Wrap-around labelling of pharmaceutical unstable vials

Automatic system for applying wrap-around labels to 2 formats of vials, with change of product orientation from the line

The customer, an Italian company that develops and manufactures food supplements, foods for special medical purposes and medical devices on a contract basis, was looking for a solution to label 2 different sizes of pharmaceutical vials, which could be integrated into a production line with vertical handling. However, the project faced a particular complexity: one of the two products, marked by a ‘narrow and tall’ shape, was unstable when conveyed vertically. The project therefore focused on the study of a solution that would allow labelling with horizontal handling.

System 3 customised to change orientation and apply wrap-around labels on the product body

System 3 is an automatic machine for conveying and labelling unstable cylindrical products. To meet the requirements of the project, particularly for the most unstable product (tube), a special Sistema 3 was designed. Equipped with a customised shaped roller conveyor structure, and a product rotation mechanism, it allows the product to be orientated by 90° and, thus, enables the label to be applied with horizontal movement.

Features and system configurations

Tipping system Using an auger tipping system, products are rotated 90° to allow horizontal transport.

Custom-Shaped Roller Conveyor which allows the product to be transported stably and smoothly to the labeling station, and to spin allowing the perfect wrap-around application of the label.

Labelling machine with double unwinders and double unwinding roller To support reels up to 280 mm in diameter, it is equipped with a double roller drive unit that is ideal for labels with backing widths up to 100 mm.

Overprinting And labelling control In order to manage overprinting control, the labeling machine has been equipped with special electronic expansion, and a control station for completed overprinting has been installed on the terminal. In addition, a 2 barrier UV labeling control with photocells is also fitted.

Non-conforming Product discard with air jet ejector and collected in a drawer equipped with a maximum load control. The system is supplied with rejection and good product output checks.

Control panel with specific pharma features Equipped with advanced electronics with PLC for constant peripheral diagnosis, it integrates an ASEM Panel PC with operator interface based on SCADA technology in Windows 10 environment and SQL Express Database. It enables remote system management and remote assistance; allows management of FailSafe, Back-up/ restore and disaster recovery functions; as well as collection of production batch, CFR21/Event/Alarm and production data reporting.