Marchesisni launches combined thermo former and cartoner at Achema

The Unica line, which was unveiled today at Achema 2009 in Frankfurt, Germany, combines a Farcon 220 deep forming unit with a MA100 carton packaging processor, each of which is controlled through a separate PC and fully automated Robovisions feed system.

A company spokesperson told in-PharmaTechnologist that the Robovisions “robots [were] developed by Marchesini Group to pick-up products syringes or other from a belt and to feed them to both the thermoformer and the cartoner​.”

She went on to say that the units’ “large work area and operational precision… are important characteristics and are what the market demands.”​

“Special attention has been paid to size changing, which is performed without using tools, thanks to quick-release couplings and locking handles​,” which the firm argues gives Unica greater flexibility than competitor units.

The spokesperson also explained that, so far, the firm has received expressions of interest in the Unica from pharmaceutical syringe producers in China, Belgium and France, but added that the line has applications across the pharma, cosmetic and food sectors.

The Integra blister packaging unit, which was launched at the Interpack show in Dusseldorf last year, set the mould for Marchesini’s monobloc concept, being the first to combine individually controlled thermoforming and packaging stations in a single unit.

In addition, the Integra system was the first to feature the adaptable Robovisions feeder robots, which are capable or picking syringes or similar products from production belts, that are at the heart of the new Unica platform.