News

Brecon Pharmaceuticals is piloting the UK's first Late Stage Customisation (LSC) facility for medicines packaging based on Pago technology.

The Pagomat 15/120E print and apply labelling machine will enable the Hay-on-Wye pharmaceutical packaging firm to manufacture a number of packs, put them into storage, and then apply a label and leaflet to the cartons as and when an order is taken.

Brecon business development manager Andy Causer said the late-stage labelling facility would provide customers with a "fast and economic" solution for small volume or limited orders of pharmaceuticals.

The labelling machine is mounted on a stainless steel stand with a vertical support pillar, onto which two vertical support bars are mounted. The carriage blocks for the Pagomat and label application assembly are mounted on these bars.

The label is dispensed over a fan box, with the leading edge of the label positioned on a label press down roller.

The leaflet is manually placed into a guide chute, which enables accurate placement of the leaflet onto the adhesive side of the label.

The carton is then manually placed between guides, pulled down onto the wipe down roller, and the label attached to the carton.

Pago managing director Craig Peachey said Brecon would use the pilot to show customers the advantage of "just-in-time" labelling.

"GlaxoSmithKline has been using the LSC system for a while in a joint partnership in Poland and Bulgaria, but this is the first time it has been trialled in the UK," he added.

"We're hoping other pharmaceutical firms will see that it makes logistics much easier."