Eisai, Crest launch track and trace packaging machine

05-May-2010 - Last updated on 06-May-2010 at 08:22 GMT

A track and trace packaging system designed to integrate into existing operations, bringing companies into compliance with new regulations, has been launched by Crest Solutions and Eisai Machinery.

France, Turkey, and California, US are leading the way in labelling and traceability but other regions are expected to implement their own measures. To support companies’ efforts to comply with these regulations Crest and Eisai are launching the PharmaMarker system.

PharmaMarker is capable of coding, verifying and tracking up to 450 pharmaceutical cartons per minute. This is achieved by marking each carton with a data matrix code printed using a non-contact thermal ink or laser print head. Domino has supplied the print head.

Cartons are conveyed past a Cognex high resolution vision system to verify the data matrix code. If a carton fails the verification process it is removed, with successful cartons continuing through production.

Information from successfully verified cartons enters into Crest Solutions Protrack, a traceability database, and can then be shared with regulatory or enterprise resource planning (ERP) environments.

“The PharmaMarker is an easy-to- integrate, easy-to-validate solution for tracking and tracing pharmaceutical products, thus enabling manufacturers to immediately comply with ongoing regulations”, added Michael de la Montaigne, president of Eisai Machinery USA.

Furthermore, PharmaMarker is capable of handling regulations due to come into place in the future, according to Frank Madden, CEO of Crest. Madden believes that these impending regulations mean PharmaMarker has “significant market potential”.

Crest and Eisai said they are currently in discussions with several companies to roll out PharmaMarker globally. Madden added that he is “very pleased” with the level of interest shown so far and expects “to sign up a new customer shortly”.