December 16, 2020
State-of-the-art NFC technology has a lot to offer in smart packaging applications, it can be used for tamper evidence, secure authentication, end-to-end traceability, easy re-ordering, and in the case of pharmaceutical products it can also connect the patient to, not only easy-to-read instructions, but also video/audio guides, help lines, social media support groups and even to their doctor or clinician. Previously, this functionality was restricted to high-value (or high-risk) products due to the cost of traditional NFC inlays and their Integrated Circuits (ICs or “chips”). Now, thanks to the joint effort of Schreiner MediPharm, PragmatIC Semiconductor, and Avery Dennison, these options can be embedded in cost-sensitive, everyday healthcare and pharmaceutical products.
“We have always believed that integrating RFID into pharmaceutical products helps improve patient safety by enabling more accurate tracking and authentication of medication through the entire supply chain, with the goal of reducing error rates to nearly zero. With our new low-cost inlays based on PragmatIC ConnectIC® and our partnership with PragmatIC Semiconductor and Schreiner MediPharm, we help to enhance patient safety and experiences through novel smart packaging applications.” — Francisco Melo, Vice President and General Manager, Avery Dennison Intelligent Labels
New NFC smart packaging solutions leverage low-cost, flexible and robust ICs
At the core of these new cost-effective smart solutions are Avery Dennison’s NFC inlays, which include NFC ICs from the ConnectIC® range of products manufactured by PragmatIC, a UK-based world leader in ultra-low-cost electronics. As these flexible ICs (“FlexICs”) are thinner than a human hair, robust and suitable for small diameter objects, they provide the ideal solution for adding a unique identity to everyday objects, for example small diameter syringes, or vials.
Avery Dennison’s inlays with ConnectIC® chips have been adopted by Schreiner MediPharm to add to its portfolio. The supplier, based near Munich, Germany, develops and produces innovative specialty labels and self-adhesive marking solutions with value-added benefits for the pharmaceutical and medical device industry.
Enhancing patient safety and experiences
“We have always believed that integrating RFID into pharmaceutical products helps improve patient safety by enabling more accurate tracking and authentication of medication through the entire supply chain, with the goal of reducing error rates to nearly zero. With our new low-cost inlays based on PragmatIC ConnectIC® and our partnership with PragmatIC Semiconductor and Schreiner MediPharm, we help to enhance patient safety and experiences through novel smart packaging applications”, said Francisco Melo, Vice President and General Manager, Avery Dennison Intelligent Labels.
Avery Dennison’s special low-cost NFC inlays and Schreiner MediPharm’s labeling solution are expected to be available in the first quarter of 2021.
Our partners at a glance:PragmatIC Semiconductor is a world leader in ultra-low-cost flexible electronics. The company’s unique technology platform enables innovators to create novel solutions to everyday problems that are beyond the scope of conventional electronics. PragmatIC ConnectIC® family of flexible integrated circuits (FlexICs) are thinner than a human hair and extend proven applications such as RFID and NFC into mass-market use cases, enabling the potential for trillions of smart objects that can engage with consumers and their environments. www.pragmatic.tech Schreiner MediPharm, a business unit of Schreiner Group GmbH & Co. KG based in Oberschleissheim near Munich, is a leading developer and manufacturer of innovative, multifunctional specialty labels and marking solutions with value-added benefits for the healthcare industry. Thanks to its strong solutions expertise and specialized know-how Schreiner MediPharm is a highly capable development partner and reliable quality supplier to leading pharmaceutical and medical device technology companies worldwide. www.schreiner-medipharm.com |
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