Primary Packaging

Ampoules

Ampoule - A container sealed by fusion and to be opened exclusively by breaking. The contents are intended for use on one occasion only.

Important Characteristics of Glass as an Adequate Material for Drugs

Characteristics	Importance
They can filter specific wave lengths	Packaging of photosensitive substances
High fusion point	It tolerates the sterilization process (by vapor at 1,210°C, and dry at 2,600°C) – microbiologic control.
Excellent chemical resistance	It hardly interacts with its content
Impermeability	Important barrier between media
Smooth surface	Easy to clean
Rigidity and stability	Withstands vacuum
It follows a structural pattern of a mold	Ease to make several containers

Types of Ampoule

Pharmaceutical Ampoules

One Point Cut (OPC) Ampoules – a small incision (cut) is placed in the constriction of the ampoule with a disc. A small colored dot marks the position of the breaking cut.
Colour Break Ring (CBR) Ampoules – a colored enamel ring is applied around the constriction.
Score-ringed Ampoules – a disc marks the glass surface all around the constriction.

Ampoule Cleaning

Cleaning via ultrasonic washing machine
This machine is mainly used in the pharmaceutical industry for small volume ampoule cleaning.

Cleaning via ampoule sterilization dryer
Mainly used on the injection linked production line of pharmaceutical factories. It can continuously dry, sterilize and remove pyrogen of the washed ampoule.

Cleaning carousel
The rotating gripper/transport system accepts the container smoothly and transfers to the different cleaning stations in continuous motion, where the containers are treated for pre-determined period of time.

Cleaning of inside and outside with purified water
The first cleaning station is operated with purified water, which can be recirculated. The same water quality is applied for filling the containers in front of the ultrasonic bath and the needles of the first cleaning station. By that the fresh water consumption is reduced to a minimum. A senor in the purified water tank controls the water level. A permanent renewal of the water is achieved by collecting the overflow from the final rinse station.

All water going into the needles is filtered with particle filters, which are placed in the water feed system. An additional wire cloth filter positioned in the drain of the tank in front of the recirculation pumps hold back macroscopic particles such as glass splinters, which could damage the pumps.

Cleaning with fresh water (WFI)
It performs a final rinse of the inside of the containers in order to remove particles which were detached from the glass surface durin prior steps. This step is more dilution than mechanical removal.

Drying with sterile air
To avoid residues from drying of water droplets on top of the glass surface, residual water is removed with pressurized sterile filtered air.

Siliconization
Performed at the end of the cleaning cycle. The goal of siliconization is a homogenous coating of the inside of the container with a silicon layer, which will be cured as an integral part of the sterilization and depyrogentaion process in the heat tunnel.

Image courtesy of BAUSCH Advanced Technology Group

Ampoule Depyrogenation

Involves the sterilization of the ampoules with hot air and constantly recirculated. The ampoules are then cooled gently before they are automatically transferred into the next production process.

Image courtesy of BAUSCH Advanced Technology Group

Ampoule Dosing

Peristaltic Pump Filling
The peristaltic pump uses a rotor in which multiple rollers are mounted. Partially surrounding the rotor is a stationary, curved shoe or “anvil”. A flexible, hollow tube (usually silicone rubber) is pinched between each roller and the shoe. As the rotor rotates, fluid inside the tube is driven forward as the pinched portion of the tubing advances.

Piston Pumps
The piston pump, along with the rolling diaphragm pump, may be compared to a syringe in that they both employ a moving piston inside a stationary cylinder to displace a precise amount of liquid. As the piston moves upward, liquid is forced out of the pump and when it moves downward, liquid is drawn into the pump.

Rolling Diaphragm Pump
The rolling diaphragm pump uses a flexible membrane (diaphragm) attached to the pump body at its outside diameter and to the piston at its inside diameter. A space between the piston and the body internal body cylinder allows the diaphragm to be “doubled” and to “roll” as the piston moves up and down. Vacuum is applied to a port in the lower portion of the pump body to maintain the shape of the diaphragm and to pull the piston downward on the refill portion of the filling cycle. Typically, the product supply has a slight overpressure.

Ampoule Filling

Time Pressure Filling
A time pressure filling system in its simplest form, includes a product supply vessel under controlled pressure, a valve to open and close the product flow from the tank to the filling needle, and a clock or timing device to repeatedly control the amount of time that the valve is open.

Fill by weight
The product supply tank may or may not be pressurized, and a flow orifice may be used to improve repeatability.

