Appleton to launch direct thermal stock for pharmacy applications at Labelexpo

Appleton will introduce its pharmacy-grade direct thermal label facestock, Rsiste Rx, at Labelexpo Americas 2008. The new facestock provides chemical resistance to household cleaners and hand sanitizers, soaps and lotions, water and humidity, and heat and light. This level of durability lasts the full life cycle of a prescription, from the time the label is printed to when the patient takes the last dose. Rsiste Rx features black image color.

‘Rsiste Rx is designed specifically for patient safety because it is very resistant to fading or smudging,’ said Mike Cove, marketing manager for identification papers with Appleton. ‘It’s vital that pharmacy customers be able to read their drug name, dosage, expiration date and refill information for the life of the prescription, even though the label could be exposed to a lot of different substances.’

Rsiste Rx can be used with or without an additional over-varnish for added protection, which does not affect imaging sensitivity. Cove continued, ‘The new stock was developed to give retail pharmacies, in-store, auto-fill and mail order, a viable alternative as a growing number continue their transition to direct thermal printing. The shift to direct thermal is fueled by the need to improve efficiency, comply with the Federal Health Information Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) regulations, and to meet FDA drug labeling requirements for bar codes and increased information.’