Label printing in a medical/pharmaceutical environment is in many ways very different than the average label application. The user requirements are very demanding in terms of print quality, reproducibility, color consistency and process control. The whole print process has to be compliant with GMP/GAMP and other FDA/EMEA regulations.
Ability to handle spot colors is important and printers like to use a broad range of substrates, from paper, PE and PP to memory-free substrates for small vials and transparent clear-on-clear. The printed labels have to be resistant to the mostly used sterilization methods and have to allow overprinting or embossing.
The economic environment of the pharma industry is the ideal biotope for digital print
- The run-lengths are generally very small due to the fact that most labels are small in size and that each label has many different versions and translations.
- The production workflow has to be as simple as possible to exclude risk for error.
- Lead times are short and getting even shorter.
- The production environment is inherently clean and waste generated is minimal.
In essence, labels can be produced in a cheaper, faster and cleaner way by using a digital production tool instead of flexo or offset. This impacts production quantities and results in restocking of warehouses with more frequent, smaller orders of labeled products.
The latest trends in the market of pharmaceuticals and medical devices show an increasing trend towards more colorful and trendy labels as more drugs get the OTC (Over The Counter) status where the label has to sell the product. Many marketers in this industry now understand the power of a strong label to build a loyal relationship with the patient.
