Packaging

Hapa Set To Impress With Pharma Pack Printing Solutions At interpack 08

Sophisticated product handling is key to the Hapa 800 series’ ability to deliver high quality print

Friday 25. April 2008 - Hapa AG, the Zurich-based supplier of On Demand pack printing technologies for the pharmaceutical, cosmetics and healthcare sectors, is showcasing new additions to its flexographic and digital printer ranges at interpack, reinforcing the company’s status as the leading solutions provider in its field. Celebrating its 75th anniversary this year, Hapa is also introducing a hybrid flexo/digital system to deliver optimum quality, flexibility and cost-effectiveness in applications such as unit dose coding, randomisation and serialisation.

Hapa flexo printers remain the online printing technology of choice on pharmaceutical blister lines worldwide, over four decades on from launch. Fast and straightforward to set-up, the Hapa 200 series machines produce high-quality print via solvent-free UV inks. Their popularity is further enhanced by the use of a flexographic printing plate, which makes for straightforward validation and compliance with pharmaceutical Good Manufacturing Practice.

While printing on blister lidding foil is one of the better-known applications for the Hapa 200, the technology can be applied to a diverse range of reel-fed substrates, demonstrated by the Hapa 210 and Hapa 260 debuting at interpack.

The Hapa 210 is a narrow web printer designed for integration with conventional labelling machines to partially or fully print pre-cut self-adhesive labels. A particular advantage of the Hapa 210 is that no special label stock is required: thanks to instantaneous UV curing of print, the system can print onto virtually any material – coated or uncoated paper, PVC and security labels.

Boasting the widest web width in the range, the Hapa 260 has been developed in co-operation with a leading medical care company to print onto intravenous infusion bag material as an integral part of the production process. As with the Hapa 210, UV curing is key.

The Hapa 800 series is built around UV Drop On Demand, digital printing technology. This produces extremely high quality print thanks to sophisticated drop placement, with the capacity to print at full blister, carton or label web width.

Launched last year, the Hapa 807 BlisterJet system has been introduced to help pharmaceutical manufacturers achieve greater productivity and higher levels of Overall Equipment Effectiveness in their blister packaging operations. The Hapa 807 is the first commercially-available system for Late Stage Customisation of pre-cut pharmaceutical blisters. Its capabilities are being demonstrated at interpack on a complete Late Stage Customisation line, which incorporates an automated blister feeding system and a cartoner.

Based on the success of the Hapa 807 BlisterJet, Hapa has significantly strengthened the Hapa 800 range with the launch of two new models – the CartonJet and LabelJet – both being demonstrated on the Hapa stand. The CartonJet handles pre-folded and glued cartons, while the LabelJet is available in reel-to-reel or inline executions.

A unique hybrid system integrating the Hapa 237 flexo foil printer with a DOD printhead provides a highly inventive solution for pharmaceutical manufacturers needing to comply with forthcoming legislation on traceability of medicines, which in some cases will mean that each pocket of each blister will be required to carry a unique code. This will facilitate tracking and tracing of product from manufacturer to dispensary, even to the point of administration, to ensure patient safety and act as a weapon against the growing threat of counterfeit products entering the supply chain. Cost-effective, high quality and easy to validate flexographic print is used to produce the text and artwork that remains constant, while DOD technology provides the flexibility to deliver unique information at dose or pack level.

Also on show are products from the Hapa 500 series, a range of digital laser engravers for fast turnaround of flexographic plates for all Hapa 200 series printers and the Hapa 700 series, a unique printing system based on a digital process but which utilises a composite screen master to ensure ease of validation and highest quality print for small batch sizes.

Commercial Director Christoph Staub says that Hapa is anticipating a highly successful interpack. “As experts in printing for pharmaceutical packs, we have to achieve the highest levels of print quality, efficiency, flexibility and proven reliability with every system we deliver,” he says. “The combination of flexographic, semi- and fully digital and hybrid printer ranges we are showing at this year’s interpack is our most comprehensive yet, demonstrating our ability to cater for every requirement, from coding to full pack printing in full colour, whatever the batch size.”