New Technology Improves Glucose Strip Packaging

Kinematic Automation (Twain Harte, CA) and CSP Technologies Inc. (Auburn, AL) have joined forces to provide glucose strip manufacturers with a new packaging technology. Kinematic's SPC 3500 strip processing center is designed specifically for use with CSP's Activ-Vial.

The SPC 3500 slits the strips, then opens, fills, and closes the patented vial, which is a one-piece, injection-molded container and lid connected by a hinge. The lid is cooled on the container after molding, which reduces the chance of tolerance mismatch and creates an airtight seal. The vial also includes an active liner of desiccant that is molded into the container to eliminate moisture damage to the glucose strips.

Jack Dorazio, vice president of CSP Technologies, explains that the product was developed in response to end-user complaints that the last 20 to 30% of strips in traditional packaging were routinely damaged by moisture. "There's absolutely no comparison between the maintained relative humidity in the Activ-Vial and other designs," he says.

The ease with which the flip-top lid can be opened also makes the vial attractive to end-users, especially physically impaired diabetes patients, Dorazio adds.

Manufacturers will also benefit from the packaging technology, says Kinematic president Dave Carlberg. The processing center packages more than 60,000 glucose strips per hour, and reduces production costs by eliminating the capping automation equipment needed for closing containers with separate lids.

"We feel this process will revolutionize glucose strip packaging," Carlberg says.--Jamie Graham

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