Ceepackaging

Events

Gerresheimer pushing pharma

The RTF® (Ready to Fill) trademark has for years been achieving
dramatic growth rates. Gerresheimer has once more expanded its
capacity for sterile all-glass syringes in this range: new facilities are
currently being commissioned to double output in its state-of-theart
production centre in Bünde (Germany) once again with the result
that the volume of sterile syringes will actually exceed that of traditional
bulk-ware systems. “The success of the RTF® family is based on
the concept of supplying the pharma industry with completely
ready-to-fill syringes – plus the additional benefit of maximum
safety and convenience particularly in practical use”, says Burkhard
Lingenberg, Director of Corporate PR and Marketing for the
Gerresheimer Group.
Intelligent complementary components in the RTF® family, ranging
from specially pain-reducing needles to the “Backstop”, have indeed
achieved outstanding acceptance ratings. At Pharmapack,
Gerresheimer will for example be presenting a market study
conducted among 110 doctors, nurses and self-injecting patients on  the Tamper Evident Luerlock Closure (TELC) – a single injection
moulding combining the tamper-evident Luerlock closure and the
needle adapter. The survey confirms the decisive practical benefits of
this component. Two thirds of respondents quoted the following
significant benefits: unnoticed opening of the syringe is impossible
and the syringe remains safely and reliably sealed until use; the
spillage so often encountered on removal of tip caps does not occur
when the closure is twisted open, and overall handling is substantially
simplified. Equally impressive ratings are received by the Rigid
Needle Shield (RNS), a component consisting of two elastomers
providing a soft interior and a hard exterior, which Gerresheimer
offers as a replacement for the traditional rubber cap for needle
protection. This not only won the prestigious German Packaging
Prize for 2006 but has also recently been awarded the internationally
coveted WorldStar of the World Packaging Organisation
(WPO). The perfectly designed safety component is recognised as an
important innovation particularly for protection against needle-prick
injuries.
An additional product line based on the plastic COP (Cyclic Olefin
Polymer) will without doubt further spur the success of sterile
syringes. COP possesses barrier characteristics which are unique for
plastic; it is suitable for highly sensitive substances, has extreme
thermal and mechanical durability and can also cope with large
filling volumes. Gerresheimer thereby adds to its technologically
leading RTF® spectrum a special range of contrast-material syringes
for diagnostic radiotechnology and depository solvent syringes for
freeze-dried pharmaceutics. The new RTF® line comprises Luer and
Luerlock syringes with contents from 1 to 20 millilitres. They are
presented to the specialist public for the first time in Paris.
To the large family of glass and plastic syringes Gerresheimer again
dedicates a specialist lecture at Pharmapack this year: Dr. Thomas
Schönknecht, Director Product Development and Product Management
for Gerresheimer Bünde, will talk about “Silicone and heavymetal
induced side reactions of active substances in drugs”. The halfhour
talk starts at 12.20 p.m. on 24 January.
Visitors to the trade fair can also obtain information about the new
organisational structure through which from the start of the year
the Group logically reflects the further expansion of its performance
spectrum. Its business today consists of four large Divisions:

• The Tubular Glass Division offers borosilicate tubular glass in type
I, pharma packaging of every kind and injection systems (including
sterile all-glass syringes). The glass tubes are also produced by
the Division itself as primary products.
• The Moulded Glass Division supplies the pharmaceutics industry
with a comprehensive range of moulded-glass packaging in all
shapes and sizes in glass types I, II and III. In addition to amber
and flint glass, it produces coloured glass and opaque opal glass.
• The Life Science Research Division concentrates on specific tubular-
glass products and systems for research and development in
addition to general laboratory requirements.
• The Plastic Systems Division has a wide repertoire in plastic
packaging to cater for liquid and solid medicines. It also supplies
high-calibre drug-delivery systems such as inhalers and a range of
appliances in the field of medical technology, covering a widely
varied spectrum of needs from diabetes diagnostics to surgery.
Particularly in the sector of plastic systems, Gerresheimer has now
achieved a new dimension. The range contributed by the new
subsidiary Wilden - today Gerresheimer Wilden – covers the
segments of pharmaceutics, diagnostics, medical technology and
consumer health care and enjoys a worldwide reputation as a
standard setter in terms of both technology and quality. For the
specialist public in Paris the company displays its know-how with
special focus on inhalation appliances: the unparalleled range caters
for all possible forms of pulmonary delivery of drugs, including
everything from powder and capsule inhalers to nebulisers and
nasal-spray systems.
Here as in all its business fields, Gerresheimer sees itself as a fullservice
partner not only in product terms but across the board. A
unique claim speaks for itself: in every sector in which it operates the
globally active Group today has a leading market position.