Huhtamaki has unveiled Push Tab, a mono-material PET blister lid for the healthcare and pharmaceutical sector, developed with partner Kloeckner Pentaplast. The lid replaces traditional multi-material, aluminium-containing push-through blister lidding and runs on existing blister lines without modification. Huhtamaki cites 2021 European healthcare packaging sales of EUR 1.4 billion, about half of it blister packaging.
Why this mattersA drop-in mono-material lid that needs no line investment removes a key cost barrier to recyclable blister packaging across the large pharma packaging market.
- Push Tab is an aluminium-free, mono-material PET blister lid launched by Huhtamaki
- Developed with partner Kloeckner Pentaplast
- Compatible with existing high-performance blister packaging lines without modification
- European healthcare packaging sales were estimated at EUR 1.4 billion in 2021, about 50% of it blister packaging
- Huhtamaki previously developed a paper-based blister pack with Syntegon containing over 75% FSC-certified renewable paper
The FDA has formally declared the four-year albuterol inhalation solution shortage resolved, and US contract manufacturer Ritedose says the sterile blow-fill-seal (BFS) capacity it built during the shortage is now permanent infrastructure. The Columbia, South Carolina-based CDMO added a seventh Syntegon packaging line and a new logistics centre at its Performance Park site, and gained FDA approval in 2025 for a fourth albuterol strength, completing a four-strength product line.
Why this mattersSustained domestic BFS capacity for a critical respiratory drug reduces reliance on diversified or offshore sourcing for US hospital systems.
- FDA declared the albuterol inhalation solution 0.5% shortage, which began in 2022, formally resolved.
- Ritedose installed a seventh Syntegon packaging line as part of its capacity expansion.
- Ritedose commissioned a logistics and distribution centre at its Performance Park site.
- FDA approved Ritedose's 2.5 mg/0.5 mL concentrated albuterol dosage in 2025, completing a four-strength portfolio.
- Ritedose describes itself as the largest US manufacturer of BFS products.
- The US albuterol patient base exceeds 26 million, including about 7 million paediatric asthma patients.
WuXi XDC's new antibody-drug conjugate manufacturing site at Tuas Biomedical Park in Singapore has achieved GMP release, using filling line and isolator equipment supplied by Syntegon. The site's BCM3 production line and DP4 facility received GMP approval in August 2026, supporting the CDMO's manufacturing expansion in Southeast Asia.
Why this mattersGMP release validates Syntegon's filling and isolator equipment at an Asian bioconjugate CDMO, a reference point for further pharmaceutical capacity awards in Southeast Asia.
- WuXi XDC's Singapore site at Tuas Biomedical Park achieved GMP release
- The BCM3 production line and DP4 facility received GMP approval in August 2026
- Syntegon supplied filling line and isolator technology to the site
- Syntegon's filling line reaches speeds of up to 300 vials per minute using hydrogen peroxide bio-decontamination
- The Singapore site was first announced in 2024
- Systems are integrated through a unified automation control platform to cut downtime and maintenance costs
Syntegon will present its neXt automation system architecture in North America for the first time at PACK EXPO International 2026 in Chicago, 18-21 October, alongside two new modular machine platforms, the HFX flow-wrapper and the TRX topload cartoner. Both are retrofit-capable building blocks within the neXt architecture, allowing sealing technologies and software features to be added as requirements change. The system will be demonstrated daily at the company's booth in the South Hall.
Why this mattersModular, retrofit-capable platforms let food packagers upgrade lines incrementally rather than rebuild them, as labour costs and product variety rise.
- Syntegon will show its neXt system architecture in North America for the first time at PACK EXPO International, 18-21 October 2026, in Chicago, booth S-3514.
- Two new modular platforms launch alongside neXt: the HFX flow-wrapping line for primary packaging and the TRX topload cartoning line for secondary packaging.
- The HFX3 runs at up to 1,000 products per minute, handling product lengths of 2 to 12 inches and widths of 0.5 to 7.5 inches.
