UPM Raflatac revamps portfolio for pharmaceutical and healthcare markets

New products in UPM Raflatac's portfolio include products for primary blood bag labeling and for labeling sterilization wraps for surgical instruments in hospitals.

The company also added a label face to protect against counterfeiting in compliance with the Falsified Medicines Directive.

UPM Raflatac has produced a primary blood bag label stock range based on a unique adhesive - RP32 PB. Developed and tested according to guidance from the ISO 3826 standard, RP32 PB has high heat resistance and tolerates long-term storage in low-temperature environments.

Migration safety is important to recognize and analyze when drugs or medical contents in liquid or gas forms are stored in containers made from LDPE plastics, COC/COP and PP. UPM Raflatac's RP31 Purus adhesive is 'migration safe' with low-leachable characteristics.

For identification labeling on container stored at low temperatures, RP80 LT and RPCryo adhesives offer long-term reliability and withstand multiple freeze-thaw cycles. RP80 LT is formulated for environmental conditions as low as -80°C and is recommended for labeling laboratory vials, ampules, test tubes, plates and storage boxes. RPCryo is particularly recommended for labeling cryogenic laboratory sample containers in liquid-nitrogen storage conditions as low as -150°C to -196°C.

UPM Raflatac has also launched a range of pharmaceutical labeling materials that support compliance with the Falsified Medicines Directive regarding packaging for prescription drugs and high-risk, over-the-counter medicines. By incorporating tamper-evident features as described in the new EN 16679, these products help protect the supply chain from counterfeit materials. RP62 EU adhesive produces cardboard tear on tampered pharmaceutical product packs, and clear film labels make these products compatible with existing packaging designs. A new destructible film label, Pharmaclear PP Seal, adds a second layer of security by preventing re-use of the label.

Other products include a material based on RP3H adhesive for labeling sterilization wraps for autoclaved surgical instruments; and unlike typical options, no additional tape is required to secure label adhesion. UPM Raflatac also supplies a wide range of products for labeling small diameter containers from 7mm to 15mm.