Chrysalis carton impresses trade at Medica Open House

Medica Packaging used its recent Open House event to showcase different packaging capabilities for the pharmaceutical market, and generate leads for its new Chrysalis product.
 
Medica Packaging is the pharmaceutical business of UK folding carton manufacturer Benson Group. The Open House event took place mid-Drupa on May 9 at the Medica Packaging facility in Crewe, and allowed the business to show 50 customers and prospects equipment for manufacturing three critical packaging elements under one roof: cartons, patient information leaflets (PILs), and printed self-adhesive labels.
 
The day allowed attendees the chance to see a 10-station Gallus EM340S UV flexographic press capable of a wide range of label production formats, and the production of PILs, which is a growing market for Medica due to legislative changes.
 
PILs form a central part of the development of Chrysalis, a carton design that permits information leaflets to be integrated into the carton, so keeping the two together. Medica Packaging said the Chrysalis carton provides a unique packaging solution that connects the outer carton and PIL together. The design keeps the leaflet compact and accessible for when the consumer needs to check on information about the product. The easy-tear perforation on the back panel of the pack allows the consumer to access information without destroying the whole carton. In addition, with the patient information leaflet already attached to the pack, there is no need to insert a separate PIL along with the pack contents.
 
The design template comes from design agency Burgopak, while Medica Packaging produces the carton. The critical element of attaching the PIL to the carton as part of the folding and gluing process was featured as a live demonstration during the Open House.

Commemorative cartons were produced during each factory tour. The four-color crash-lock cartons, featuring a photograph of the group taken prior to the commencement of the factory excursion, were distributed in the hospitality tent as soon as visitors returned from their tour

Deborah Greenwood, Medica Packaging sales director, said: ‘As the carton is supplied with the leaflet already applied, there is no need to insert it separately. Tests have already shown that this allows for increased output through faster product inserting, whilst simultaneously decreasing costs.’
 
She added: ‘It was tremendous to get so many visitors to view our production facilities, and to see how we create packaging products. It is always surprising how much customers can learn about the whole process from a factory tour.
 
‘We were especially keen to show customers and prospects the construction process of our Chrysalis carton, combining PILs and cartons. To see it created just answers so many questions, so easily. Understanding the product in detail has already led to a number of appointments being made to further discuss potential projects.’
 
Braille, design and anti-counterfeiting were also discussed during the day.

The Chrysalis carton was shown by Benson Group/Medica Packaging at Packaging Innovations 2012 in Birmingham at the end of February.

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