Stora Enso PharmaPak SHR meets the demand for child-resistant pharmaceuticals packaging

Stora Enso and Bosch have introduced a unique packaging concept for pharmaceuticals: Stora Enso PharmaPak SHR, a 'small-hands-resistant', senior-friendly and high-compliance packaging solution.

Stora Enso and Bosch have introduced a unique packaging concept for pharmaceuticals: Stora Enso PharmaPak SHR, a 'small-hands-resistant', senior-friendly and high-compliance packaging solution. The concept consists of an automatic cartoning machine, a novel package design and a specially developed board material. "Stora Enso PharmaPak SHR meets the child-resistance requirements of ISO 8317 standard and aims at the highest child-resistance and senior-friendliness classifications in the United States," says Ismo Saarinen, director of pharmaceutical packaging solutions at Stora Enso. "The focus of the concept is pharmaceutical industry, contract packers and clinical trial service providers, who will use the services of accredited converters and printers. The highest potential for the concept is in the United States, which has the most stringent drug-safety regulations, followed by the United Kingdom and the rest of Western Europe," Saarinen says.

Customized solution with unique material and design PharmaPak SHR is a customized solution, where both the size and configuration of the inserts can be individually determined. It is ideal for unit-dose packages such as blister cards but it can also be used for ampoules, vials and syringes. Thanks to its suitability for versatile unit-dose packaging and applicability for creative patient-guidance schemes, PharmaPak SHR provides optimal compliance performance. "PharmaPak SHR cartons are made from the specially developed board CKB Pharma TR, which has high tear resistance. The cartons are reclosable and have a unique 'both hands' opening system, which makes it easy for adults but keeps the contents from the small hands of children. No special child-resistance features are required for the inserts because the carton is classified as a reclosable package," says Marcus Dehlin, research engineer responsible for the development of PharmaPak SHR cartons at Stora Enso. Bosch provides special machinery The development and manufacturing of PharmaPak SHR packaging machines and worldwide service are conducted by Bosch.

"The packaging machine consists of a carton-manufacturing module that can be combined with a semi- or fully automatic blister infeed and carton-assembling and sealing unit," explains Helmut Deichert from Bosch Packaging Technology. "Our target in the near future is to provide complete packaging lines with blister machine, cartoning machine and final packaging." The value of the global pharmaceuticals market exceeds USD 490 billion annually, with reported growth in 2003 of 9 percent in Europe and 11 percent in the United States. To meet the growing demand for compliance-improving pharmaceuticals packaging, Stora Enso and Bosch entered into a strategic alliance in May 2004.