- The TRX platform scales to 200 cartons per minute; the TRX21 reaches 80 cartons per minute with infeed speeds up to 1,500 products per minute.
- Format changes on the TRX platform take 10 minutes.
- Both platforms are retrofit-capable and are integrated with Syntegon's robotic pick-and-place platform.
Syntegon reported first-half 2026 sales up 7% to EUR 883m, with adjusted EBITDA up 16% to EUR 148m and margin rising 130 basis points to 16.8%. Growth was driven by Pharma, where sales rose 14%, while the Food business, notably chocolate and bars packaging, was held back by cautious customer investment amid cost pressure. The company maintains its full-year 2026 guidance for profitable growth, backed by a record order backlog of EUR 1.3bn.
Why this mattersPharma and biotech demand is offsetting a slowdown in food-sector capex, underlining a widening divergence in machinery investment across end markets.
- H1 2026 sales rose 7% year on year to EUR 883m
- Adjusted EBITDA grew 16% to EUR 148m, margin up 130 basis points to 16.8%
- Order intake reached EUR 964m, book-to-bill ratio of 1.09, backlog at a record EUR 1.3bn
- Pharma segment sales grew 14% and remained the main growth driver, including gains in US biologics
- Food segment growth was limited, particularly in chocolate and bars, on cautious customer investment
- Company reaffirms guidance for continued profitable growth in 2026
McCain Foods has retrofitted the control systems on two high-speed pizza cartoning lines rather than replace the machines outright, engaging PerForm Packaging Solutions, working with Syntegon's Kliklok unit, to carry out the upgrade in 2026. The work, including new servo and variable speed drives, PLC and HMI systems and rewritten control software, was scheduled around planned shutdown windows and completed ahead of time, supporting the start-up of McCain's Prepared Foods plant.
Why this mattersThe case shows food manufacturers extending the life of existing cartoning lines through targeted control-system retrofits rather than full replacement.
- Two high-speed pizza cartoning lines run 24 hours a day, six days a week at McCain Foods.
- PerForm Packaging Solutions carried out the retrofit in 2026, working with Kliklok, part of Syntegon Group.
- The upgrade replaced electrical control systems, including servo and variable speed drives, PLC and HMI systems, cabling and control software.
- Installation was scheduled around McCain's Christmas and Easter shutdown windows.
- The project finished several days ahead of schedule, in time to support the start-up of McCain's Prepared Foods plant.
- PerForm bench-tested the new systems before installation and provided 24/7 on-site support during commissioning.
Syntegon has launched the Sepion 75, a pilot-scale tablet coater extending its Sepion series for oral solid dosage manufacturing. The machine targets pharmaceutical manufacturers and CDMOs handling smaller, more variable batch sizes and higher containment requirements for potent active ingredients.
Why this mattersExtends Syntegon's pharma processing line into pilot-scale, supporting customers' flexible batch scale-up and containment needs ahead of full production.
- Syntegon launched the Sepion 75 pilot-scale tablet coater on 15 September 2026
- The coater covers batch volumes from 8 to 75 litres via two interchangeable drum sizes
- Batch processing range covers 10 to 100 percent of maximum working volume
- Containment up to OEB5 is available as an option across the Sepion series
- The Sepion series uses closed material handling during filling, sampling and discharge
Syntegon has opened a new OSD Customer Center in Fellbach, Germany, offering pharmaceutical and nutraceutical developers trial capabilities for solid oral dosage forms from formulation through to series production. The company describes the project as a double-digit million euro investment, part of its growth strategy in pharma solid dosage equipment.
Why this mattersThe facility strengthens Syntegon's position in pharma solid-dose equipment and gives customers earlier access to trial and scale-up capacity, a competitive lever against rival machinery suppliers.
- Syntegon opened a new OSD Customer Center in Fellbach, Germany, on 14 September 2026
- The site includes cleanrooms, a powder laboratory and new equipment for solid oral dosage trials
- The company describes the project as a double-digit million euro investment
- Capsule fillers, sealers and tablet presses are available for customer trials
- The centre supports formulation and manufacturing trials from lab through to series production
