The BLU 400 for the gentle packaging of parenteral products

The packaging of parenteral products is no easy task in general as the small glass receptacles are susceptible to damage, particularly when glass-glass or glass-metal contact occurs. Should a product break, cleaning is much more laborious than with solids. This factor places high demands on the packaging machine.

The Uhlmann Blister machine BLU 400 meets all the key requirements of the secondary packaging of parenteral products.

Advantages of the BLU 400 at a glance

Gentle

Very careful handling avoids damage to the parenteral products, e.g., minimum drop heights in the feeder, or integrated product position control in the press-in and sealing station.

Straightforward

Intuitive operation of the blister packaging machine and easy, guided format changeovers with the SmartControl operating system.

Flexible

Whether feeder, fill section, transfer, or cartoner – boundless optional configurations of the packaging system cover all product requirements.

Efficient

Optimum format utilization on account of product and blister rotation, which leads to minimum waste and maximum machine output.

Media Gallery: BLU 400 in focus

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Blister machine BLU 400
 

Heating and forming station
The heating and forming station of the blister packaging machine BLU 400 has three heating zones. These allow the gradual heating of the forming material to the specified forming temperature for the respective type of film.

LiPro feeder
LiPro stands for liquid product. The proven feeder is designed to handle ampoules, vials, cartridges, and bottles.

Press-in station
Product position monitoring is integrated into the press-in station. The two-step press-in function requires less force, which minimizes the risk of product damage.

Syringe feeder SyPro
SyPro stands for syringe product. The feeder is responsible for the reliable handling and placement of syringes into blister packs.

Platen sealing and cooling station: During production
The layout of the platen sealing and cooling station of the packaging machine for parenteral products is optimized to suit the packaging process. Functions are also integrated to protect the susceptible parenteral products against heat, such as the automatic positioning of cooling plates in the event of a machine stop.

Platen sealing and cooling station: In the event of machine stop
The layout of the platen sealing and cooling station of the packaging machine for parenteral products is optimized to suit the packaging process. Functions are also integrated to protect the susceptible parenteral products against heat, such as the automatic positioning of cooling plates in the event of a machine stop.

Punching station
The punching station of the Uhlmann BLU 400 operates with high precision. Various modes of punching are available, which help to reduce waste and increase output.

Blister transfer to the cartoner
The blister packs can be rotated 90° when transferred to the cartoner. This allows optimum utilization of the web width.

BLU 400 and C 2305 for the packaging of ampoules, vials, or cartridges
By combining the BLU 400 and the Cartoner C 2305, Uhlmann offers an optimally coordinated packaging system for the production of unsealed clamp packs and their packaging in cartons.

BLU 400 and C 2305 for syringes
Together, the BLU 400 and the Cartoner C 2305 form a system that is ideal for the placement of syringes into sealed or unsealed blisters and their packaging in cartons.

Liquida packaging reaches a new dimension

Packaging line for insulin cartridges

BLU 400 in detail

Technical data at a glance
Max. output 400 blisters/min.
Sealing principle platen sealing
Mode of operation 1- to 8-lane
Scope of application parenteral products
Max. format area [index x width] 195 x 284 mm
Max. forming depth 42 mm
Max. reel diameter forming material 800 mm, lid material 400 mm
Processable forming materials PET, PET/PE, PET-G, PVC
Processable lid materials Al, PET, Paper, Tyvek

 

The Blister machine BLU 400 in detail

Gentle feeding and placement into the transparent blister pack

The feed plate of the LiPro feeder – LiPro stands for parenteral product – transports the upright parenteral products, e.g., ampoules, vials, cartridges, and bottles, up to 30 millimeter in diameter, in micro-steps to the feeding roller. The roller turns the products to a horizontal pick-up position ready for a 4-axle robot system to take over placement into the blister pockets. The roller then continues to rotate, ensuring that it is completely empty prior to the next filling cycle. This way, the following products are not damaged and no machine stoppage is caused. The SyPro feeder – SyPro stands for syringe product – is available for syringes with diameters ranging between 6.5 and 26 millimeter.


Alternate pressing into place in the blister pack

Before the products are pressed into the clamp pack, their correct positioning in the blister is controlled mechanically. The parenteral products are then alternately pushed into the blister pockets. The two-step press-in function requires less force, which minimizes the risk of product damage.


Integrated camera system

In addition to monitoring product presence, an Uhlmann camera inspection system can check the color ring coding or carry out similar inspection tasks, thus controlling the reliable elimination of faulty products. In the case of sealed blister packs, inspection of the products to ensure correct, level positioning in the blister is carried out prior to applying the lid foil.


Cooling of heat-sensitive products

Sealed blisters are cooled in the platen sealing and cooling station immediately after the sealing process in order to protect the contents from heat. The products are also protected against heat radiating from the sealing plate should the packaging process be interrupted. In such a case, a water-cooled plate automatically moves into position over the blisters in the sealing station.


Optimum format utilization

As the BLU 400 operates with a product rotation function, full use can be made of the web width. In other words, products can be positioned both lengthwise and crosswise to the running direction of the web. The blister sizes ranges from 20 x 60 millimeters to 195 x 284 millimeters. In this context, it is not only the feeder that can position the products lengthways or crossways: the transfer of the filled blisters to the cartoner is correspondingly designed. A gripper places the blisters on a rotary table that turns 180° or 270° to allow insertion of the blisters in the carton.


Fast format changeovers and easy cleaning

The fast format changeovers and easy cleaning have a positive impact on the overall performance of the Blister machine BLU 400. The C-shaped layout of the stations used by the Uhlmann engineers, which has proven successful over the years in other machines, allows a straightforward changeover from one format to another. The few, light-weight format parts are readily exchanged without tools. All the surfaces are easy to clean. In the case of the fill section, for example, all the cables and control elements are fully enclosed.


Flexible machine design to meet every need

The compact packaging machine BLU 400 is of modular design. Should a pharmaceutical manufacturer wish to handle a parenteral product of a completely different format, or handle another product, the fill section can be exchanged on site. Either clamp packs or sealed blisters can be processed. The reel supports for the forming material and the lid foil   can be integrated into the machine or positioned externally depending on customer requirements. A manual loading position can also be added to the fill section area.

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A comparison of our blister machines

  Max. Blisters/Min. Max. format area [index x width] Sealing principle Scope of application
200 or 300 200 x 145 mm plate sealing solid dose products
200 173 x 206 mm plate sealing parenteral products
400 195 x 284 mm plate sealing parenteral products
400 272 x 284 mm platen sealing solid and parenteral products
250 130 x 156.5 mm platen sealing solid and parenteral products
300 200 x 145 mm rotary sealing solid dose products
500 200 x 284 mm platen or rotary sealing solid dose products
700 200 x 284 mm platen or rotary sealing solid dose products
1,300 280 x 284 mm platen or rotary sealing solid dose products

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