Traceability Solutions for the Age of Interconnectedness

Full transparency right from the beginning

Container-level traceability from production to point-of-care (PoC)

The Gerresheimer traceability concept ensures complete transparency throughout the value chain and greater safety for the patient — because only complete traceability is true traceability. As the first link in the manufacturing chain, we apply unique codes to our primary packaging and medical devices. Thanks to our digital infrastructure for traceability, we and all downstream parties can link, analyze and share any data with the individual product unit. Our codes are the key to connecting previously separate worlds in the value chain. They mark the start of a new era of interconnectedness that promises complete transparency and security for our customers and patients.

Track & Trace Lösungen - Gerresheimer AG

Primary packaging production

The primary packaging is at the very beginning of the supply chain. We therefore see it as our role to apply unique identifiers directly to each single container to enable full traceability and to support all downstream processes.
 

Track & Trace Lösungen - Gerresheimer AG

Nest & tub or tray aggregation

For syringes or vials that we supply in a ready-to-fill format, we combine the two packaging levels by linking their unique IDs. This parent-child relationship allows easy traceability from nest or tub to the single syringes or vials.

Track & Trace Lösungen - Gerresheimer AG

Fill & finish

When the glass products are loaded into the filling lines, they get assigned to the respective batch by means of the nest & tub or tray ID. It is our goal to provide a customizable digital infrastructure so that the filler can easily link valuable product or process data with the individual container.

Track & Trace Lösungen - Gerresheimer AG

Combination product assembly

On our in-house assembly line, we aggregate our coded primary packaging with our coded medical devices such as pens, autoinjectors and pump systems. By doing so, we can guarantee, that only primary packaging with specific properties is incorporated in your combination product.
 

Gerresheimer Track and Trace

Serialization

The serialization obligations of the pharmaceutical industry aim to ensure the authenticity and integrity of a drug. Our traceability concept connects the first part of the value chain with the serialized part and creates true added value from costs that occur anyway for regulatory reasons.

Supply chain up to the PoC

Supply chain up to the PoC

Until the drug is administered at the point-of-care, all relevant data that have accumulated along the value chain can be checked again. Is the product in the right market? Does the expiry date correspond to the label? When is it administered? The Gerresheimer traceability concept serves different needs.

Benefits of traceability

Our vision promises transparency and traceability across the entire supply chain, from primary packaging to secondary packaging, and from drug filling and serialization up to the final application at the PoC. You will benefit in particular from the following advantages:

Increase patient safety

Clearly marked primary packaging helps minimize the risk of costly and dangerous mix-ups when filling medicines. This factor is becoming increasingly important due to smaller batch sizes in personalized medicine.  

Eliminate sources of error

Problems that need to be investigated during production or filling and finishing are common. The ability to trace back certain machinery events or previously reported issues speeds up root cause analysis and reduces the number of blocked products due to ongoing investigations.  

Increase efficiency

Smaller batch sizes are also making work processes more complex and flexible. Line changes can be simplified and accelerated if the batch affiliation, filling status or other product information can be traced for each individual product thanks to coding.  

Limit damage in case of recalls

In the event of a drug recall, the link between the unique code of the primary packaging and the serialized medicine makes it possible to draw quick and precise conclusion about the affected product units.  

Fight counterfeiting

A unique code on the primary packaging that cannot be removed, along with the corresponding digital identity, is another important step on the way to a counterfeit-proof product.  

Enable patient and end-customer interaction

Unique codes or NFC technology enable a variety of use cases in marketing, customer profiling, or patient safety, allowing end customers and patients to communicate directly with the product via smartphone. 

Support circular economy

The trend toward reusable packaging materials goes beyond the cosmetics industry. Clearly identifiable products and their digital tracing enable the continuous tracking of products in the market.

Compliance

By means of direct marking packaging can help improve product and process quality and its documentation, making it possible to address the increasingly stringent regulatory requirements.

Advantages of the Gerresheimer marking technology

We apply unique data matrix codes to our primary packaging and medical devices. Since our first test series were very promising, we started investing in our own equipment to digitally print our portfolio of tubular glass products.

In a second step, we will invest in applying data matrix codes to our wide variety of plastic products.

Track & Trace Lösungen - Gerresheimer AG

Highly resistant and stable against

All pharmaceutical manufacturing operations
High- and low-temperature applications
Chemical agents
Removal attempts (counterfeiting)

High contrast and robust readability

For high-speed fill and finish operations
No special lighting required
Conventional barcode readers
Smartphone ready

Wide range of product applications

Suitable for glass syringes, vials, cartridges and ampoules
Available as bulk and ready-to-fill
Flexible placement on bottom or body

Customized printing options

Special designs available (i.e. logo or brands)
Code and special designs in one manufacturing step
No influence on container integrity

Gerresheimer Contact

Contact the expert

Want to know more about how your company can benefit from container-level traceability?

Talk to the experts at our Innovation Hub!

traceability-remove@remove-gerresheimer.com

Contact us!

Lea Amstad
Digital Strategy Lead

lea.amstad-remove@remove-gerresheimer.com