The Evolution of Pharmaceutical Packaging – The History of Packaging Medicines
Ever wondered how the packaging of medicines started and how it has changed over the years? Read on to find out.
The history of packaging medicines began in Australia when in 1876, they were first shipped and used to send medical supplies to be given to soldiers during World War I. It was not until many years later that the idea was adopted by large corporations that use them now as a way to speed up the process of transporting and stocking supplies of drugs for use in the medical field.
Prior to this, there were already several companies in the pharmaceutical industry that were involved in packing the medicines and doing so with industry standards in mind. These companies included American companies, who had a larger production capacity, as well as British companies and the French. One of the earliest examples of this was Dr Jekyll & Mr Hyde Packing Company.
The Bulk Liquid Health Care
Dr Jekyll & Mr Hyde Packing Company was actually responsible for the early development of a stable form of medical supplies that were known as bulk liquid health care. There were several companies that had been using these types of products as a means of storing medicines for easy use and distribution over a wide area of the country. One of the companies that had used these as a means of getting around the expense and cost associated with custom production was Melbourne Chemical Corporation, which was also founded in Melbourne. The company had a partnership with a former partner and moved to Melbourne, where they established their own plant.
Production Of Different Forms Of Protective Materials
A similar partnership began with the Merck Manufacturing Company in America as well as others. The corporation later moved its operations to Australia, where they opened up a manufacturing facility in Melbourne. This production was able to drive the development of the use of different forms of protective materials for medicines such as the use of epoxy coatings and the process of solidification of other forms of packaging materials.
The benefits of using these were numerous, especially in a dosage form, such as the use of different forms of locking systems that would ensure that the medicine would not be tampered with. The glass bottles and cellophane packs would make them more useful for the consumer because they made medicine easier to store and easier to get to the right location without leaving marks or any residue on the medicine.
When the Merck Manufacturing Company moved its operation to Perth, Western Australia, they occupied a building that was originally used by the Pharmaceutical Division of the Dr Jekyll & Mr Hyde Packing Company. The agreement between the two companies was to use the space in the building and develop a joint venture. The joint venture would allow for the consolidation of production and ultimately work towards standardisation of the process of manufacturing.
Many of the companies involved in bulk liquid health care and other forms of packaging of drugs took part in the growth of the area. This eventually led to the formation of a corporation that would consist of a manufacturing center and a branch in Melbourne that manufactured. The process of bulk liquid pharmaceuticals made it possible for the United States to produce the same standard form of medicine as the Australian-produced products.
Contract Packing
The history of the packaging of medicines also led to the idea of contract packing Melbourne companies use to this day, which had been developed and integrated into the marketing aspect of the pharmaceutical industry. The contract is formed with the company that produces the goods, the average consumer, and even pharmaceutical companies themselves.
There are a number of companies offering contract packing of medicines, including those in the United States. Before hiring one, it is important to understand the packaging process of the company to ensure that the packaging of your medicines or pharmaceutical goods is in compliance with the standards.