The  premade bag packing machine permanently communicates  with the filling nozzle via special software and the automatic bag weight adjustment determines the exact fill weight of the bag, allowing for precise fill levels during filling.
The cost-effective system is operated via an intuitive interface, which is a key factor and allows easy access for cleaning and maintenance, even when changing  production several times a day.  Designed with speed in mind
Ferguson selected the FD-Pharma™ Series II from Medical Packaging Inc. for its precision and compact size. The machine is designed for small pharmaceutical manufacturers and CDMOs and offers dual-head packaging for single-serving cups at speeds of up to 35 cups/minute. All label information is printed online, including  static information and variable data such as batch date and expiration date. The cups are made from high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and have removable HDPE airtight lids. When WES was looking for a new packaging machine, space and precision were key decision criteria. Ferguson explains: “These are single packs, not multi-dose, so precision is  the biggest challenge. We have a legal requirement that the weight of the 10 containers must average  100% of the target weight.”

The volumetric pump system has two programmable linear-drive step-control stations, each with an autoclavable 50 ml stainless steel syringe. The system measures just 94 cm (length) x 36 cm (width) x 46 cm (height), fitting nicely into the WES system.

“The machine is very accurate and easy to use,” says Ferguson. "There are limited replaceable parts. With disposable tubes, you only have to worry about cleaning the syringe and allocating the product. It is made of surgical 316 stainless steel, which is the  ideal prerequisite for a low-maintenance, easy-to-clean device."

Track & Trace

The Paste packaging machine is equipped with the ability to print barcodes or human-readable serial numbers at the unit dose level. "At WES Pharma, we have not yet used this feature, since the smallest unit we can sell is the carton. "However, if we have a machine that can do serialization on  individual cups, that could be a feature we could use in the future," he said.
WES began using the machine for commercial production in late 2018, and  Ferguson says, "Typically we run the machine six days a week, provided staff are available on weekends." Currently, the company runs one shift per day, but  an extended 12-hour day will be introduced when necessary to meet customer demand.
"When the machine was delivered, everything went smoothly. I used to work for a large pharmaceutical equipment manufacturer, so I base service and response times on the manufacturer I used to work for. “Medical Packaging provided us with great service and a fast response,” Ferguson explains.
Punching option

Since WES purchased the system, Medical Packaging has installed a second generation  machine with a die-cut option for cutting lids. FD-Pharma’s performance led WES Pharma to purchase a second machine to double production, and the first machine was sent  to add punching capabilities. This new feature allows the machine to operate at speeds of up to 23 cups per minute. “We run both at the same time and draw water from the same tank,” he says. New packaging format

liquid bag filling machine has enabled WES Pharma to bring a new product to market that offers convenience to patients and healthcare providers.
Mathias Theil Pedersen, mechanical engineer at Newtec, worked on developing this solution.
It represents a fully automated system from start to finish and is just one example of how Newtec can streamline  applications to increase profits.
 "It's flexible, allowing for high capacity and high speed," he says. "That's the biggest advantage of this machine. The high flexibility comes from  a basic machine concept to which you can add your own set of  tools depending on the container type you prefer. "This means that when we get new packaging material, we don't have to buy a whole new machine. That's a big advantage."