Groninger & Co. GmbH

Processing nested RTU packaging containers

Filling of ready-to-use syringes, vials and cartridges

For many years, the use of ready-to-use packaging containers (RTU) in the pharmaceutical industry has been steadily increasing. There are several reasons for this: increasingly smaller batch sizes, increased demands for flexibility in production and, above all, drop in prices for RTU packaging containers and, as a result, cost advantages for CAPEX and OPEX.

groninger machines process pre-sterilized RTU containers from almost all suppliers. A format changeover is possible without the use of any tools and thus creates only minimal set-up work, this shortens the downtime and enables maximum flexibility in aseptic filling. The areas of application inside the pharmaceutical industry are diverse: from CDMOs and Biologics up to Cell and Gene Therapies.

The pre-sterilized RTU containers are brought to the filling machine in the clean room, single or double bags, and is unpacked there using a semi or fully automated process. There are two main approaches for transferring the nested material into the aseptic area. The first option is outside decontamination with E-Beam, or by using H2O2. The other option is the no-touch transfer (NTT). In recent years, however, the no-touch transfer has slowly gained market share with small batch up to high-speed applications.