This year, we salute the medical packaging engineers, whose knowledge, understanding and ability to innovate are continually put to the test as the medical and pharmaceutical fields continue to evolve and advance in their delivery of care.

Early intervention and non-invasive medical devices are being used by specialists in a variety of healthcare settings as well as traditional hospitals. Packaging engineers develop packaging systems that not only protect these products and maintain sterility until point-of-use, but that also offer convenience and ease-of-use for specific medical professionals and patients alike.

Pharmaceutical and medical supplies and devices require packaging components that can withstand the demands of the chosen sterilization method, be it gamma, E-beam, EtO or autoclave sterilization. Packaging engineers collaborate with their suppliers to develop packages that can not only withstand these processes, but which also meet exacting regulatory and quality standards.

More and more frequently, packaging engineers are working with their colleagues in the supply chain to validate the entire packaging design process. From the identification and control of the materials, to the process variables that can occur during manufacture, validation helps packaging engineers arrive at the optimal solutions for patient safety.

Today’s packaging engineers are developing packaging solutions that require less materials, and therefore, less waste. Recent material innovations have led to downgauging, which reduces the thickness of the material used while retaining packaging integrity and strength. In general, flexible materials require fewer resources to produce, are more efficient to transport, and deliver a high product to package ratio.