Page 22 - Packaging News Jan-Feb 2020

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INTERPACK 2020
www.packagingnews.com.au
January-February 2020
Pharmaceutical packaging: high tech for our health
Ahead of the world’s biggest packaging trade show, interpack 2020, Melanie Streich examines the latest developments in pharmaceutical packaging technology.
80. This equates to triple the 2019 numbers, with 143 million people over 80.
These demographic changes also mean a rise in diseases that increas- ingly occur with age, including dia- betes, rheumatism, multiple sclero- sis, dementia, and Alzheimer’s disease. The affected patients re- quire particular administration methods, depending on the type of complaint and symptoms. Pre-filled syringes and auto injectors help peo- ple with limited mobility regularly administer their medicine them- selves. The packaging industry also offers smart packaging for patients whose sight and hearing are dwin- dling or who are losing their finger strength and motor skills.
From 7 to 13 May 2020, the inter- pack trade fair will present further cutting-edge solutions that the in- dustry has to offer. As a focal point for pharmaceutical packaging, Halls 15 to 17 will offer visitors the oppor- tunity to find out more about inno- vative packaging and process devel- opments for this specific industry.
These will include special con- tainment solutions to reduce the risk of contamination; protection against counterfeiting and tamper- ing; flexible bottling and packaging systems that allow pharmaceutical manufacturers to work on small batches with maximum efficiency; and fast and flexible solutions that guarantee scale-ups from small lab- oratory amounts to high volumes in larger plants.
The other halls also showcase cor- responding solutions: the approxi- mately 1000 companies with exhib- its on Industry 4.0; digitalisation; automation; personalisation; track and trace; and many other interest- ing topics from the field of pharma- ceuticals represent a significant share of the around 3000 exhibitors at interpack. ■
For the full technical article, visit the PKN website. interpack 2020 will run from 7 to 13 May in Düsseldorf, Ger- many, and PKN will be there to re- port on the latest news and develop- ments from the show floor.
CHRONIC diseases are more wide- spread than ever before. In in- dustrial nations, and increas- ingly in developing countries as well, they are among the most common and economical- ly relevant health problems.
The health sector’s global econom- ic factor is accordingly high, and si- multaneously acts as leverage for the pharmaceutical industry, which in- vests a comparably high share of its revenue in research and develop- ment (R&D).
According to figures released by market research company IQVIA, global expenditures for pharma- ceuticals are expected to increase to US$1.43tn by 2022. In 2006, by comparison, expenditures were US$658bn. The highest amount is spent on cancer medication and biopharmaceuticals.
The reasons for this increase in market growth are quite apparent. Demographic change with a rise in
older patients, and increasing ur- banisation with a growing middle class, are the determining market factors for the pharmaceutical sector and the associated process and pack- aging industries.
In light of global demographic changes, the industry’s development opportunities are excellent. People are living longer and more health- conscious lives – which further in- creases the high-tech sector’s growth outlook. Growing drug development requirements result in a parallel in- crease in systems and machine tech- nology demands in the field of pack- aging and bottling medicines.
By 2050, global population will reach 9.7 billion people; a mere 50 years later, this number is expected to increase to 10.9 billion, according to the most recent UN global popula- tion forecasts released in June 2019. In 2050, every sixth person in the world will be over 65, with a total of 426 million people over the age of
The interpack trade fair will showcase pharmaceutical packaging and processing innovation in Halls 15-17.