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  6. Packaging
Pharmaceutical manufacturers have to package their medicines before they can be sent out for distribution. The type of packaging will depend on the formulation of the medicine. However, following on from chapter 5, we will look at a case study of putting tablets into 'blister packs'.
Photo of blister pack
Picture 6.1 A blister pack.
Case study: blister packaging tablets
'Blister packs' are a common form of packaging used for a wide variety of products. They are safe and easy to use and they allow the consumer to see the contents without opening the pack.

Many pharmaceutical companies use a standard size of blister pack. This saves the cost of having to make different tools and of having to change the production machinery between products. Capsules can also be packaged in a similar way.
Sometimes the pack will be perforated so that individual tablets can be detached. This means that the expiry date and the name of the product have to be printed on each part of the package.

The blister pack itself must remain absolutely flat as it travels through the packaging processes, especially when it is inserted into a carton. This poses interesting problems for the designers. Extra ribs are added to the blister pack to improve its stiffness.
Question 12

a) State one advantage of using ‘blister packs’ for tablets.

b) Give two pieces of safety information that should be printed on blister packs containing medicines.