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        • Dr. Benedikt Moser

          Contact me

          Dr. Benedikt Moser

          CTO and Materials Expert

          Tel: +41 52 551 11 33
          Mail: CTO@suisse-tp.ch

        • Patrik Bachmann

          contact me

          Patrik Bachmann

          Laboratory Manager Chemical Analysis

          Tel: +41 52 551 11 69
          Mail: analytics@suisse-tp.ch

        • Dirk Nusshär

          Contact me

          Dr. Dirk Nusshär

          surfaces expert

          Tel: +41 52 551 11 37
          Mail: surfaces@suisse-tp.ch

  • packaging-
    development
    analyze, develop, optimize and
    test with regard to barrier properties

PACKAGING DEVELOPMENT

Experts for pharmaceutical barrier packaging

Our pharmaceutical packaging experts develop, optimize, analyze and test packaging with the aim of optimizing barrier properties and thus ensuring the stability of your products. 

We focus on:

We offer comprehensive know-how for pharmaceutical packaging:

  • Thermoformed and cold-formed blisters (thermoforming and coldforming)
  • stick packs
  • pouches
  • bottles
  • Injection vials / vials
  • Syringes

Our range of services extends from standardized testing to unconventional analysis methods. Benefit from our history as a former research center of a global corporation and place your trust in our exceptional material know-how, our great expertise and our first-class laboratory infrastructure.

Packaging development
Progress through material expertise

The demands placed on pharmaceutical packaging are varied and high. The packaging, which is mainly made of plastic and aluminum, must meet high functional requirements, for example in terms of barrier, sealability or formability. In addition, increasingly stringent requirements apply with regard to recyclability and the absence of halogens such as chlorine or fluorine.

The high requirements often conflict with material and cost reduction. Consequently, the physical and mechanical properties of materials should be exploited to the full. This requires a sound and comprehensive understanding of materials.

As an independent service provider, Suisse Technology Partners AG is a long-standing partner of the pharmaceutical industry and supports its customers in packaging development, product and process optimization or in the event of damage (damage analysis). 

Barrier and shelf life

In order to guarantee the functionality and shelf life of pharmaceutical products, the contents must be protected from external influences such as moisture or oxygen and the effects of temperature.

The barrier of both thermoformed and cold-formed blisters can be determined using numerical simulation and specifically developed analytical calculation methods. 

BARRIER CALCULATION OF THERMOFORMED BLISTERS

Analyse der Dickenverteilung
Analysis of the thickness distribution of a thermoformed blister

Analytical barrier calculation (WVTR, OXTR) based on thickness measurements on existing blisters 

Numerical barrier calculation (WVTR, OXTR) using FEM (finite element method).

In thermoformed blisters, the forming process has a direct impact on the barrier properties of the packaging and consequently on the shelf life of the product. By using numerical simulation methods, predictions can be made without having to invest in expensive forming tools.

The material properties required for this are determined in specially developed test procedures in our own laboratories. 

Verpackungsentwicklung - thermoforming Simulation

BARRIER CALCULATION OF COLD-FORMED BLISTERS (CROSS-DIFFUSION)

Verpackungsentwicklung - Cross diffusion

Although aluminum is considered a 100 percent barrier against water vapor and oxygen, moisture can penetrate through the sealing layer of an aluminum blister and damage the product or reduce its service life. This so-called cross diffusion can only be measured on a blister with relatively great effort. However, Suisse Technology Partners has developed a method for predicting cross diffusion by computer simulation.

The material properties required for this are determined in a specially developed test procedure.

In addition, the moisture absorption (LOD: loss on drying) or shelf life of the filling material can be calculated taking into account its sorption properties. 

SHELF-LIFE PREDICTION

Based on the barrier of the packaging and taking into account the physical properties of the product, it is possible to directly predict its shelf life. This means that complex stability tests can be shortened or even completely replaced. 

THERMAL IMPACT ANALYSIS

Numerical simulation is used to calculate the thermal influence of the sealing process on the product. This makes it possible to determine possible degeneration of the product due to heat input during the normal process, but also in particular during unforeseen processes such as production interruptions. 

  • Prediction of the time-dependent temperature distribution in the blister
  • Investigation of general heat transfer issues
Verpackungsentwicklung - thermal impact analysis

Analytical methods

A variety of methods are available for analyzing packaging during the development process, in the event of damage or as part of quality assurance.

In addition to optical testing using light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM/EDX) and many other materialographic, physical and chemical testing options are also available.

The variety of analysis methods, coupled with the many years of experience of the experts at Suisse Technology Partners, enable successful support for complex issues. 

BENCHMARKING OF PACKAGING FILMS AND PACKAGING

As an independent service provider, we characterize and compare the structure, material composition and performance etc. of packaging films (semi-finished products) or packaging using suitable analysis methods. 

Multi-layer analysis of a thermoformed barrier blister

Micrograph of a cavity

The layer structure is visualized and measured on the metallographic cross-section under the microscope. 

FTIR Spectrum PVDC

The individual layers are analyzed using an FTIR microscope. 

FTIR - Linescan

In the linescan, the spectra of the materials are displayed over the structure.

Forming Limit Analyse

Optical strain measurement is used to evaluate the forming conditions and surface strains of aluminum-aluminum (coldform) blisters.

The forming limit diagram (FLD) shows the tendency to crack formation based on the strain measurement and the formability of the material (forming limit curve, FLC). This can be used as a measure of process stability.

PACKAGING VALIDATION AND PERFORMANCE TESTING

We support you in the validation of packaging and packaging processes. We carry out both standardized and customer-specific tests in our extensive laboratories:

DAMAGE AND PROBLEM ANALYSIS

Failure analysis is a systematic procedure for determining the cause of the failure. Find out more at Failure analysis

Beispiel der Röntgenprüfung der Siegelnaht eines Hochbarriereblisters mittels Kontrastmittel. Undichte Stellen sind auch über grössere Flächen sehr gut erkennbar. Die REM Bilder zeigen die Ausbildung und Qualität der Siegelnaht mit sehr hoher Auflösung.

intakte Siegelung

Bei einer intakten Siegelnaht verbinden sich die Klebepunkte so, dass eine geschlossenporige Siegelfläche entsteht.

2D - CT Aufnahme mit Kontrastmittel

Die dunklen Bereiche im Röntgenbild zeigen Mikrokanäle in der Siegelschicht.

Fehlerhafte Siegelnaht

Bei dieser Siegelnaht verbinden sich die Klebepunkte nicht, weshalb die Struktur offenporig ist. Feuchte kann hier einfach diffundieren.

Do you need an expert on the barrier properties of packaging?

Contact me.

Matthias Schellenberg

Packaging Expert


Tel: +41 52 551 11 88
Mail: packaging@suisse-tp.ch