Mass Flow Filling
The product supply tank may be pressurized at a control pressure, or may use a precisely controlled liquid level (gravity feed). For small fills, common in pharmaceutical filling, a pressurized system provides more precise fill volume control and acceptable cycle rates.

Gravimetric Filling
A gravimetric filling system is simply a system that uses gravity, or a controlled liquid height, to provide a consistent pressure at the metering device near the filling needle. A simple time pressure filling system or a fill by weight system may be gravimetric. These system use a “clock” and a valve (time pressure) and a scale and a valve (fill by weight) for metering doses.

Images courtesy of BAUSCH Advanced Technology Group

Ampoule Labelling

Containers are fed from an upstream machine then gently transferred to the labeling station and applied to the containers by smoothing belts and rollers.

Images courtesy of BAUSCH Advanced Technology Group

Ampoule Tray Loading

Products are collated onto tray banks, hence product stabilization is established and controlled throughout the process.

Images courtesy of BAUSCH Advanced Technology Group

Pharmaceutical Distribution Bags

Pharmaceutical Distribution Bags – a container consisting of surfaces, whether or not with a flat bottom made of flexible material, closed at the bottom and at the sides by sealing; the top may be closed by fusion of the material, depending on the intended use.

This may be used for the identification, validation, authentication, and tracking and tracing of pharmaceuticals in the supply chain, including individual units or batched of pharmaceuticals being filled, stored, packaged and transported.

Intravenous Bag Dosing

Peristaltic Pump Filling
The peristaltic pump uses a rotor in which multiple rollers are mounted. Partially surrounding the rotor is a stationary, curved shoe or “anvil”. A flexible, hollow tube (usually silicone rubber) is pinched between each roller and the shoe. As the rotor rotates, fluid inside the tube is driven forward as the pinched portion of the tubing advances.

Piston Pumps
The piston pump, along with the rolling diaphragm pump, may be compared to a syringe in that they both employ a moving piston inside a stationary cylinder to displace a precise amount of liquid. As the piston moves upward, liquid is forced out of the pump and when it moves downward, liquid is drawn into the pump.

Rolling Diaphragm Pump
The rolling diaphragm pump uses a flexible membrane (diaphragm) attached to the pump body at its outside diameter and to the piston at its inside diameter. A space between the piston and the body internal body cylinder allows the diaphragm to be “doubled” and to “roll” as the piston moves up and down. Vacuum is applied to a port in the lower portion of the pump body to maintain the shape of the diaphragm and to pull the piston downward on the refill portion of the filling cycle. Typically, the product supply has a slight overpressure.

Intravenous Bag Filling

Time Pressure Filling
A time pressure filling system in its simplest form, includes a product supply vessel under controlled pressure, a valve to open and close the product flow from the tank to the filling needle, and a clock or timing device to repeatedly control the amount of time that the valve is open.

Fill by weight
The product supply tank may or may not be pressurized, and a flow orifice may be used to improve repeatability.

Mass Flow Filling
The product supply tank may be pressurized at a control pressure, or may use a precisely controlled liquid level (gravity feed). For small fills, common in pharmaceutical filling, a pressurized system provides more precise fill volume control and acceptable cycle rates.

Gravimetric Filling
A gravimetric filling system is simply a system that uses gravity, or a controlled liquid height, to provide a consistent pressure at the metering device near the filling needle. A simple time pressure filling system or a fill by weight system may be gravimetric. These system use a “clock” and a valve (time pressure) and a scale and a valve (fill by weight) for metering doses.

Blisters

Blister – a multi-dose container consisting of two layers, of which one is shaped to contain the individual doses. Strips are excluded.

Uses of Blister Packaging in Pharmaceutical Industry

They provide barrier protection for shelf life requirements.
They also provide a degree of tamper resistance.
It can offer patients a clearly marked individual dose, enabling them to check whether they had taken the prescribed drugs on a given day.
When the drugs that were not taken remained in the original package and were fully protected against adverse external conditions.
The patient could handle the blister package more easily and could store it more conveniently than conventional packages.
Protection from moisture, gas, light and temperature.

Advantages of Blister Type Packaging

Prevention of broken glass bottles.
Reduced costs and higher packaging speeds relative to other packaging materials.
Blister packaging helps retain product integrity since drugs that are prepackaged in blisters are shielded from adverse conditions.
Opportunities for product contamination are minimal.
Each dose is identified by product name, lot number and expiration date.
Individually sealed in constructions of plastic, foil and/or paper. Tamper evidence is another strength of blister packaging. Each tablet or capsule is individually protected from tampering until use.

