Pharmaceutical packaging lines run blister, bottle, tube and carton machines that all use compressed air. Because the air can contact the product or primary packaging, it must meet validated, documented quality standards.
Air quality
Specify ISO 8573-1 Class 1:2:1 or better with Class 0 oil, and a low dew point for moisture-sensitive products. The system must be validated with testing at the point of use, and the data retained for audits.
Key applications
- Blister forming and sealing
- Bottle filling, capping and labelling
- Cartoning and case packing
- Serialisation and inspection systems
System design
Use oil-free compression with adsorption drying and sterile point-of-use filtration. Avoid dead legs in the pipework, provide sampling points, and include redundancy so validated lines keep running during maintenance.