Kloeckner Pentaplast to open packaging R&D centre in the University of Virginia Research Park
Will house the company's expanded BlisterPro XCEL design, stability and prototyping services
Klöckner Pentaplast Group (kp), a leading manufacturer of blisterpacks for pharmaceuticals, is opening a new state-of-the art facility in the University of Virginia Research Park in Charlottesville, VA, US.
Home to the German company's Pharmaceutical Film Division’s newly expanded BlisterPro XCEL suite of consulting, design, stability and prototyping services, the 'kp i.center' will provide a collaborative space to help drugmakers bring products to market more quickly and cost-effectively.
'We wanted a destination for clients to “take residency” and work side-by-side with us on their specific packaging needs,' said Daniel Stagnaro, Director, Global Market Development. 'The new kp i.center facilitates rapid packaging design, and gives customers a truly personalised experience.'
The kp i.center includes collaboration rooms, customer offices, on-site tooling and blistering and company expertise. It also houses sales, marketing, market development, and technology and innovation personnel.
In conjunction with the opening of the kp i.center, the company has expanded and rebranded its BlisterPro XCEL system, created in 2005 to provide consulting services to its customers. The system will be combined with FreeThink Technology’s ASAPprime shelf life modelling software and ASAP laboratory studies to test packaging prototypes with drugs in different simulated environments to evaluate their effectiveness.
'We see our customers’ competitive landscape changing. Speed-to-market, product safety, and cost control are essential factors in them growing profitably around the globe,' said Marc Setzen, Chief Technology Officer.
'BlisterPro XCEL and the kp i.center change kp’s positioning from traditional material supplier to value-added solutions provider. We can now truly make a difference in our customers’ total cost position and help them bring better products to market faster.'
