High-performance labelling at sanofi-aventis with Autocol machines

Labelling pharmaceutical containers demands highly specialised know-how, particularly when it comes to putting the specified dating and identification on the label, and subsequently checking these for accuracy. It was back in the year 2000 that the pharmaceutical company sanofi-aventis first discovered Krones’ capabilities for high-performance labelling and has now commissioned yet another, the fourth in all, an Autocol for applying pressure-sensitive labels at a speed of 60,000 containers an hour. Once again for labelling insulin ampoules with a diameter of just 10 mm, and insulin pens.
On the production lines in Frankfurt Höchst, insulin preparations from sanofi-aventis are filled in cylindrical ampoules and packed. When the agenda turned to redesigning the filling and labelling process, the firm’s production capabilities, with their conventional labellers, came up against their limits. The planners wanted a new line rated at 900 cylindrical ampoules a minute, with a diameter of 10 mm the smallest product in Aventis´ portfolio. At this juncture, the firm installed an Autocol rated at 1,000 containers a minute for labelling dental anaesthetics in glass ampoules.
When it was time to purchase two more pressure-sensitive labellers, each rated at 500 containers a minute, Aventis Pharma Germany stuck with Krones. The ampoules are securely centred, and transported like this through the Autocol machine, with corresponding benefits for labelling accuracy. Aventis uses the two “smaller” Autocols for labelling insulin ampoules and a part-element of an insulin pen.