Machine head placing brown glass ampoules into the cavities of a transparent blister sheet

Heraeus Medical increases productivity by 20% through automated KOCH blister machine

Heraeus Medical, based in Wehrheim, is a leading provider of bone cements and biomaterials for surgical orthopedics and trauma surgery. As part of the Heraeus Group, Heraeus Medical benefits from centuries of experience and global technological leadership with the clear goal of making medical progress tangible for patients worldwide.

Challenge

  • Automated packaging of sensitive glass ampoules with high quality requirements

  • Integration of a DOD printer for variable and product-specific information

  • Reduction of personnel requirements and more efficient use of resources 

  • Increase in productivity while maintaining process reliability

Solution

  • Blister machine KBS-C medplus® with a capacity of up to 9 cycles/min. and simplified format change

  • Fully automated feeding of glass ampoules into the packaging process, allowing personnel resources to be saved

  • Integrated MPRINT DOD printing solution for market-compliant printing of the Tyvek lidding foil

  • Optimized design for intuitive machine operation and reduced noise generation for modern and ergonomic production environments

Portrait of Gabriela Kellner, Head of Production Engineering at Heraeus Medical, photographed at a production site
Gabriela Kellner
Head of Production Engineering at Heraeus Medical

The collaboration with KOCH was cooperative and solution-oriented from the very beginning. The concept and technical expertise convinced us – both in implementation and with regard to future projects.

Forming station of a blister machine with a heavy tool block above a transparent film web

Forming process for the production of blister packaging – precise shaping of the material through controlled application of temperature and pressure.

Transparent film web with rows of empty formed cavities running through a packaging machine

Preformed blisters that form the basis for the secure holding of sensitive products.

Brown glass ampoules lined up on a conveyor with separating fingers guiding them into position

Automated feeding of the glass ampoules onto the transport system for format-appropriate alignment and transfer into the packaging process.

Brown glass ampoules aligned in white guide channels with orange sensors mounted alongside

Glass ampoules are positioned on the transport system and prepared for loading into the preformed blisters.

Gripper head lifting two brown glass ampoules from a row of white guide channels

Safe and precise placement of the glass ampoules into the preformed blisters.

Brown glass ampoules resting individually in the cavities of a transparent blister web

The glass ampoules are protected in the preformed blisters, ready for sealing.

Printed lidding web running over a steel roller into the sealing station above the filled blisters

Sealing the blisters with Tyvek lidding film for a sterile barrier and reliable product protection in the further packaging process.

Row of suction grippers lifting sealed blisters from a punching tool for separation

Punching process for the separation of the sealed blisters as a transition to automated sorting and transfer to further logistical processing.

Contact

Do you have specific requirements, are you looking for expert advice, or are you interested in our machines, technologies and services? Our experts will be happy to help you – contact us now!