Penn Pharma has installed a number of new packing lines and equipment to support an increased demand for packing and labeling a range of dosage types for both clinical and commercial needs. Penn has also re-modelled its existing facilities, adding rooms for assembly of clinical trials kits, several new flexible secondary packing rooms and a new label production suite to further strengthen its European operation in Tredegar, South Wales.
 
Chief executive officer Dr Richard Yarwood commented, “We are pleased to be in a position to continue to invest in the existing operations whilst our new high containment unit is under construction. These new facilities have been designed to meet all current GMP requirements across our broad range of licenses. This new equipment and expanded facilities will provide the business with the capacity to deliver larger contracts for clinical and commercial supplies including several projects recently won for EU commercial distribution.”
 
Penn has installed three additional labelers, including one with capability to automatically label vials and ampoules. All the new labeling equipment features comprehensive security features, including missing overprint presence detection sensors and pharmacode reading systems.
 
The company has also added three new tablet counters with high-speed infrared sensors for high accuracy counting of tablets and capsules, including transparent soft gelatin capsules. Blister packing capacity is being increased through the installation of a Klockner CP11 blister machine. The unit is capable of running up to 28 cycles per minute and is being modified to provide cold form capability. The new machine is extremely flexible and will provide short lead times for new pack formats. The dollar value of the company's new investment was not disclosed.