Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/678483
22 May 2016 Tablets & Capsules The Allentown site has 35 suites for bottle filling, blister packaging, carded blister packaging, microdos- ing powders, pouching, stick pack filling, and oral thin-film packaging. There's also syringe packaging. It's a huge plant, with storage space for 8,600 pallets of product and packaging materials. Depending on the week, there are eight or nine bottle filling lines, plus three blister lines. All offer serialization and include the usual: check weighing, induction sealing, and laser and ther- mographic printing. The company's serialization capa- bility is at the leading edge. In fact, it has been working to perfect its sup- ply-chain competence for several years and is ready to help customers meet the deadline for adopting track- and-trace. "Sharp has the experience and resources to become the contract packager of choice for the pharma- ceutical industry across the globe," In late February I paid a visit to the Sharp Packaging Services plant in Allentown, PA, and got a tour from Bob Mac, client development and relationship manager, and Vic Virginio, director of engineering and new business development. Mac has worked at Sharp for 8 years and Virginio for 11. The company offers an array of options. If Sharp can't package your pharmaceutical product, I'm not sure anyone can. About 85 percent of its business involves solid dosage forms. The Allentown facility covers the gamut of pharmaceutical packaging, and the company dedicates its plant in Conshohocken, PA, to blister packaging. "Sharp Packaging Solutions is a world leader in commercial and clini- cal packaging for pharmaceutical and biotechnology markets," Virginio said. "We are positioned to serve your needs globally and locally." Mac said. The company also offers: • Analytical and research services. These are protocol driven and tai- lored to fulfill specific needs. • Clinical label design and print- ing. With multi-language labels and interactive/response technologies, Sharp can create patient kits without tying up inventory with products dedicated to a single market. • Clinical manufacturing services. This includes a wide range of solid oral dosage products, plus some liq- uids, creams, and ointments. • Clinical packaging and labeling. Sharp offers innovative and cost- effective solutions. • Clinical storage and distribu- tion. The company ensures on-time delivery of the right product to the right place. • Comparator sourcing. Sharp's network of approved suppliers ensures an efficient and compliant supply. • Formulation development and manufacturing. A team of experi- enced scientists has its own in-house laboratory. • Over-encapsulation and placebo manufacturing. It will over-encapsu- late any solid dosage form and make a placebo to match. • Returns and destruction. This is a requirement of reputable clinical trial studies. • Stability study services. The company can perform a series of tests to establish or verify a product's sta- bility performance. T&C Rich Cress is publisher of CSC Publishing, 1 1 5 5 N o r t h l a n d Drive, St. Paul, MN 55120. Tel. 651 287 5 6 0 1 . E - m a i l : rcress@cscpub.com. Sharp's Allentown facility covers the gamut of pharmaceutical packaging and has 35 suites for bottle filling, blister packaging, carded blister packaging, microdosing powders, stick pack filling, and more. On the road with Rich: Sharp Packaging Services