Blister packaging protects tablets and capsules in individual cavities, so each dose can be opened separately. It shields the product from moisture and external factors and lets the user see how many doses have been taken. Türesan manufactures its blister machines in its own plant; each machine is designed for the project after reviewing the product and the blister card design.
How blister packs are made
On blister machines, the process generally consists of these steps:
- Forming: the base film is formed into cavities in a mould, either by heating (thermoforming) or by cold forming.
- Product feeding: tablets or capsules are placed into the cavities by the feeding unit.
- Cavity inspection: empty or incompletely filled cavities are detected and the affected card is rejected.
- Sealing: the lidding foil is sealed to the base film with heat and pressure.
- Coding: batch number and expiry date are printed or embossed on the card.
- Perforation and cutting: cards are cut to the required size and discharged.
Films and format
The base film and the lidding foil are selected for the product's sensitivity to moisture and light. Card size, number of cavities, cavity shape and tooling dimensions are defined per project, according to the product and the packaging; capacity also depends on these choices.
Position on the line
Tablets and capsules have to be prepared before blister packing, and the cards have to be cartoned afterwards. For capsule preparation, see the capsule filling machine; for products sold in bottles, tablet counting machines are used instead of blister packs. For blending powder components, see our cubic mixer page. The end-of-line solutions page covers cartoning and end-of-line operations.
Related pages: Medicine sector · Tablet counting machines · Cubic mixer · Contact us for a quote
Frequently Asked Questions
What products is a blister machine used for?
It packs tablets, capsules and similar solid dosage forms into individual cavities.
How are card size and number of cavities determined?
Card size, number of cavities, cavity shape and tooling dimensions are defined per project, according to the product and the packaging.
Can bottles be used instead of blister packs?
Yes; for bottle packaging, tablets and capsules are counted into the bottle by tablet counting machines.
