Pharma EXPO Debut Will Advance Innovation And Education For Pharmaceutical Professionals

When Pharma EXPO (November 2-5; McCormick Place, Chicago, IL) debuts alongside PACK EXPO International 2014, the combined event — the largest processing and packaging trade show in North America — will draw more than 2,000 exhibitors and 50,000 attendees from over 40 vertical markets. Pharma EXPO, a joint venture of the International Society for Pharmaceutical Engineering (ISPE) and PACK EXPO owner and organizer PMMI, The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies, will present solutions that address challenges along the entire pharmaceutical, biopharmaceutical, nutraceutical and medical device lifecycle.

Pharma EXPO — located in the West Hall of McCormick Place — is structured to help industry professionals easily locate the solutions and suppliers they need. Regardless of the pharmaceutical market segment you serve, expect insights that will lead you to your business goals:

The Innovation Stage, at the entrance to the Pharma EXPO exhibits, will offer free 30-minute educational seminars focusing on breakthrough technologies and processes with applications in the pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, biotechnology and medical device sectors. And because they’re right at the door, you won’t lose a moment of time on the show floor.

The same goes for ISPE’s renowned Facility of the Year Awards (FOYA) display — also in the West Hall near the entrance to the show floor. Each year, through FOYA, ISPE recognizes state-of-the-art projects that use new, innovative technologies to improve quality, reduce production costs and demonstrate advances in project delivery. And, unlike any other program, FOYA provides a platform for pharmaceutical science and manufacturing to showcase accomplishments in facility design, construction and operation as they share new applications and cutting edge approaches.

Pharma EXPO’s conference program, powered by ISPE, will take place Monday, Nov. 3–Wednesday, Nov. 5, with sessions covering manufacturing, compliance and packaging topics such as maximizing productivity and protecting vial integrity, thermal image inspection and detection on high-speed production lines, new options in anti-counterfeiting and eliminating 483’s based on regulatory observations. Sessions and pricing are online at pharmaexpo.com. Pharma EXPO keynote sessions, however, are free and open to all registered attendees.

Here is a sneak peak of some of the innovations you can expect to see at Pharma EXPO and the co-located PACK EXPO International:

Robots for Biocontamination Controlled Environments

On display at Pharma EXPO, the VS-050 six-axis aseptic robot from DENSO Robotics (Booth #W-931) is a compact, high-speed machine designed for applications where biocontamination control is required, such as pharmaceutical processing and packaging. The smooth, rounded and highly polished exterior of the robot has no external screws – decreasing the potential for dust, dirt or other contaminant build up. The VS-050 has an ISO 5 cleanroom rating and has nickel plated aluminum coverings and sealed joints that allow it to be safely sterilized with hydrogen peroxide of UV light. The electrical wires and air lines are housed internally, further streamlining the robot arm and enabling faster clean-down operations. 

New 2-D Barcode Works With or Without Internet Access

The patented HD Barcode™ from Complete Inspection Systems (Booth #N-5804) can store up to 175 times more data than traditional 2-D codes. Using a proprietary reading application, an authorized user can scan, read and verify product details from any location. Manufacturers can include track and trace information, product specifications, e-pedigree data, plant location, manufacture date, distribution region(s), package, carton or label identifiers, user data, full color images and marketing incentives.

Point-of-Use System

Exergy (Booth #W-562) will showcase its new Point-of-Use systems at Pharma EXPO 2014. The systems dispense instant, temperature controlled water for injection (WFI) or purified water (PW) and are designed to meet the high quality requirements and hygienic standards of the pharmaceutical industry. When not in use, a continuous flow of hot water from the main loop enhances the sanitization process. Exergy offers customers standard and customized models equipped with compact, high performance heat exchangers. The sanitary double-tube sheet heat exchanger on the system eliminates risk of cross-contamination between the product and working fluid.

Space-saving Bagger Maximizes Flexibility

On display at PACK EXPO International 2014, the compact Flexibag Si-500 from Circle Packaging Machinery (Booth #S-2001) saves customers valuable floor space. The machine’s four side-sealed sachets are equipped with different contour sealing and easy-opening options. The user-friendly touchscreen operator interface includes product information, alarms, warning messages and production data. Up to 40 product records can be stored for retrieval through the PanelView Plus 6 1000 touchscreen operator interface. The electrical package on the Flexibag includes CE/UL approved “touch-safe” components and quick-disconnect sensors and actuators to prevent workplace injury.

Nanogram Level Containment Valve

ChargePoint (Booth #W-542) will display its new PharmaSafe Pro at Pharma EXPO’s debut. The high containment valve has been tested to meet the industry standard ISPE SMEPAC Guide: “Assessing the Particulate Containment Performance of Pharmaceutical Equipment,” and successfully achieved nanogram-level performance. The PharmaSafe protects operators against potent, harmful ingredients and utilizes a simple extraction process that is integral to the valve to minimize the volume of airborne contamination when the valve is separated post-transfer.

To register for Pharma EXPO, visit pharmaexpo.com. A discounted registration rate of $30 applies until Oct. 3, when it increases to $60.