Packaging
Hybrid Solutions for Just-In-Time Pack Printing take Centre Stage at Pack Expo International
Tuesday 11. November 2008 - Hapa AG, world leader in just-in-time pack printing solutions, will use Pack Expo International to introduce new applications for inline printing of pharma and medical device packaging.
Hapa – which is co-located with Coesia Group sister companies ACMA, Laetus and Volpak – will mark its 75th anniversary year with a demonstration of world-leading competence in flexo, digital Drop On Demand (DOD) inkjet and flexo/digital hybrid printers that deliver quality print, ease of use and huge strides in operational efficiency across a wide range of packaging formats and materials.
Hapas latest offering, Easyflex by Hapa the new cost-effective solution for inline printing of blister foils will make its international debut at Pack Expo. With a price tag of $69,500 – the lowest on the market – the availability of this off-the-shelf product designed for basic blister printing means that the markets best and most proven flexo technology is now available for every application.
Developed in response to the efficiency and environmental demands that are impacting every branch of pharma, Easyflex is suitable for installation on all small- and mid-sized blister machines, and boasts the lowest total cost of ownership on the market. Its format-free universal print cylinder can be used for every job and features such as the simplest installation, operation, service and support routines means that Easyflex delivers 100% Hapa quality combined with an unparalleled price/performance ratio.
Stopping by in Chicago en route to a leading US medical device manufacturer is a novel hybrid digital/flexo printer destined for installation as part of a medical device packaging line. The system harnesses the capabilities of Hapas best selling 200 series UV flexo printer for printing the relevant background for each product, while the product-specific variable data – which in this case includes text and barcode as well as graphics in the form of product image and logo – will be printed using Hapas unique 700 series digital technology.
“Over the past twelve months weve experienced a surge in demand for hybrid solutions,” says Hapas Commercial Director Christoph Staub. “Just-in-time printing has evolved from a niche activity to a mainstream function in pharmaceutical packaging: as the technology has matured, the efficiencies and cost savings afforded by online printing have been embraced by an ever-larger community. Now the advent of traceability legislation combined with a shift from make-to-batch to make-to-order production patterns is generating demand for late stage customization of packs via digital printing – a need that Hapa, with its comprehensive range of technologies and market-leading DOD inkjet, is uniquely able to fulfill.”
The system has been chosen in preference to an existing thermal transfer printer that has proved unreliable and expensive to run, indicating, according to Christoph Staub, a growing recognition among customers of the importance of total cost of ownership and overall equipment effectiveness considerations in purchasing decisions.
Also on show following a successful debut at interpack (Germany, April 2008) is the Hapa 800 LabelJet UV Drop On Demand inkjet system. This enables pharmaceutical, nutraceuticals and vitamins manufacturers to benefit from greater flexibility and productivity, as well as improved Overall Equipment Effectiveness through the capability to print or overprint labels digitally as part of final packaging operations or offline as required.
Each standard system offers fully digital four color process printing of text, barcodes, graphics and images, combined with the onboard intelligence to complete the current print cycle during line stoppages, thereby ensuring that there is no impact on print quality or packaging line efficiency. UV Drop On Demand produces extremely high quality print at up to 720dpi thanks to sophisticated drop placement, with the capacity to print at full label web width.
Production data from standard artwork packages can be uploaded to the printer by means of a secure digital interface and the system is fully compliant with the FDAs 21 CFR part 11 regulations. The increasing demand for sequential numbering and unit dose coding are also catered for thanks to the fully-digital system concept. At the same time, the ability to print both artwork and variable data in a single pass brings high flexibility to production planning.
Also demonstrated on the stand is the Hapa 511 digital laser engraver, designed for fast turnaround of flexographic plates compatible with all Hapa 200 series flexo printers. Designed originally for high volume users, Hapa is finding that its laser engravers are increasingly being purchased by users for whom on-time availability of print mats is mission-critical. The Hapa 511 on show complements the more powerful Hapa 532 model, designed for high-volume production. The control and logistical advantages of in-house production afforded by the Hapa 500 series enable users to exploit the benefits of just-in-time production to full commercial and operational advantage.
Finally, the high quality print and ease of use of Hapas 200 series flexo range is demonstrated on a Volpak vertical pouching machine in the form of a Hapa 236. In a novel execution of this market-leading technology, the inking device is partitioned to allow printing of two colors from a single printing unit, rather than duplexing, as would traditionally be the case.
Using operator and environmentally friendly UV inks, precise matching with any color in the PMS spectrum is assured and high quality graphics and text in any color with verifiable bar codes are guaranteed. Designed for printing medium to large volumes of pharmaceutical packaging substrates, the easy-to-use technology of the Hapa UV Flexo series increases the flexibility of production and its compact design means all of the machines can be easily integrated with any inline or offline packaging machine. Featuring the pilgrim step system for alignment of foil and cylinder at each print cycle, the flexographic printer is format free, allowing different print lengths for different jobs.
Christoph Staub says that Hapa is anticipating a highly successful Pack Expo. “As experts in pharma printing and medical device packaging, we must achieve the highest levels of print quality, efficiency, flexibility and proven reliability with every system we deliver,” he says. “With the addition of Easyflex and our combination of flexographic, semi- and fully-digital and hybrid printer ranges being shown here, we are clearly demonstrating our ability to cater for every requirement, from coding to full pack printing in full color, whatever the batch size as well as our world-leading competence across a wide range of packaging formats and materials.”