IMA Sarong unit dose: the smart single-dose technology reshaping multiple industries

From pharmaceuticals to nutraceuticals, personal care to food, single-dose packaging has emerged as a flexible and future-ready solution. At the heart of this evolution is IMA Sarong’s flexible form-fill-seal (FFS) technology, which, thanks to the company’s deep expertise and integration into the IMA Group, transforms the unit dose format into a strategic tool for innovation, performance, and brand value. All supported by complete, integrated packaging lines.

One format, many markets

Born in the pharmaceutical industry, the unit dose format has evolved to meet the needs of an increasingly diverse market, driven by new consumer habits and stricter regulations. Today, packaging must guarantee precision, protection, convenience, and sustainability, all features of IMA Sarong’s FFS-based unit dose solutions.

In the pharmaceutical sector, it ensures accurate dosing of active ingredients in syrups, oral gels, or pediatric formulations, reducing risk and waste.

In nutraceuticals, it enhances shelf life and usability for products like liquid vitamins, collagen, hyaluronic acid, and weight control supplements, often consumed on the go.

In personal care, it is ideal for travel-sized, single-use products such as sunscreens, serums, or cleansers, or for professional hair or skin treatments, combining compactness with hygiene.

In the food sector, single-dose solutions provide precise portions, reduce waste, and preserve freshness in sauces, dressings, soft cheese, and soy-based products.

In all of these cases, it is the flexible FFS technology. which forms, fills, and seals the packaging directly in-line, that makes it possible to process a wide variety of product types, including liquids, semi-liquids, and even some solids.

Beyond convenience: precision and protection built in

Each single-dose pack created with IMA Sarong’s technology is designed to deliver a controlled and accurate amount of product, enhancing user experience and reducing waste.

Thanks to high-barrier materials and optimized sealing systems, the contents are protected from air, moisture, and light until the moment of use, critical for preserving the integrity of sensitive formulations like pharmaceutical actives, nutraceuticals, or delicate cosmetics.

Usability is also a priority: easy opening, portability, and intuitive design make these packs ideal for on-the-go consumption, e-commerce distribution, and patient compliance in healthcare.

A renewed attention for materials and smart design

Environmental impact is now a key priority in packaging development. IMA Sarong addresses this with fully recyclable monomaterial structures, PET-PET, PE-PE, and PP-PP, that maintain high performance while simplifying disposal.

Sustainability at IMA Sarong goes beyond materials: pack volume reduction, compatibility with recycling systems, and optimized production cycles are integral parts of the company’s eco-design strategy.

A format that communicates: brand identity through customization

Unit dose packaging is also a powerful branding tool. IMA Sarong’s flexible FFS technology allows for extensive customization, not just in graphics, but in shape, volume, functionality, and user interaction.

It’s not just about “graphics on the pack”: it’s about integrating functionality with the brand’s message, from playful formats for children’s products to ergonomic sachets for sports use, or even iconic shapes that become product identifiers (like the fish-shaped soy sauce bottle).

Here, packaging becomes part of the product experience.

The IMA Group advantage: integrated technology, multiplied value

IMA Sarong’s acquisition by the IMA Group has created a strategic synergy: IMA Sarong contributes its expertise in flexible FFS technologies for unit dose packaging, while IMA brings capabilities in automation, primary and secondary packaging, inspection, serialization, and end-of-line solutions.

This enables the delivery of complete, scalable, and integrated production lines, covering every step, from forming and dosing to sealing, cartoning, and palletizing.

The result is a single point of contact for the entire line, increased efficiency, reduced changeover times, and full compliance with GMP, ISO, and FDA standards.

SD Series	FP40
Form-Fill-Seal machine for unit dose packaging, delivering up to 2,000 units per hour	Form-Fill-Seal machine for unit dose packaging, delivering up to 36,000 units per hour and equipped with an advanced waste-reduction system