Medical Device Link.

Originally Published PMPN May 2003

NEWS

Multivac (St. Louis) has introduced new machine configurations that enable its form-fill-seal units to produce header bags in-line. The options are available for two of its horizontal thermoform-fill-seal models, the high-powered R530 and the new R240. 

For one configuration, the machines use a standard flexible thermoformable bottom web and two sealing top webs. The first top web is a standard sealing film, and the second top web is a smaller Tyvek web. A special heat-sealing device can secure a strip or patch of the Tyvek to the film before the entire top web reaches the package-sealing die. The Tyvek strip or patch can be designed to meet any standard dimension and customized to further reduce Tyvek costs to help promote the efficacy of gas sterilization, explains Patrick Ditchfield, market development manager for Multivac. Packages can be designed with many different opening devices typically created on form-fill-seal machines.

“Implementing our flexible header-bag system into a medical packaging process significantly reduces costs, while meeting specific safety guidelines and sterility requirements,” says Ditchfield. “Customers will enjoy decreased costs of Tyvek, avoid the expense of inventorying premade header bags, and reduce labor costs by allowing greater efficiency.” 

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