3 Categories of Pharmaceutical Packaging and What They’re Used For


Blister package design

Of all the packaging in the world, medical packaging companies have one of the most important jobs. They must make sure their products are packaged correctly every time to ensure that they arrive at their destinations without being corrupted, damaged, or contaminated.
In order to do this, medical packaging companies use a variety of packaging categories to help ensure that their products are safe and secure. Pharmaceutical packaging services are no joke. Here’s how most pharmaceuticals are packaged before they arrive at your door.
Primary Packaging
Primary packaging is the first layer of packaging that actually encapsulates the pharmaceutical product inside. In other words, these are the small packages that you as a consumer open to get the medicine out. Medical blister packaging is one of the most common types of primary packaging, followed closely by clam shell packaging, which is a simple variation. Blister packaging is the type of packaging that involves small plastic bubbles encapsulating pills inside of them. This type of medical packaging is quite popular because it’s child-proof, and air-tight. In other words, it keeps your medication safe. Clam shell packaging is simply blister packaging in two sections that fold into one another, much like a clam shell. Both of these methods are commonly used as primary packaging and can be found in most homes today.
Secondary Packaging
Before being shipped out, pharmaceuticals must be grouped together and placed in cartons or small boxes to ensure they stay together and secure during transit. The smaller cartons help keep specific products grouped together, as well as keep those products from bouncing around and sustaining any damage while being boxed up for delivery.
Tertiary Packaging
Tertiary packaging is the final layer of packaging that encases the pharmaceuticals before they get shipped out. This involves the primary and secondary packaging to be placed inside of much larger boxes or crates in order for shipping to occur.
Medical and pharmaceutical packaging companies certainly have an important task set out for them, and were it not for these companies, you wouldn’t have many of the medications that you might use on a regular basis.


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