IMA and LIVEO: sustainable innovation in pharmaceutical packaging

IMA has introduced one of its most significant innovations at the industry trade fair with the new GIANT5-A96, a blister line capable of revolutionizing the market with its exceptional performance and a sustainability-focused approach. Mr. Davide Soncin, Product Manager of the IMA Safe division, presented the GIANT5-A96, highlighting the machine’s ability to produce up to 1300 blisters and 500 cartons per minute. This machine stands out not only for its incredible speed but also for its flexibility and, most importantly, its compatibility with a wide range of sustainable, PVC-free materials.

Sustainability is indeed at the core of the solutions showcased at Achema. In collaboration with IMA, Liveo has presented the new OneBlister OMB material, made from an innovative polymer called A-PET, amorphous polyethylene terephthalate. PET is widely used in packaging due to its numerous advantages in terms of sustainability and recyclability. It is a lightweight, durable, and transparent material, which helps reduce resource consumption during production and transportation. PET is also highly recyclable: for example, in Europe, the recycling rate for PET bottles reached 58% in 2021, a figure that continues to rise thanks to increasingly efficient collection systems. Recycled PET (rPET) can be reused to produce new packaging or other products, thus reducing environmental impact. To assess its properties during blister forming phase, IMA Open lab can run analyses such as Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) to evaluate material’s crystallinity, which affects its rigidity and heat resistance. Moreover, tensile tests can be used to measure the strength and deformability of PET and help defining requirements for packaging applications. The solution was designed to be plug-and-play, allowing customers to implement it without making costly investments and substantial modifications to their existing production lines. IMA’s approach ensures that sustainable solutions like OneBlister OMB integrate seamlessly into both complex systems, such as the GIANT5, and simpler, consolidated technologies, emphasizing the company’s commitment to providing sustainable options across all its equipment. Mr. Soncin explained that PET can be processed without invasive modifications and without having to install non-standard components. The format remains the same, and the machine, if necessary depending on the speeds involved, requires only a few standard modifications that are available for all models.

The core of the Liveo OneBlister technology consists of two key components: BlisForm MA, a 100% A-PET polymer with a thickness of 250 microns, and BlisLid MA. These materials have been developed to ensure optimal performance on blister machines, offering a sustainable and cost-effective alternative to traditional barrier materials. Additionally, the collaboration with IMA to demonstrate the Liveo OMB A-PET polymer, showed on the GIANT5-A96 at Achema, represents an important innovation for the sector. IMA’s testing has confirmed that this material works effectively on both complex and straightforward blister lines maintaining the same speed and performance as PVC polymers.

Mr. Soncin emphasized how Liveo OMB A-PET has been tested on a wide range of machines produced by IMA, demonstrating excellent results in terms of compatibility and performance. The versatility of the material and the lack of structural changes required on existing lines make it an ideal choice for manufacturers looking to reduce their environmental impact without sacrificing efficiency or speed.

This means we promote sustainable materials for all packaging processed on IMA machines.

After the recent green light from the European Parliament, the new directive that limits the use of several disposable plastic items requires the need for new automatic machines capable of reducing plastic in packaging. Together with our partners, we promote plastic-free, compostable or biodegradable materials, based on recyclable plastic and/or more sustainable , through research and experimentation of alternative processes