COVINGTON, K.Y., June 20, 2023 – Pharmaworks and Serpa, both ProMach product brands, introduce the new, fully-integrated BTS blister transport system at Pack Expo Las Vegas booth #3225. Ideal for pharmaceutical, biotech, nutraceutical, medical device and other products, the BTS seamlessly transfers blisters from a Pharmaworks blister machine and collates them to feed a Serpa cartoner. Handling a wide range of blister format sizes and collating up to ten blisters per bucket, the fully servo-driven BTS achieves high speeds up to 500 blisters per minute while offering extreme flexibility and fast, repeatable tool-less changeovers.
“Transfer points are one of the most challenging aspects of any packaging line. To avoid the time, money and headache spent buying separate systems and integrating them in-house, product manufacturers and contract packers are increasingly turning to one-stop-shop equipment suppliers that can offer turnkey lines at lower costs and with faster delivery times,” said Aaron Metzler, Director of Sales and Applications at Serpa. “Although ProMach Pharma has offered standalone blister transport systems for many years, this is the first one that draws from the deep expertise of both the Pharmaworks and Serpa brands to offer complete integration.”
“Our sister-company Serpa led the development of the fully-integrated BTS, starting with Pharmawork’s existing, field-proven blister transfer technology and then taking it to the next level by incorporating new innovations that perfectly synchronize these three machines, even at the highest speeds,” said Ben Bower, Vice President and General Manager of Pharmaworks. “With electronics, servos and more controlled directly by the cartoner, this transport system hugely simplifies line installation, operation and maintenance for the customer.”
Designed to be compatible with virtually every Pharmaworks blister machine and every Serpa cartoner, this transport system is available with intermittent-motion operation (BTSi) or with an oscillating wheel for continuous-motion operation (BTSc), depending on the application.
As blister packs exit the Pharmaworks blister machine, the BTS overhead vacuum transport system transfers single blisters into a magazine for buffering to accommodate fluctuations in speed between the blister machine and cartoner, maximizing line output. From there, the BTS will count out the proper number of blisters per cycle, depending on programming, to the cartoner infeed bucket.
Suitable for a wide variety of blister format sizes and materials, the BTS can transport blisters of tablets, capsules, softgels, vials, syringes, liquids and medical devices as well as consumer goods like cosmetics and batteries. Backed by Serpa’s proprietary Verified Changeover technology, the BTS offers easy and repeatable recipe-driven changeovers that can be completed in just a few minutes with no tools. To ease use, the BTS is controlled by the Serpa cartoner’s PLC and HMI.
Fully integrating with the Pharmaworks blister machine and Serpa cartoner, the BTS offers customers more reliable and repeatable performance with simpler installation, operation and maintenance, compared to equipment purchased separately. All three systems can be installed in a single room to minimize floorspace requirements, or primary and secondary packaging can be separated by a wall with pressure-controlled air flow.
About Pharmaworks
Pharmaworks manufactures innovative blister packaging systems for the pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, animal health, medical device and consumer goods industries. With a robust and flexible lineup of thermoforming solutions that spans from stand-alone machines to turnkey blister packaging lines, Pharmaworks can handle nearly any customer challenge with unmatched precision to meet even the most stringent requirements. Pharmaworks is a product brand of ProMach, a global leader in packaging line solutions. As part of the ProMach Pharma business line, Pharmaworks helps our customers protect their reputation and grow the trust of their consumers. ProMach is performance, and the proof is in every package. Learn more about Pharmaworks at www.Pharmaworks.com and more about ProMach at www.ProMachBuilt.com.
About Serpa
Serpa manufactures secondary packaging solutions, from cartoners and case packers to robotic palletizers and other complementary equipment, to form complete end-of-line solutions. Handling the most unique packaging specifications in the pharmaceutical, food, beverage, personal care, household and industrial markets, Serpa combines the latest technology and advanced design capabilities to ensure top-quality equipment that is geared for easy operation, tool-less changeover and ease of maintenance. Serpa is a trusted partner for integrated packaging systems and an authorized Fanuc integrator. Learn more about Serpa at www.SerpaPackaging.com and more about ProMach at www.ProMachBuilt.com.
About ProMach
ProMach is a family of best-in-class packaging and processing solution brands serving manufacturers of all sizes and geographies in the food, beverage, pharmaceutical, personal care, and household and industrial goods industries. ProMach brands operate across the entire production line: filling, bottling and capping, decorative labeling, flexibles and trays, pharma, handling and sterilizing, labeling and coding, and robotics and end of line. ProMach also provides systems and integration including turnkey solutions, design/build, engineering services, and productivity software to optimize production line design and deliver maximum uptime.
ProMach designs, manufactures, integrates, and supports the most sophisticated and advanced packaging and processing solutions in the global marketplace. Its diverse customer base, from Fortune 500 companies to smaller, privately-held businesses worldwide, depends on reliable, flexible, technologically advanced equipment and integrated solutions. ProMach is headquartered near Cincinnati, Ohio, with manufacturing facilities and offices throughout North America, Europe, South America, and Asia. For more information about ProMach, visit www.ProMachBuilt.com and for more information on ProMach Careers, visit www.promachbuilt.com/company/career-areas/.
Media Contacts:
Adam Rosenthal | Director of Marketing
ProMach Pharma Solutions
Adam.Rosenthal@ProMachBuilt.com
+1-612-500-1123