Blister Packaging Machinery

Modern thermoform-fill-seal machined can operate at speeds ≤ 800 packages/min. Emphasis in improving production is placed on applying microprocessor controls that electronically connect the filling and forming equipment with other downstream machinery for cartoning and wrapping. These controls also feed tablets or liquids into the unit-dose blisters, ensuring that an exact volume is put into each. Modern machinery also uses integrated vision systems to help ensure the accuracy of the fill and the integrity of the product in the blister. These machines have become quite versatile and can readily accommodate several lidstocks and basestock, allowing the manufacturer to obtain better compatibility between the medicine and its packaging material as well as better patient compliance.

Bottles

Bottle – a container with a more or less pronounced neck and usually a flat bottom.

PET or PETE – Polyethylene Terephthalate is a clear, lightweight form of plastic, popular with beverage makers and for bottled water, oil and some pharmaceutical products.
HDPE – High Density Polyethylene is used as food and households items containers.
PVC – Polyvinyl chloride is used for many liquids, but not for food items.
LDPE – Low Density Polyethylene is lightweight and flexible.
PP – Propylene is a string plastic often used for boxes, containers, prescription bottles and margarine and yoghurt containers.
Glass used for bottles is either soda-lime glass and lead crystal glass or cut glass. Soda-lime glass is commonly used for all bottle while lead crystal glass is used for fragrances.

Cartridge

Cartridge – usually cylindrical, suitable for liquid or solid pharmaceutical dosage forms; generally for use in a specifically designed apparatus. (e.g. prefilled syringes).

Cartridge Cleaning

1. Cleaning via ultrasonic washing machine – this machine is mainly used in the pharmaceutical industry for small volume ampoule cleaning.
2. Cleaning via sterilization dryer – mainly used on the injection linked production line of pharmaceutical factories. It can continuously dry, sterilize and remove pyrogen of the washed ampoule.

Cartridge Depyrogenation

Involves the sterilization of the cartridge with hot air and constantly recirculated. The cartridge are then cooled gently before they are automatically transferred into the next production process.

Cartridge Dosing

Peristaltic Pump Filling
The peristaltic pump uses a rotor in which multiple rollers are mounted. Partially surrounding the rotor is a stationary, curved shoe or “anvil”. A flexible, hollow tube (usually silicone rubber) is pinched between each roller and the shoe. As the rotor rotates, fluid inside the tube is driven forward as the pinched portion of the tubing advances.

Piston Pumps
The piston pump, along with the rolling diaphragm pump, may be compared to a syringe in that they both employ a moving piston inside a stationary cylinder to displace a precise amount of liquid. As the piston moves upward, liquid is forced out of the pump and when it moves downward, liquid is drawn into the pump.

Rolling Diaphragm Pump
The rolling diaphragm pump uses a flexible membrane (diaphragm) attached to the pump body at its outside diameter and to the piston at its inside diameter. A space between the piston and the body internal body cylinder allows the diaphragm to be “doubled” and to “roll” as the piston moves up and down. Vacuum is applied to a port in the lower portion of the pump body to maintain the shape of the diaphragm and to pull the piston downward on the refill portion of the filling cycle. Typically, the product supply has a slight overpressure.

Cartridge Filling

Time Pressure Filling
A time pressure filling system in its simplest form, includes a product supply vessel under controlled pressure, a valve to open and close the product flow from the tank to the filling needle, and a clock or timing device to repeatedly control the amount of time that the valve is open.

Fill by weight
The product supply tank may or may not be pressurized, and a flow orifice may be used to improve repeatability.

Mass Flow Filling
The product supply tank may be pressurized at a control pressure, or may use a precisely controlled liquid level (gravity feed). For small fills, common in pharmaceutical filling, a pressurized system provides more precise fill volume control and acceptable cycle rates.

Gravimetric Filling
A gravimetric filling system is simply a system that uses gravity, or a controlled liquid height, to provide a consistent pressure at the metering device near the filling needle. A simple time pressure filling system or a fill by weight system may be gravimetric. These system use a “clock” and a valve (time pressure) and a scale and a valve (fill by weight) for metering doses.

Cartridge Labelling

Containers are fed from an upstream machine then gently transferred to the labeling station and applied to the containers by smoothing belts and rollers.

