For most people and American businesses, 2020 was a rough year. Between the COVID-19 pandemic, politics, shut-downs, and more, there was a lot to get through—and that was no different for pharmaceutical packaging equipment manufacturers. Thankfully, 2021 is already well on its way to being a more positive year!
Here at Leverwood, we’re always working hard to stay on top of trends in all industries we create blades for. One of the biggest industries we serve works with pharmaceutical packaging or medical packaging machines.
Today’s blog post offers insight into some of the upcoming trends we’re seeing for pharmaceutical packaging equipment manufacturers and what the industry will be focusing on for the new year.
Patient Safety
Now more than ever, manufacturers are coming together with one common goal—patient safety. With the recent pandemic, sterility assurance in packaging is more critical than it ever has been. According to Packaging Digest, the medical device packaging field is projected to grow to around $44 billion by 2026. Unfortunately, due to the tightening of restrictions and regulations with sterility and safety, this growth may be constrained.
At Leverwood, we work diligently to ensure all of the blades we manufacture meet any medical standards and regulations. In the future, we’ll be working with more pharmaceutical packaging equipment manufacturers to ensure that our blades exceed expectations for their medical packaging machinery.
Eco-Friendly Packaging
Eco-friendly packaging is not a new concept, but it is becoming more and more popular as we continue to find alternatives for packaging solutions. Sustainability in pharmaceutical packaging is also on the rise, but there is still much work to do. For instance, only about 33% of the companies reported in a recent sustainability survey were medical-related. Other industries are leading the eco-friendly packaging push, and medical packaging must catch up.
In 2021, we’ll likely start to see more secondary packaging solutions that protect a product inside its original container so that it doesn’t come into contact with anything that could compromise sterility. Also, more biodegradable pharmaceutical packaging is on the rise to avoid sending plastics to landfills.
Advances in Technology
As the demand for healthcare products grows, a new focus is on advancing and improving the field’s technology. With the rise in diseases, geriatric populations, lifestyle changes, healthcare spending, and more, pharmaceutical packaging equipment manufacturers will be working to find better and more efficient packaging solutions.
Small changes in packaging materials or sizes can save companies thousands of dollars or more. Technology with leak detection in medical packaging is advancing to help eliminate any overhead in the medical packaging field. Things like smart labels or VFFS packaging (Vertical Form Fill and Seal) are also being developed, along with discovering more uses for digital printing.
What 2021 Looks Like for Leverwood
With so many positive changes happening for pharmaceutical packaging equipment manufacturers, Leverwood is also excited for changes in blade manufacturing in 2021. As businesses we manufacture for improve, we will strive to improve as well. That means sharper edges, more precise cuts, and exact specifications made for your medical packaging machines.
For more information on our processes or what Leverwood can do for you, give us a call or contact us online.