Ineos' Eltex MED LDPE range lauched

The Eltex MED range, which will be manufactured at Ineos' existing LDPE facility in Bramble, Norway, was developed to cater for blow-fill-seal applications in the drug production industry. Such applications typically include use in the production of intraveneous fluid bottles and single dose ampoules for the packaging of respiratory and ophthalmic drugs that require steam sterilisation at temperatures of up to 110°C. The technology is also compliant with the requirements of the injection moulded pharmaceutical packaging market in that it is capable of withstanding both ethylene oxide gas treatment and radiation-based steralization of up to 35 kiloGreys. In addition, the Eltex MED LDPE grades have been developed to be contamination-free and compliant with current European and US Pharmacopoeia class VI criteria. In a recently published market report, the Freedonia Group predicted that the US pharmaceutical packaging market alone is set to expand 5.5 per cent a year and be worth $16bn (€10.3bn) by 2012. Eltex Med family ​ The range consists of four products: Eltex MED PH22D630; Eltex MED PH23T630; Eltex MED PH27D630; and Eltex MED PH30D630, each of which is being aimed at a particular sector of the drug packaging market. Eltex MED PH22D630 is designed to be used can be used in pharmaceutical products manufactured using conversion techniques such as injection moulding and film blowing. In contrast, Eltex MED PH23T630 is intended for use in the manufacture of flexible lids, caps and closures and diagnostic packaging. On the other hand, Eltex MED PH27D630 will withstand heating up to 110°C, while Eltex MED PH30D630 which is intended for blow moulding of soft and flexible packages for pharmaceutical products. Ineos said that Eltex MED is dedicated to serving the medical and pharmaceutical markets that require long-term continuity of supply and consistent product specification.