Back to Blog
Price factorīut can the benefit of being aware of the dangerous dip in sugar levels, particularly at night or wee hours of the morning, be blunted by the price of the device? “Marchesini showed creativity and ingenuity in meeting our requirements the build quality is excellent, and they fully supported us throughout entire process leading up to production - all of these things are critical to our success”.The product includes a coin-size sensor that is fixed onto the upper-arm and a reader, that helps the person monitor their sugar levels continuously and share with a doctor. “From the beginning, our two groups worked as true partners in developing the footprint for this packaging machinery, both sides providing their insight and expertise until we reached the final - a product that achieves our objectives in packaging at scale, enabling us to bring this product to as many people with diabetes as possible,” House says. In production since 2014, FreeStyle Libre is changing the way users manage diabetes, giving patients the benefit of continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) with real-time glucose values and trend data. Line changeovers are limited to setting new Stock Keeping Units (SKUs) within the line management system, without requiring physical adjustment on the machines.Īfter a two-year design and development process, the line took approximately two weeks to install, which was followed by a vigorous validation process to prepare for production. User interfaces are managed by Siemens PLCs, which feature useful equipment diagnostics. Marchesini equipped the line with a custom Windows-based line management system, which controls communication with all peripheral devices and manages product programming and tracking of each individual unit through the line. This effort proved very useful in forming the relationship we have today”. “The machine design and development efforts had to be very closely coordinated to ensure the final outcome. “The highly technical nature of FreeStyle Libre necessitated a completely bespoke front end of the machine, something neither Marchesini nor we had even done before,” explains House. The FreeStyle Libre line, which runs at a speed of 60 parts per minute, consists of the following equipment:īecause the line is so specialized, customization was necessary. Being able to meet these critical needs for us was a key reason in us choosing Marchesini as our partner, along with their ability to meet our aggressive timelines”. “The packaging line also needed to be very high-speed to meet our ever-growing capacity demands. “One of those components needs to be kept sterile, so maintaining a sterile barrier throughout the packaging process was a critical need for us,” House explains. The FreeStyle Libre system consists of two major components that go into the packaging: the sensor and the applicator. The Marchesini Group is known for revolutionizing the packaging industry and our partnership with them has enabled us to employ the latest technology”. “At Abbott, we are committed to excellence across all spectrums of health, including technology, innovation and science and with a revolutionary product such as FreeStyle Libre, it only made sense that we would look for leaders in innovation when it came to our partners as well. Once we knew the major components, we began sourcing packaging solutions,” says Scott House, Division Vice President, Global Worldwide Operations at Abbott’s Diabetes Care Division. “We began looking for options as soon as the form factor for FreeStyle Libre was defined. The sensor is disposable, water-resistant, and wearable for up to 14 days.īecause of the novel nature of the device, Abbott began researching packaging lines early in the development process. As a part of one of the largest health care companies in the world, the organization is committed to bringing innovative technologies to people with diabetes, enabling them in better health.Ībbott recently launched its revolutionary FreeStyle Libre Flash Glucose Monitoring System, a small glucose sensor connected to a patch worn on the skin that offers continuous glucose monitoring for 8 hours once scanned. For over 10 years, Abbott Diabetes Care division has specialized in the production of glucose monitoring devices.
0 Comments
Read More
Leave a Reply. |