Pharmaworks has partnered with Sepha to bring the VisionScan 3D non-destructive blister leak testing system and PressOut deblistering equipment to pharmaceutical manufacturers and contract packers across North America, Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic.
Pharmaworks, a ProMach product brand, will showcase the technologies at PACK EXPO in Booth S-3850. The partnership adds non-destructive package integrity testing and product recovery capabilities to Pharmaworks’ existing blister packaging machine portfolio.
VisionScan 3D enables non-destructive leak testing
The Sepha VisionScan 3D is designed to provide objective and repeatable blister package leak testing while allowing packs that pass inspection to return to the production line.
The system combines vacuum deflection, in accordance with ASTM F3169-16 (2024), with Sepha’s 3D measurement technology to detect micro leaks, channel leaks and weak seals.
The technology can handle different blister formats without tools or dedicated change parts. Test results can also be stored and exported for audits and quality control, while the system supports 21 CFR Part 11 compliance.
The addition of non-destructive leak testing provides an alternative to destructive blister package integrity testing methods that rely on visual inspection and result in the tested product being discarded.
“We have been pointing customers toward Sepha for years, well before we had any formal agreement in place. They have a reputation for high-quality equipment and strong customer support, so formalizing our relationship was a natural step,” said Jim Hahn, Vice President of Sales at Pharmaworks. “Many of the operations we walk into today are still testing blister package integrity with blue dye, which relies on visual inspection and destroys tested product. Manufacturers are ready for something better, and now we can offer it.”
PressOut supports product recovery
Alongside VisionScan 3D, Pharmaworks will supply Sepha’s PressOut deblistering equipment range. The system enables manufacturers to recover tablets and capsules from rejected blister packs.
The combination of leak testing and deblistering technologies expands the quality control and product recovery options available through Pharmaworks for blister packaging operations.
“Many manufacturers are looking to move beyond destructive, subjective testing methods without adding complexity to their operations,” said Claire Miskelly, Head of Sales at Sepha “Partnering with Pharmaworks means manufacturers can source both leak testing and product recovery technologies from the same team that supplies their blister packaging machines, whether they are specifying a new line or adding testing to one they have run for years.”
Focus on package integrity inspection
From an NDT perspective, the VisionScan 3D system applies non-destructive testing to blister package integrity, enabling leak detection without destroying packs that successfully pass inspection.
The partnership gives pharmaceutical manufacturers and contract packers access to non-destructive leak testing alongside deblistering equipment through Pharmaworks’ blister packaging portfolio.
