Equipment

Hapa-Laetus has responded to growing demand from the pharmaceutical industry for track and trace equipment with the launch of a 2D data-matrix coding system.

The mark and verification conveyor system prints a 2D data-matrix code and four human readable elements, including an individual serial number that is logged.

The equipment can be used to protect against counterfeiting, as well as facilitate product recalls by giving each pack its own serial number.

Hapa Laetus developed the machine, which can print up to 400 packs per minute, in partnership with Italian firm Arca.

Standard barcodes with CIP codes comprising seven digits will be replaced by the standard data matrix code with 13 digits at the beginning of 2009.

"The legal evolution towards traceability of batch number requires that included in the barcode is the numeric value of batch and expiry date and it progression in the supply chain of drug dispensation," said Hapa-Laetus UK director Paul Osborne.

The machine is GS1/EFPIA and ECC200 compliant.