Automatic machines for pharma
Developments for pharmaceutical packaging that are sure to arouse interest: CAM solutions recounted by Gabriele Gnudi (G.B. Gnudi Bruno), the group’s longtime representative in Italy.
It’s a partnership that goes back half a century: indeed, it was in 1965 that the G.B. Gnudi Bruno company began marketing CAM Group machines in Italy, offering integrated, high productivity solutions specifically designed for the chemical, pharmaceutical and cosmetic sectors. At interpack we met with Gabriele Gnudi, who took us on a guided tour of the many machines on display at the CAM stand, focusing on the most recent proposals for production equipment useful management optimization applications.
Spotlight on traceability and safety
Special attention was thus dedicated to a line for compress tablets that produces 600 blisters or 300 boxes per minute, complete with casepacker and equipped with a traceability system «which – Gnudi points out – marks each carton, checking them before insertion into the load unit box, onto which a label is applied, displaying information on the contents. The whole process is managed by a line server».
The CAM cartoning machine’s perfect functioning is guaranteed by a new, recently patented closure for the cartons.
Gnudi is careful to highlight the ingenious interlocking mechanisms of this closure system, which guarantees that any tampering is clearly visible. «It’s an Italian patent owned by Industrie Grafiche Bressan that eliminates the necessity for glue or adhesive labels, thereby enabling significant saving on cost due to enhanced output and facilitated management of the packaging material».
Hydra and Argo for optimized machine management
Installed on continuous cartoning machines, the Hydra management software employs self-learning to recognize defects in components of the product loading system, enabling the machine to carry on production.
«Usually, when a gripper arm, product pusher or unit load container is broken, the cartoning machine stops, along with the rest of the line, bringing output down significantly. Thanks to the new Hydra management system, the machine autonomously “understands” the need to remove the defective mechanical component, and that carton’s box is not filled with the product... and although the output is reduced, production does not stop».
Equally exciting is Argo, a system which enables visually checking the integrity of contents of already closed packaging. This non-destructive system can be installed on any packaging line and applied whenever the video camera is not enough.
«Argo represents a valuable aid - explains Gnudi - since it can verify the presence and integrity of compress tablets in Alu/Alu blister packs, or of a monodose inside a laminated flow pack with an aluminium layer. It integrates checkweighing of a closed box even when its contents (e.g. a broken vial inside a crate) does not alter the weight. It’s important to note that the system does not pose a risk to human health, since the radiation levels are extremely low. In fact, in addition to being certified by independent agencies, the radiation emission is so low that it does not require annual inspection».
Completing the circle
In addition to the new linear and rotary labelers for flacons, machines for strips and the famous cartoning machine with +600 boxes/1’ output, the CAM stand also featured a banding machine for single cosmetic packagings. The completely redesigned system guarantees a production speed that is unrivaled on the market.
TECHNOLOGICAL TRADITION AND A WORK IN PROGRESS
CAM, a historic packaging brand out of Bologna, was founded in 1949 by Antonio Martelli, making the first automatic machines for cartoning. Since then, the firm has expanded its product range over the years to supply complete packaging lines for a variety of industries, especially pharmaceuticals and cosmetics. Today the group is made up of 14 manufacturers, 19 sales offices and 15 assistance centers in 27 countries around the world.
Completely eschewing usual machine expo practices, at interpack 2017 CAM entrusted to the young Bolognese painter Nelly Ruggeri the task of creating a mural dedicated to the world of pharmaceuticals. The artist completed the 10 sq.m. work over the course of the event’s six days, with the involvement of visitors and collaborators who, overcoming initial reluctance, became the protagonists of an artistic performance - a moment for coming together around the value of a brand and its story.
