Laser etching of key data onto silicone tube provides full traceability of the part number, lot number and use-by-date
Watson-Marlow Bredel pumps has introduced LaserTraceability on its PumpSil brand of platinum-cured silicone tubing, ensuring full traceability and efficiency throughout the supply chain. LaserTraceability is the laser etching of the part number, lot number and use-by-date on the tube, ensuring full traceability of tubing even when it has been removed from the packaging.
A fine, laser surface etch on the tube means no inks or solvents are used which can contaminate the fluids being transferred through the tube.
The laser etch has no affect on the life or physical performance of the tube and cannot be removed by cleaning, solvents or normal use.
Full traceability is fundamental in the biopharm and food industries, important sectors for Watson-Marlow Bredel, where validated processes must be maintained.
The development of LaserTraceability has been a result of customer feedback in response to demands of the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) and MCA (Medicines Control Agency) to ensure a company can demonstrate clear traceability in manufacturing processes.
Mark Rawet, tubing business manager at Watson-Marlow Bredel comments: "Our customers are becoming increasingly under pressure to conform to stringent quality standards.
This is why LaserTraceability is such an important development - we can now trace our tubing right the way through from raw material through to end use at our customers." Patheon is a leading global provider of outsourced drug development and manufacturing services to pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies.
With the capacity to meet the growing needs of the international pharmaceutical industry, traceability is high on the agenda and the company will be one of the first to use laser-etched tubing from Watson-Marlow Bredel.
John Landers, department manager ED and I manufacturing at Patheon comments: "This latest introduction will bring a lot of benefits to our business. Auditors, regulators and other clients of Watson-Marlow Bredel will see the initiative as a positive step by a supplier in helping improve quality control through the tracking of a key manufacturing component." LaserTraceability has been developed at the new facility at Watson-Marlow Bredel headquarters in Falmouth.
The facility has brought the manufacture of silicone tubing in-house and has provided the company with greater manufacturing flexibility for the development of new initiatives.
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