Ready to fill sterile plastic syringes

Gerresheimer has expanded its Ready to Fill (RTF) syringe range to include sterile COP plastic syringes.

The RTF trademark has for been achieving dramatic growth rates and the company has once more expanded its capacity for sterile all-glass syringes in this range: new facilities are currently being commissioned to double output in its state-of-the-art production centre in Buende (Germany) once again with the result that the volume of sterile syringes will actually exceed that of traditional bulk-ware systems.

"The success of the RTF family is based on the concept of supplying the pharma industry with completely ready-to-fill syringes - plus the additional benefit of maximum safety and convenience particularly in practical use", says Burkhard Lingenberg, director of corporate PR and marketing for the glass group.

An additional product line based on the plastic COP (Cyclic Olefin Polymer) is expected to drive further the success of sterile syringes, says the company. COP possesses barrier characteristics which are unique for plastic; it is suitable for highly sensitive substances, has extreme thermal and mechanical durability and can also cope with large filling volumes. Gerresheimer thereby adds to its technologically leading RTF spectrum a special range of contrast-material syringes for diagnostic radiotechnology and depository solvent syringes for freeze-dried pharmaceutics. The new RTF line comprises Luer and Luerlock syringes with contents from 1 to 20 millilitres.