A desiccant-equipped dispensing device from Süd-Chemie can be scented to mask unpleasant odors.
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A CR folding carton features die-cut slots on one end flap that align with diecut tabs on the inner wall of the carton to
lock the flap in place. Opening requires a die-cut key that is removed from the carton's external panel. The key slides into
the slots and pushes down the tabs to free the end flap. Material options include polypropylene (PP) or poly-coated paperboard
("KidKey" carton, Chesapeake Pharmaceutical Packaging, Lake Success, NY).
Barrier packaging
Among the barrier films on display, a cyclic olefin copolymer (COC) offers an alternative to coated polyvinyl chloride (PVC).
COC is capable of 5-in. draws and can be coextruded to polyethylene terephthalate glycol or PP for enhanced barrier properties.
Available in 10–48-mm thicknesses, the material uses the same tooling as PVC. Unlike PVC, it doesn't discolor over time (COC
formable web, printed lidstock, printed pouchstock, Tekni-Films, Somerville, NJ).
Custom-shaped, compressed desiccant from Multiform Desiccants stays in place to work invisibly as product is consumed.
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A two-layer alternative provides an oxygen and moisture barrier equivalent to traditional trilayer PVC–PE–polyvinylidene chloride
(PVDC) blister film. Two-layer PVC–PVDC film exhibits excellent lay-flat properties, clarity, and machinability, requires
less sealing heat and dwell time, runs on standard PVC tooling, and cuts costs by at least 25%. PVC and PVDC options include
7.5- or 10-mm PVC with a PVDC layer of 40, 60, 80, 90, or 120 g/m2 . The 10-mm/120 g/m2 structure provides barrier properties equivalent to mid-range Aclar structures (pharmaceutical blister films, Ineos Films, Delaware City, DE).
The "Videojet 3320" laser coder's pilot-laser option facilitates and accelerates alignment when switching marking jobs.
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For ultrahigh barrier requirements, a PVDC with high crystallinity is applied in a 120-g dispersion to create a three-layer
symmetrical PVC–PVDC–PVC film that improves the lay-flat property of finished packages and eliminates confusion about the
location of the PVDC layer. The multilayer film thermoforms in the same temperature range as monolayer PVC and flows consistently.
In addition, the PVC's low coefficient of friction prevents blocking on preheat plates. Available in clear and opaque colors,
the film seals to all standard vinyl-compatible lidstocks. The PVDC-coated film now is produced at plants in North America,
Germany, and Thailand and will be produced in India and Brazil in 2008 ("Pentapharm alfoil E S03" film, Klöckner Pentaplast, Gordonsville, VA). For less-stringent barrier requirements, two-layer PVC–PVDC and three-layer PVC–PE–PVDC structures are
available with enhanced slip properties to improve mold and blister-to-blister de-nest properties and increase filling rates
("Pentapharm alfoil SG" films, Klöckner Pentaplast).
For rigid packaging, multilayer barrier structures include COC–ethylene vinyl alcohol (EVOH)–COC, polyethylene terephthalate
(PET)–EVOH–PET, and PP–EVOH–PP, as well as other tailored resin combinations. The multilayer, injection blow-molded barrier
containers meet US Pharmacopeia requirements for extractables and are compatible with a wide pH range, sterilizable, depyrogenable,
and shatter-resistant. Some structures can be specified in place of Type I glass ("MLx" plastic vials, O-I Healthcare Packaging).
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