Metsä Board to develop secure pharma packaging

Paperboards and simulating packaging designs used for protecting vaccines

162
Metsä Board, part of Metsä Group
Metsä Board, part of Metsä Group

Ensuring that vaccine vials and their potentially life-changing contents remain safe, sterile, and identifiable throughout their tightly controlled supply chain is no easy task, and taking risks is not an option. However, with the new extended 360 Service offering, Metsä Board, part of Metsä Group, tests the paperboards and simulates packaging designs used by pharma manufacturers to package and protect vaccine doses, providing absolute confidence that the materials are up to the task. 

COVID-19 and other vaccines are typically stored and transported in extremely cold conditions, which can be as low as -70 degrees celsius, before being thawed out ready for administration. Therefore, the secondary paperboard packaging must be able to withstand these temperature extremes and protect the vials throughout the entire process. 

Massive testing and simulation capabilities of Metsä Board

When a converter produces packages for cold-chain transportation, they must be 100% certain that the materials they are using are appropriate. This is where Metsä Board’s in-depth testing and simulation capabilities are extremely valuable for the pharma industry.

 Markku Leskelä, VP Research and Product Development, Metsä Board
Markku Leskelä, VP Research and Product Development, Metsä Board

Paperboard for pharma packaging needs to retain its specified thickness, mechanical strength, and water absorption properties regardless of the conditions it faces, and it must not affect the primary packaging in any way. Any changes in dimensions could cause curling or bulging, which could pose a risk to the integrity of the packaging and, therefore, the safety of the product inside. We are able to test paperboard and packaging samples in both extremely cold and extremely humid conditions, and develop packaging strength simulations to demonstrate how a package will perform in the real world,” Markku Leskelä, VP Research and Product Development, Metsä Board, says.

At its Excellence Centre in Äänekoski, central Finland, Metsä Board can test the performance of paperboard and pharmaceutical packaging samples across a wide temperature and humidity range. The conditions can be varied according to the specific needs of each case, and it is also possible to program different cyclic temperature and humidity changes to mimic the real-life conditions faced by vaccines as they travel along the supply chain

“With the help of a local partner, we can test packaging samples down to -70 degrees Celsius and combine transportation tests with board conditioning tests,” says Leskelä. “This kind of thorough research provides our customers with the confidence that the paperboard they want to use is appropriate for the application in question. And if the results show that it is not, we can recommend an alternative.” 

Metsä Board’s simulation capabilities include finite element (FEM) simulation, where it is possible to take a 3D design drawing or measure the dimensions of an existing package sample and use this structural data together with the strength data of the paperboard to calculate the strength of a complete packaging design. “With powerful computers and skilled personnel at our disposal, we can perform this kind of simulation within a single day to help speed up the process of getting a critical drug to market,” Leskelä highlights.

The impact, resilience, and growth of responsible packaging in a wide region are daily chronicled by Packaging South Asia.

A multi-channel B2B publication and digital platform such as Packaging South Asia is always aware of the prospect of new beginnings and renewal. Its 16-year-old print monthly, based in New Delhi, India has demonstrated its commitment to progress and growth. The Indian and Asian packaging industries have shown resilience in the face of ongoing challenges over the past three years.

As we present our publishing plan for 2023, India’s real GDP growth for the financial year ending 31 March 2023 will reach 6.3%. Packaging industry growth has exceeded GDP growth even when allowing for inflation in the past three years.

The capacity for flexible film manufacturing in India increased by 33% over the past three years. With orders in place, we expect another 33% capacity addition from 2023 to 2025. Capacities in monocartons, corrugation, aseptic liquid packaging, and labels have grown similarly. The numbers are positive for most of the economies in the region – our platform increasingly reaches and influences these.

Even given the disruptions of supply chains, raw material prices, and the challenge of responsible and sustainable packaging, packaging in all its creative forms and purposes has significant headroom to grow in India and Asia. Our context and coverage engulf the entire packaging supply chain – from concept to shelf and further – to waste collection and recycling. We target brand owners, product managers, raw material suppliers, packaging designers and converters, and recyclers.

In an admittedly fragmented and textured terrain, this is the right time to plan your participation and marketing support communication – in our impactful and highly targeted business platform. Tell us what you need. Speak and write to our editorial and advertising teams! For advertisement ads1@ippgroup.in , for editorial info@ippgroup.in and for subscriptions subscription@ippgroup.in

– Naresh Khanna

Subscribe Now
unnamed 1

NEWSLETTER

Subscribe to our Newsletter

As 2023 begins and FY 23-24 unfolds, will you support us?

What lies in store for the packaging industry in India and South Asia this coming year? Inflation, disruption of supply chains or environmental regulation? Or the resumption of high rural demand, continued investment and industry consolidation? Whatever happens, Packaging South Asia will be there, providing clarity and independent technical and business information in India and South Asia and around the world. We are a compact Indian organization bringing a window of fair and rigorous technical and business information that the industry can access this year and beyond. Please support us with your advertising and subscriptions, to keep us going and growing.

Thank you.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here