Stora Enso signs the first Pharma DDS agreements

Stora Enso Consumer Board
FIN-55800 Imatra, Finland

Tel. +358 2046 121

Fax +358 2046 24716

www.storaenso.com/productnews

 

PRESS RELEASE

14 August 2008

 

 

 

"These three agreements only eight months after the launch of Pharma DDS in the market demonstrate the great interest in the product. We are especially excited about the cooperation with Sharp Corporation and the possibility to produce Pharma DDS on their new high speed MGS Stealth cartoner," says Ismo Saarinen, Director, Stora Enso Pharmaceutical Solutions. The Pharma DDS carton is designed to be convenient and discreet to use, yet it has reached the highest F=1 child resistance testing result.

 

Sharp Corporation has recently finalized the installation of the new MGS Stealth cartoner at its facilities in Conshohocken, Pennsylvania. "MGS Stealth is a high speed cartoner that can effectively produce such a specialized product as Pharma DDS. The speed of the line is up to 220 cartons per minute," says Rick Seibert, Vice President of New Business Development, Sharp Corporation.

 

Pharma DDS is targeted for both prescription drugs and over-the-counter products and nutraceuticals. Thanks to the effective production technique, competitive cost level can be achieved for both small and high volume drugs. Pharma DDS has several features that support the patient's compliance with his or her drug prescription. The carton has a unique locking mechanism and it can be produced in a variety of sizes and versions, which makes it suitable for a wide range of unit dose packaging requirements. The F=1 child resistant carton is suited for the packaging of highly toxic drugs but also serves other categories.

 

 

Stora Enso is an integrated paper, packaging and forest products company producing newsprint and book paper, magazine paper, fine paper, consumer board, industrial packaging and wood products. Stora Enso's sales totalled EUR 11.8 billion in 2007. The Group has some 36 000 employees in more than 40 countries on five continents. Stora Enso's shares are listed in Helsinki and Stockholm. Stora Enso has an annual production capacity of 13.1 million tonnes of paper and board and 7.5 million cubic metres of sawn wood products. Stora Enso pharmaceutical packaging boards are widely used in cartons for all forms of primary packaging, and the company has developed a number of packaging concepts tailored to the needs of pharmaceutical industry.

 

Sharp Corporation is a world class provider of healthcare contract packaging, design, and engineering serving the Rx, OTC, nutritional, animal health, and personal care markets. Sharp is recognized for delivering reliable, cost-effective blister packaging, bottling, carded blisters, pouching, and biotechnology packaging. In addition to contract packaging, Sharp has the ability to provide package designs and concepts utilizing the latest state-of-the-art equipment. Dedicated project management teams serve customers from concept to completion utilizing QAD-ERP systems to streamline the process to support successful product launches. In July 2008, Sharp Corporation was acquired by United Drug plc, a leading international provider of services to pharmaceutical retailers and manufacturers. Sharp will combine with United Drug's existing US operations to broaden the range of outsourced services for US pharmaceutical and healthcare manufacturers.

 

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For further information:

 

www.storaenso.com/pharma   

www.storaenso.com/productnews

www.storaenso.com

www.sharpcorporation.com

www.united-drug.com