Cartridge Tray Loading

Products are collated onto tray banks, hence product stabilization is established and controlled throughout the process.

Gas Cylinder

Gas Cylinder – usually cylindrical, suitable for compressed, liquefied or dissolved gas, fitted with a device to regulate the spontaneous outflow of gas at atmospheric pressure and room temperature.

General case: cylinders of single gases

Validation of the cylinder filling process is performed by a weighing (or double weighing) control, including the calculation of the mean, standard deviation and coefficients of variation, or by pressure if justified.

This validation should ideally be presented for all types of cylinder, but at least for critical types of containers. A bracketing approach may be used as a function of the capacity, material used for construction and whether fitted with a built-in pressure regulator or a residual pressure valve. If needs be, for each type of alloy used, a single validation can be performed on one cylinder of this alloy, on the condition that this is justified.

Validation can be performed by determining the amount of gas contained in a cylinder compared with a reference cylinder filled with the charge of gas to avoid the problems of fluctuations in pressure as a function of temperature. The reproducibility of filling is also verified whatever the composition of the finished product batch (homogenous or heterogeneous).

For compressed gases, the temperature and pressure stabilisation time after filling which depends upon various capacities, nature of material, thermal exchange, ambient temperature (and any variation in it during the stabilisation time), rate of filling of the cylinder, airflow over the cylinder and its proximity to any adjacent filled cylinders is specified, unless otherwise justified. Cylinders, which have been returned for filling, are prepared in accordance with Annex 6 of the GMP.

The integrity of the filling system to indicate leak tightness to prevent possible contamination of the system under vacuum or an estimate of the yield accounted for losses as an annual average is provided. The tolerated limits of temperature and pressure are provided (specifying especially the hydrostatic pressure test and the bursting pressure of the cylinder). On the safety level, any problems of possible overload of compressed or liquefied gas are addressed.

Other containers for single gases

In the case of cylinder bundles and mobile evaporators, validation of the filling procedure is also performed by weighing or by pressure if justified.

In the case of fixed evaporators, validation can consist of the absence of impurity enrichment due to the formation of degradation products with time, to trapping because of the temperature and to transfers from one container to another during the manufacturing process or during sampling. It is specified whether the impurities remain at the same proportions between the gaseous and liquid phases as the container is emptied. The minimal threshold for filling the fixed evaporator is specified to avoid any risk of impurity enrichment.

Analytical Procedure

In the case of liquefied gases, the nature of the phase (liquid or gaseous) is indicated, as is the method of sampling for the control. In the case of impurities that are preferentially present in the gaseous phase and eliminated to a large extent during the first drawing off (e.g. nitric oxide in medical nitrous oxide), the order of analyses is specified.

Medicinal gases are often packaged in a wide range of containers:

− compressed gas cylinders,

− liquefied gas cylinders, with or without a dip tube,

− cylinder bundle,

− mobile evaporator,

− fixed evaporator,

− mobile cryogenic container,

− fixed cryogenic container.

A variety of reference codes exist, depending on the supplier, capacity and material, particularly in the case of cylinders. For each reference and each capacity, the water capacity of the container (in L), the amount of gaseous product released at 1atm and 15°C (in m3), and the weight of product stored (in g for compressed gases or in kg for liquefied gases) are provided, together with the accepted deviations. For liquefied gas cylinders, the pressure remains constant then falls suddenly at the end of use. Therefore, only the weight monitors the state of filling. The filling pressure (at 15° C) is justified in comparison with the weight formula.

Injection Needle

Injection needle – a hollow needle with a locking device intended for the administration of liquid pharmaceutical dosage forms.

Injection Syringe

Injection syringe – a cylindrical device with a cannula-like nozzle, with or without a fixed needle and a movable piston, used for the administration, usually parenteral, of an accurately measured quantity of a liquid pharmaceutical form. The syringe may be prefilled, and can be for single-dose or multi-dose use.

