‘On The Right Track For The Future'

What are the developments that set the trend for pharmaceutical filling and packaging machines? Gerhard Breu, Chairman, Optima Pharma Division, provides answers and explains what strategies he plans to use to face the current market requirements. An additional focus in the machine industry is digitalisation and its effects on the processes. Optima is becoming a major provider of solutions and technologies for turnkey projects

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You started in July 2017 as an authorised representative for Optima Pharma. What are your responsibilities?

My responsibilities include the strategic development and implementation for Optima Pharma, as well as, the development and intensification of the collaboration between different locations. Therefore, we have a better understanding of the general context. The main benefit for our customers is that we can offer product portfolios that are adjusted to the entire process chain. It is also important to me that we strengthen the support for our customers worldwide – not only the deliveries, but also the local service for machines. We have reached our objective when the customer perceives it.

'The life cycle management will play a larger role'

What are the developments that shape the current market for pharmaceutical filling and packaging lines?

Currently, we see a trend for more biotechnology products and individual therapies for patients. The variety of products increases drastically and many of them are very potent. Therefore, our machines have to be highly flexible to process these products, containers and batch sizes.

It has to be recognised that the life cycle of products will be much more dynamic and new product varieties and containers have to be processed. This calls for more flexible and reconfigurable solutions that will enable the life cycle management. We will definitely consider this during the conceptual design in order to meet customer requirements.

How does Optima Pharma react to this development?

I will give you two specific examples. The trend towards flexibility is solved with the utilisation of robots.

We are also developing a process solution for the isolator and freeze-drying field at the Metall+Plastic location in Radolfzell and at Optima Pharma in Mornshausen that will reduce the current cycle times.