Sanner debuts IML packaging portfolio for pharmaceutical products

Although in-mold labeling (IML) remains a niche technology in the eyes of some industry observers, Sanner GmbH (Bensheim, Germany) is a believer. The BrillianceTube platform introduced by the supplier of plastic packaging for pharmaceutical and medical products incorporates IML technology into packaging for fizzy tablets.

Combined with Sanner's desiccants, for which it holds a patent filed in 1959, the tubes are best suited for effervescent tablets, notes the company, but are also compatible with conventional or coated tablets and other solid pharmaceutical products.

IML technology offers customers a range of design options with a choice of textures and finishes, delivering a premium aesthetic experience, says Sanner. Up to eight colors and metallic effects are possible to make packaging stand out at the point of sale.

Moreover, easy-to-read labels using small font sizes, as IML enables, leaves more space for important product information. The high-impact, scratch-resistant material is extremely durable. Integrated QR codes allow customers to access additional information about the manufacturer and the product.

From a production perspective, IML technology combines packaging assembly and decoration into a single process. The printed labels are placed in the mold, where they fully bond with the tube. The tube geometry ensures that the product can be easily packaged in standard commercial sales trays, adds Sanner.

"It is especially important for us to support our customers as a system supplier across the entire supply chain," explains Sanner CEO Holger Frank. "Our customers can efficiently purchase their decorated tubes with different types of closures. Thus, Brilliance enables us to meet customer demands with more flexibility," says Frank.