Types of Injection Syringe

Hypodermic syringes - calibrated (marked) in cubic centimeters (cc), milliliters (mL), or units. Practitioners often refer to syringes by the volume of cubic centimeters they contain, for example, a 3 cc syringe.
Oral syringes - used for the transport and administration of non-injectable liquid medication. The oral syringes’ assembly usually consists of a polypropylene barrel imprinted with a graduated scale in milliliters and barrels are available in either clear or amber.
Insulin syringes - used for the subcutaneous injection of insulin and are calibrated in units rather than milliliters. Insulin is a hormone used to treat patients who have insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM). It is supplied as a premixed liquid measured in standardized units of potency rather than by weight or volume. These standardized units are called USP units, which are often shortened to units. The most commonly prepared concentration of insulin is 100 units per milliliter, which is referred to as units 100 insulin and is abbreviated as U-100 on insulin labels.
Tuberculin syringe - is calibrated in hundredths of a milliliter. Because there are 100 lines on the syringe, each line represents 0.01 mL. This syringe is used for intradermal injection of very small amounts of substances in tests for tuberculosis and allergies, as well as for intramuscular injection of small quantities of medication. The tuberculin syringe is the preferred syringe for use in measuring medications less than 1 mL.

Pressurized Containers

Pressurized container – suitable for compressed, liquefied or dissolved gas fitted with a device that, after its actuation, produces a controlled spontaneous release of the contents at atmospheric pressure and room temperature.

Aerosol Filling Methods

Positive Displacement Product Filling
This method has a fill accuracy typically + or – ½ mL and capable of filling many different product types and viscosities up to 50,000 centipoise.

Gassing Through the Aerosol Valve Stem
1. The head lowers onto the crimped can sealing on the aerosol valve stem or pedestal.
2. Gas is injected via a gas metering pump into the aerosol valve either by hydraulic force or mechanically opening the aerosol valve.
3. The head raise off the aerosol valve which allows the valve to close.
Advantages:
- Only ¼ to 1 cc gas loss between the aerosol valve and gassing head each cycle.
- Maintenance is minimal.
- Modern valves fill at 100 cc per second.
Disadvantages
- Some metered valve do not work.

Under the Cup Gassing
1. Vacuum is pulled to evacuate moisture and atmospheric pressure that may corrode the can or contaminate the product.
2. The aerosol valve is lifted form the can top opening.
3. Gas is injected around the aerosol valve into the aerosol into the aerosol can from a metered injection pump.
4. The aerosol valve is pushed back into the can top opening for the crimping process.
Advantages
- Faster gassing.
- Meter dosed valve can be gassed.
- Gassing button on valves is faster.
Disadvantages
- 3-5 mL of gas loss left between the can and the crimp head per cycle, requiring costly reclaim due to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations.

Nitrous Oxide and Carbon Dioxide Gassing
Nitrous oxide and carbon dioxide are used as propellants to deliver food products.

     Method 1 – Gas is mixed with the product in saturation towers until blended properly. The product and CO₂are filled into the aerosol container as one.

     Method 2 – Gas is injected through the aerosol valve stem using time over high pressure. Sometime the CO₂is heated to aid in saturation. Shaking is common during gassing.

    Method 3 - CO₂is injected under the aerosol valve cup using time over pressure. Restricted valve lift helps to create turbulence for saturation.

Advantages:
- Non flammable
- Does not always require shaking
Disadvantages
- Product incompatibility may arise.
- Can orientation is critical to ensure gas does not empty before product is empty.

Single Dose Container

Single-dose container – a container consisting of two layers, usually provided with perforations, suitable for containing single doses of solid or semi-solid preparations. Blisters are excluded.

Tube

Tube – a container for multi-dose semi-solid pharmaceutical forms consisting of collapsible material; the contents are released via a nozzle by squeezing the package.

