Bristol-Myers Squibb triumphs over complex labeling requirements

A change in pharmaceutical labeling regulations in France has presented drug manufacturers with a challenging problem that Bristol-Myers Squibb has overcome by using a flexible thermal transfer labeling system.

French law now requires all pharmacy-dispensed drugs to carry a bar code label containing both product information and price so that the French Department of Social Security can calculate the reimbursement rate for each purchase. Since France has the highest consumption of pharmaceuticals in Europe, it represents a huge marketplace for pharmaceutical companies. And because about 85% of these purchases by the French are covered by Social Security, the new rule has far-reaching and significant consequences for the labeling systems of companies selling in France.

Fixed and Variable

The heart of the challenge is that all new labels must be small enough to fit the limited space available on a pharmaceutical product package, yet contain lines of both fixed and variable text readable by the human eye and machine-readable codes.

So far, many affected manufacturers have had to turn to temporary and generally less than perfect solutions. Some have resorted to printing labels off-line or using preprinted labels -- choices involving both significant material waste and inventory control problems. Others use wet ink printers, the time-tested method for printing both fixed and variable text on one label. But these older design coders offer less clear print quality (not an ideal choice when dealing with small labels) and are slower than today's models when making informational changes. Hot foil coders offer better print quality but are more expensive to operate. None of these systems accommodate high-speed production lines.

Bristol-Myers Squibb faced this problem in early 1997, when it installed a new production line for French creams and ointments in its facility in Moreton, England. From the outset, the company committed itself to go with the most advanced coding technology available in order to maximize production for this significant market.

For the new line, the pharmaceutical company chose a SmartDate thermal transfer printer from Markem Corp., then replaced the wet-ink printer it was using on its existing line for the same product with another SmartDate coder. The new printer fit into the same space as the earlier unit and eliminated the need for any modification to the line. The coder's 300 dots per inch (dpi) head produces a high degree of clarity. In addition, the head includes a unique ribbon-handling system that enables the coder to print on both intermittent-feed and continuous-feed production lines. Set-up and changeover are done electronically, which greatly simplifies operations.

"Our label information has to be changed frequently." says Bristol-Myers Squibb's Andy Sampson, in charge of the line. "Lot numbers and expiration dates change daily, and we run different products as well. This equipment lets us change the data being printed at the press of a button."

The coder offers complete flexibility for printing variable and real-time information, as well as fixed text. Print designs are created using an online PC and Markem Composer design software. For security, access to the printer system is restricted by both key and password.

At Moreton plant, tubes of Bristol-Myers Squibb's creams and ointments are packed into individual cartons, then a 2-inch x 1/2-inch label is applied to each glossy, printed carton on a continuous, high-speed line. The SmartDate coder prints the needed control and product codes, expiration date and pricing information on each label without slowing down production.

For information from Markem Corp., call (603) 357-4255 or Circle 591.

In a nutshell

Goal: Print labels with fixed and variable info at production speeds

How: Install a programmable thermal transfer label printer

Result: Meets regulatory requirements for selling pharmaceuticals in France

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