UPM Raflatac has launched a renewed product portfolio for pharmaceutical, healthcare and laboratory applications in the Americas. These guaranteed, globally-available materials are based on decades of R&D and are designed to excel in even the most demanding environments, including pharmaceutical packaging, vials and test tubes, blood bags, cold and cryogenic storage and more.

New products in UPM Raflatac’s extended portfolio include the latest high-performance solutions for primary blood bag labeling and a material for labeling sterilization wraps for surgical instruments in hospitals. The company has also added a destructible, non-reusable label face that adds a second layer of security to an anti-counterfeiting range for compliance with the Falsified Medicines Directive.

Following an extensive, standards-compliant product development process, UPM Raflatac has produced a primary blood bag labelstock range based on a unique adhesive – RP32 PB. Developed and tested according to guidance from the ISO 3826 standard, RP32 PB has high heat resistance and tolerates long-term storage in low-temperature environments. When paired with a selection of non-PVC label faces, this range is applicable for different market preferences.

Migration safety is important to recognize and analyze when drugs or medical contents in liquid or gas forms are stored in containers made from LDPE plastics, COC/COP and PP. UPM Raflatac’s RP31 Purus adhesive is “migration safe” with low-leachable characteristics. This specially-developed adhesive performs well on small diameters and on a variety of substrates, including PP and LDPE.

For identification labeling on container stored at low temperatures, RP80 LT and RPCryo adhesives offer long-term reliability and withstand multiple freeze-thaw cycles. RP80 LT is formulated for environmental conditions as low as -80°C and is recommended for labeling laboratory vials, ampules, test tubes, plates and storage boxes. RPCryo is particularly recommended for labeling cryogenic laboratory sample containers in liquid-nitrogen storage conditions as low as -150°C to -196°C.

UPM Raflatac has also launched a range of pharmaceutical labeling materials that support compliance with the Falsified Medicines Directive (2011/62/EU) regarding packaging for prescription drugs and high-risk, over-the-counter medicines. By incorporating tamper-evident features as described in the new EN 16679, these products help protect the supply chain from counterfeit materials. RP62 EU adhesive produces cardboard tear on tampered pharmaceutical product packs, and clear film labels make these solutions compatible with existing packaging designs. A new destructible film label, Pharmaclear PP Seal, adds a second layer of security by preventing re-use of the label.

Other products include a unique material based on RP3H adhesive for labeling sterilization wraps for autoclaved surgical instruments; and unlike typical solutions, no additional tape is required to secure label adhesion. UPM Raflatac also supplies a wide range of solutions for labeling small-diameter containers from 15 mm to 7 mm.

“UPM Raflatac’s labeling solutions follow pharmaceutically-compliant development processes and meet the strictest regulatory requirements. These dedicated materials fulfil specific pharmaceutical, healthcare and laboratory needs, and are backed by our comprehensive support, established supply networks and worldwide presence,” says Trevor Richardson, Market Development manager, Pharma & Beverage, UPM Raflatac Americas. “UPM Raflatac delivers everything label converters and end users require for pharmaceutical standards of safety, performance and stability.”