Filling of semi-solid dosage forms

Automatic Process
1. The water soluble (aqueous phase) components are dissolved in demineralized (free from dissolved minerals) water. This process is called the water phase, and it is done in a particular container, known as the water phase vessel.
2. Similarly, the wax and oil components are mixed in another container, referred to as the wax phase vessel.
3. Both these containers are heated and mixed thoroughly with the help of motor-driven agitators.
4. After this, all these components (i.e. the melted wax and heated water) are filtered and moved to another container through pipes with the help of vacuum system. This one is called the ointment manufacturing vessel. The drug component of the ointment are added at this step while heating and stirring the mixture.
5. High-speed homogenizers and emulsifiers are also used for the homogenization and emulsification of the mixture to distribute the components as uniformly as possible.
6. When the product is ready, a bump pump is used to transfer it to the storage tank. The storage vessel usually has heating and moving facility.
7. The storage vessel is, then taken to the filling machine and the material is heated to make the transfer easy. Then a metering pump is used to transfer the product to the hopper of the filling machine.
8. Triple roller mill is used to remove the extra water from the final product before filling into the tubes. It also helps further homogenizing the product.
9. The tubes are loaded into the filling machine. The piston of the filling machine cylinder sends out the calculated amount of the ointment take goes through a nozzle into the tube due to sucking mechanism.
10. After filling, the tube passes through the pressing station, crimping station and coding stations respectively.
11. In the case of plastic tubes, they first go to the air blowing station where hot air is blown at the end of every tube. In the end, there are sealing and trimming processes after which they are ejected out from the filling machine.
12. CIP systems automatically wash all the containers used in the processes.
Semi-Automatic Process
1. Water is first heated in a container; then wax components are added in the same container. They are stirred and heated together. The drug components are also introduced in the same container; heating and stirring are continued. The planetary mixer is used to help the thorough mixing.
2. The material is transferred to the storage vessel passing through a colloid mill for the reduction of particle size as well as for the proper homogenization of the product. The storage vessel will have a heating system and wheels for movement.
3. The material is heated in the storage vessel to make sure easy transport to the filling machine. The metering pump is used for the transportation. Triple Roller Mill helps in removing extra liquid content from the final product.
4. The procedure for filing, sealing and packing tubes is also the same as automatic.
5. The vessels and containers used in the process are washed and cleanes.

Vial

Vial – A small container for parenteral medicinal products, with a stopper and over seal; the contents are removed after piercing the stopper.

Vial Cleaning

1. Cleaning via ultrasonic washing machine – this machine is mainly used in the pharmaceutical industry for small volume vial cleaning.
2. Cleaning via vial sterilization dryer – mainly used on the injection linked production line of pharmaceutical factories. It can continuously dry, sterilize and remove pyrogen of the washed vial.

Vial Depyrogenation

Involves the sterilization of the vial with hot air and constantly recirculated. The ampoules are then cooled gently before they are automatically transferred into the next production process.

Vial Dosing

Peristaltic Pump Filling
The peristaltic pump uses a rotor in which multiple rollers are mounted. Partially surrounding the rotor is a stationary, curved shoe or “anvil”. A flexible, hollow tube (usually silicone rubber) is pinched between each roller and the shoe. As the rotor rotates, fluid inside the tube is driven forward as the pinched portion of the tubing advances.

Piston Pumps
The piston pump, along with the rolling diaphragm pump, may be compared to a syringe in that they both employ a moving piston inside a stationary cylinder to displace a precise amount of liquid. As the piston moves upward, liquid is forced out of the pump and when it moves downward, liquid is drawn into the pump.

Rolling Diaphragm Pump
The rolling diaphragm pump uses a flexible membrane (diaphragm) attached to the pump body at its outside diameter and to the piston at its inside diameter. A space between the piston and the body internal body cylinder allows the diaphragm to be “doubled” and to “roll” as the piston moves up and down. Vacuum is applied to a port in the lower portion of the pump body to maintain the shape of the diaphragm and to pull the piston downward on the refill portion of the filling cycle. Typically, the product supply has a slight overpressure.

Vial Filling

Time Pressure Filling
A time pressure filling system in its simplest form, includes a product supply vessel under controlled pressure, a valve to open and close the product flow from the tank to the filling needle, and a clock or timing device to repeatedly control the amount of time that the valve is open.

Fill by weight
The product supply tank may or may not be pressurized, and a flow orifice may be used to improve repeatability.

Mass Flow Filling
The product supply tank may be pressurized at a control pressure, or may use a precisely controlled liquid level (gravity feed). For small fills, common in pharmaceutical filling, a pressurized system provides more precise fill volume control and acceptable cycle rates.

Gravimetric Filling
A gravimetric filling system is simply a system that uses gravity, or a controlled liquid height, to provide a consistent pressure at the metering device near the filling needle. A simple time pressure filling system or a fill by weight system may be gravimetric. These system use a “clock” and a valve (time pressure) and a scale and a valve (fill by weight) for metering doses.

Vial Sealing

Vials and bottle are sealed by closing the opening with a rubber closure or stopper.

When rubber closures are to be inserted mechanically, the surface of the closure is often “halogenated” or “siliconized” to give it less friction.

Mechanical stoppering has been developed to meet the need for high speed production.

Rubber closures are held in place by means of aluminum caps.

Vial Labelling

Containers are fed from an upstream machine then gently transferred to the labeling station and applied to the containers by smoothing belts and rollers.

Vial Tray Loading

Products are collated onto tray banks, hence product stabilization is established and controlled throughout the process