Traceability of Pharmaceuticals Through Reliable Product Coding

Seidenader Vision GmbH, the specialist for vision solutions and customized inspection applications in the Seidenader Group, provides an efficient tool to verify special laser codes that are invisible to the eyes. Together with Frewitt Printing, the marking specialist of the Frewitt Group, Seidenader offers a unique laser coding and code verification system: A DataMatrix code is engraved directly on the barrel of the pre-filled glass syringe with an innovative low energy laser by Frewitt. Then, this code is verified by a high performance Seidenader vision system. With the machine building experience of the Seidenader Group a robust inspection machine has been generated, suitable for the stringend requirements of pharmaceutical production environments. Adding Seidenader's control system and data management solutions, a reliable basis is established to fulfill the new requirements for traceability of pharmaceutical products. Seidenader see this as another step to improve product safety and to combat counterfeiting. How important traceability of pharmaceutical products is, points up the following trend: Pharmaceutical companies are relocating their production facilities around the globe to achieve higher levels of automation, flexibility and cost effectiveness. But this comes at a price: Often manufacturing is done in a central facility. Labelling and final packing, however, is done regionally. Unlabelled products have to be managed in large quantities in intermediate storage as well as in the logistic chain between different locations. Labelling and especially wrong labelling has become the reason no. 1 for FDA complaints and recalls. One way of approaching this challenge is to put a code onto each and every container, and to verify the codes between different steps of the value chain. So the product is traceable in every critical step of the manufacturing process from the factory to the patient.