The pharmaceutical industry is focusing on increasing efficiencies and automation, particularly robotics, according to a new report, PMMI Business Intelligence, Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices 2016: Trends and Opportunities in Packaging Operations.
Robots are being used for a variety of applications such as palletizing, primary packaging, product handling and cartooning, with packaging applications the primary use among survey respondents. “Robotics will continue to be used to improve product quality, reduce bottlenecks and alleviate repetitive tasks,” one respondent said.
Two-thirds of the companies surveyed are using robotics, and half of those plan to purchase more robots in the future. Of those not yet using robotics, a third plan to in the future.
“We use robotics now for incoming depalletization, processing, packaging and palletizing, but we need integrated communication between the robots,” commented a medical device manufacturer.
Interesting to note: 16 percent of those companies responding retain some manual procedures—most often for assembly, secondary packaging, clinical diagnostics, hand-filled tubes and custom work.
Get the entire 58-page report, PMMI Business Intelligence, Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices 2016: Trends and Opportunities in Packaging Operations.
