Huge Improvements for Small Vials

Nov 11, 2022 | Equipment, Accumulation, Pharmaceutical

Serum vials used in the pharmaceutical industry may be tiny, but their impact on public health is astronomically enormous. We have previously discussed COVID vaccine vials in the cold chain, and that is just one example.

 

Vials have been used for thousands of years, and we are still learning new ways to apply them. Still, pharmaceutical companies face significant issues regarding how vials can be processed, stored, and transported to achieve their intended use.

 

Vial damage, contamination, and bottlenecks on the line are common problems that are only exacerbated as they get smaller in size. 

 

In this post, we will chat a little about various applications for vials, and some considerations pharmaceutical companies must make. We will then discuss how Garvey’s Infinity™ Rx Accumulation Table eliminates many issues companies face when working with vials as small as 1.5 mL.

 

How do organizations choose suitable vials for them?

 

Vials are tiny containers used for many different applications. The most common include medication storage and laboratory sampling. Because of this range in use, they are not a one-size-fits-all solution and come in various sizes and types depending on the application. 

 

For Example

 

  • Single-dose drugs are typically stored in vials which can be smaller (but not always) than multi-dose vials that may be used more than once per CDC guidelines.
  • Vaccines, medications and blood samples that require frigid temperatures to maintain efficacy and sample protection must be stored in cryogenic vials specifically configured for cold temperatures.
  • Certain autosampler vials may be needed to match the handling capabilities of the machines on the line. Depending on the autosampler, you may need to choose vials of an exact diameter. 
  • Some vials may require specific caps to prevent contamination and ensure proper storage and handling. 

 

Although standard vial sizes typically start at 2 mL, we have seen an influx of smaller vial dimensions in the pharmaceutical industry that require a specialized solution to prevent handling issues on the line. 

 

Garvey developed the Infinity™ Rx Accumulation Table to mitigate vial damage and safety issues prevalent when working with these smaller vials.

 

How does Garvey’s Infinity™ Rx handle vials as small as 1.5 mL?

 

 

Garvey’s patented Infinity Rx systems are the best in the industry at handling small vials and other extremely unstable products. 

 

Our equipment routinely accumulates 2 mL vials and out-feeds them at rates up to 900 vials per minute to match the speeds of today’s fastest labelers, inspection machines, and cappers. However, vials smaller than 2 milliliters create different challenges.

 

Challenge

 

The vials are stable on the straight sections of the accumulator, but when the conveyor chain travels around a curve, small gaps are created between the outside portions of the chain links that cause the vials to fall. 

 

Solution

 

Garvey’s engineers devised a set of guides that not only stabilize the vials through the curve but also keep the vials away from the problematic areas of the conveyor chain. 

 

Stability issues are even more evident when the glass is warm and squeaky clean, and the new Infinity Rx performs well under these challenging conditions.

 

Our solution ensures pharmaceutical organizations can maximize their throughput for applications requiring smaller vials while preventing vial damage and eliminating entrapment.

 

We specialize in advanced packaging solutions for the pharmaceutical industry. 

 

At Garvey, we engineer solutions to meet the rigid demands of the job. We take pride in helping pharmaceutical companies handle and transport medicine that saves lives‒no matter the vial type and size.

 

Let us know how we can help your organization increase efficiency and safety on the line. Contact us today to schedule your free line analysis