IMA Group to showcase SÜDPACK’s recyclable blister packaging concept for nutraceuticals at Vitafoods

At booth 5F6, IMA Group will place SÜDPACK Medica’s pioneering PP-based – and therefore recyclable – NutriGuard® packaging solution in the spotlight at Vitafoods. In a live demonstration, trade visitors will be able to watch it being produced on a TR series machine and see for themselves the excellent machinability of these sustainable high-performance films.

This year again, the IMA Safe division, the packaging division within IMA Pharma, will be present at the international trade fair, underscoring its role as a strong partner to the nutraceuticals industry. In Barcelona, the company – one of the world’s leading suppliers of processing and packaging solutions for the pharmaceutical, food, and personal care sectors – will present its latest technologies and sustainable packaging concepts for nutraceuticals; especially vitamins, minerals, and supplements (VMS).

In the spotlight 

NutriGuard®, SÜDPACK Medica’s innovative blister concept, will also take center stage. This PP-based primary packaging for products sold in tablet or capsule form already meets PPWR requirements in terms of packaging design and recyclability, making it an important building block on the path toward greater sustainability in the plastics and packaging industry. NutriGuard combines a low weight of just 375 g/m² with true mono-material design, allowing it to be fed into existing PP recycling streams. In addition, SÜDPACK Medica already offers these films with a PIR content of more than 10% (post-industrial recyclate) sourced from its in-house mechanical recycling operations. What’s more, PP also offers a significantly better carbon footprint compared to conventional packaging solutions based on PVC/PVdC + aluminum or PET (according to analyses by the Pharma Manufacturing Forum). 

Additional advantages: The blister’s top and bottom webs are halogen-free and phthalate-free, comply with EU 10/2011, and are therefore approved for food packaging. Alongside its good printability with GIO-compliant inks suitable for food-contact applications, the lidding film offers excellent, consumer-friendly push-through performance. Optimal packaging results and maximum product protection are also ensured by the stable thermoforming and shrink properties of these perfectly matched high-performance films, together with their wide sealing range. 

A focused partnership built around customer value

Through their close collaboration, SÜDPACK and IMA ensure that these new mono-material structures run on standard blister lines with the same efficiency, product safety, and packaging reliability as conventional multilayer structures. 

At Vitafoods in Barcelona, this will be demonstrated using IMA’s TR 135 from the TR series. The machine combines proven technology with a compact, user-friendly design and delivers high efficiency for small batch sizes and diversified production. The design philosophy is clear: top-tier blister packaging performance in a compact footprint, with maximum reliability and fast format changeovers. Precise control of forming and sealing parameters on the TR 135 minimizes downtime while ensuring consistently high product quality. The machine is also designed for easy cleaning and meets the relevant GMP requirements.