Pellet Sized Leaflets - Kimball
Whilst parallel folded leaflets are viewed as a standard by much of the industry, some users are seeking more. With legislation forcing pharmaceutical companies to include an ever increasing amount of patient information, in ever larger point sizes, leaflets are becoming appreciably larger in size, presenting problems for both product originators and the packaging suppliers.
Such was the situation for Kimball (formerly a part of the Bayer organisation). Discussions with Medica Packaging lead to the production of pellet sized patient information leaflets.
The PIL element required high-speed production printed on lightweight stock. For this Medica was able to utilise its Myakoshi narrow web press, printing onto 60gsm material, two-up at speeds of up to 15,000 pages per hour. High speed printing requires high speed drying, and the Myakoshi at Medica runs UV inks, with UV drying equipment ensuring that leaflets are dry to the touch on delivery. This fast printing solution also requires high performance folding equipment to continue the rapid production. Medica is well equipped for this with a mix of MBO and GUK folding machinery.
The key benefit of the lightweight stock is the ability to be able to add one final extra knife fold, via the ViJuk folder extension. This machine also provides a gluing capability to hold the final fold in place, thus creating the pellet. This finished leaflet can be picked and placed into the final pack, providing the user of the medication with all of the information required.
