innovations for resealable and retortable packaging.

By Anni Schleicher