New Unity 600 blister packaging line from Romaco Noack

Romaco Noack has expanded its state-of-the-art Unity family with the Unity 600 blister packaging line. The new technology leads the way in terms of sustainability, process reliability and performance. The heart of this monobloc is the innovative transfer unit, which is not only designed for much higher cycle numbers, but also provides more format flexibility as well as better traceability and energy efficiency. All in all, the double-lane high speed line – comprised of a blister machine with rotary sealing and a continuous motion cartoner – achieves a maximum output of 600 blisters and 350 cartons per minute. With a maximum foil width of 304 mm, blister packs up to 145 mm long and 90 mm wide can be safely processed.

And for all applications demanding even higher performance, Romaco offers a three-lane version of the Unity 600 with an output of up to 750 blisters per minute.

More energy efficiency by eliminating vacuum pumps

With the Unity 600, blisters are transferred to the cartoner via an indexing wheel with a downstream stack transfer unit. First, the die-cut blisters are removed from the die-cutter by vacuum and then placed on the transfer belt to the cartoner by a carousel-shaped shuttle. The vacuum is generated in a Venturi process, eliminating the need for a conventional vacuum pump. Apart from reducing noise emissions, this has the advantage that significantly less heat radiation is emitted in the cleanroom – which would have to be cooled down in an energy-intensive operation. What’s more, the suction cups of the indexing wheel are only ever active while blisters are being transferred. This means that no air is drawn in erroneously and power consumption is minimized.

Better traceability in the primary packaging process

The Unity 600’s newly developed stack transfer unit stacks the blisters from below and guides them safely from all sides, ensuring ultra-stable processes that are gentle on the product. The blister stacks are subsequently positioned one behind the other in the cartoner’s bucket chain by so-called stack carriers. Only complete stacks are transferred to the cartoner. For the first time, any compensation of gaps in the process is mapped in the software, so that good blisters no longer have to be held back. As a result, a manual blister top-up magazine can be dispensed. This highly automated transfer solution from Romaco Noack additionally allows seamless tracking and tracing of blister packs from the product feeding unit onward.

Features for more sustainability

Romaco Noack’s new Unity 600 was developed according to the principle “avoidance is better than reduction is better than compensation”, the aim being to dramatically reduce the blister packaging line’s carbon footprint both during its manufacture and later in operation. That is why the line ships with an energy monitor that measures not only power and air consumption, but also the machine’s carbon dioxide emissions during production. Its smart standby functions enable a reduction in base load without any negative impact on OEE (overall equipment effectiveness). Components made from carbon-reduced ASI aluminum and a recycled acrylic glass housing give the line an even better environmental balance. The insulated heating plates of the blister forming station moreover restrict the amount of waste heat in the air-conditioned primary packaging room. And the cartoner abides by the same principle: Romaco relies on the more sustainable Venturi process to produce the vacuum that is essential for carton and leaflet pick up. Last but not least, the blister line features motors with energy recovery.

The Unity 600 can be supplied in a carbon-neutral version on request. Romaco’s offsetting initiatives are undertaken together with Forliance – one of the “Alliance for Development and Climate” foundation’s offsetting partners – on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development.

Wide range of applications

The Unity 600 blister packaging line from Romaco Noack meets all the requirements of the pharmaceutical and nutraceuticals industry when it comes to flexibility, quality and performance. The technology is utilized for the primary packaging of solid products such as tablets, capsules and oblongs, and is also suitable for manufacturing sustainable packaging like paper blisters. This GMP compliant line convinces with excellent OEE values – due to short changeover times and very good line clearance.

On show at interpack in Dusseldorf (Germany) from May 4 to 10, 2023 (Hall 16, Booth D22).