Vision system enables traceability and authentication for pharmaceutical manufacturers
California e-Pedigree legislation requires that 50% of pharmaceuticals shipped to the state starting in 2015 be tracked and traced down to the individual bottle level. ESS Technologies (www.esstechnologies.com), a packaging line manufacturer, has partnered with Xyntek Inc. (www.xyntekinc.com), a serialization, track & trace and machine vision solution provider, to provide a robotic case erector/loader with integrated track and trace capability. This system allows pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturers to automate the case packing process and provide unit-level serialization, traceability and authentication for all of the products being case packed.
e-Pedigree legislation has been driven by the complexity of the drug distribution supply chain, which makes it difficult to prevent diversion and counterfeiting. The e-Pedigree consists of an electronic record of each transaction resulting in a change in ownership of the drug from the initial sale by the manufacturer through wholesalers and distributors and pharmacies until final sale to the consumer. The e-Pedigree must be compatible through all stages of the supply chain, which requires collaboration.