Discover your next big idea at PACK EXPO Las Vegas this September
Experience a breakthrough in packaging & processing and transform your business with solutions from 2,300 suppliers spanning all industries.
REGISTER NOW & SAVE

Protect Your Sterile Barrier System Rollstock

Much attention is given to packages as they protect a product from end-of-line to the patient. But are you correctly handling your sterile barrier inventory prior to packaging?

From left: Henk Blom, PAXXUS; Todd McDonald, Technipaq; and Nick Packet, DuPont™ Tyvek® Healthcare Packaging.
From left: Henk Blom, PAXXUS; Todd McDonald, Technipaq; and Nick Packet, DuPont™ Tyvek® Healthcare Packaging.

On Sterile Packaging Day 2024 at MD&M West, Henk Blom, Todd McDonald, and Nick Packet discussed a roundup of sterile packaging updates from the FPA’s Sterilization Packaging Manufacturers Council, including their mission, efforts to educate policy makers on sterile packaging to help prevent unintended consequences from well-meaning legislation, and best practices for storing rollstock/pouches for sterile barrier systems (SBSs).

On the latter topic, while many are rightly focused on what happens to the package after filling, rollstock storage considerations prior to packaging are also critical to success. Blom shared common tips from an SPMC white paper, Rollstock Storage and Handling, to protect your materials before packaging.

Rollstock and pouches should be protected from the elements—kept clean and dry—with minimized exposure to direct sunlight. He noted that while it may sound like common sense, not every facility around the globe features a pristine warehouse, with climate and pest control. Dust and chemical contamination, which can be carried into cleanrooms via packaging, should also be minimized.

Rolls are typically individually wrapped on a pallet and should remain packaged until ready for use. In cases where only a partial roll is used, it’s a good idea to keep the outer packaging and re-wrap rolls if they’re returned to inventory for future use. 

Storage conditions play an important role in the health of your rollstock. Stock is typically best stored at 50-80 °F (10-27 °C) but Blom said to consult your supplier for material-specific conditions. What happens if rollstock deviates from temperature requirements? Blocking (in which one layer sticks to another), wrinkling, or crushed cores can occur.

Annual Outlook Report: Sustainability
The road ahead for CPGs in 2025 and beyond—<i>Packaging World</i> editors review key findings from a survey of 88 brand owners, CPG, and FMCG readers.
Download Now
Annual Outlook Report: Sustainability
Is your palletizing solution leaving money on the floor?
Discover which palletizing technology—robotic, conventional, or hybrid—will maximize your packaging line efficiency while minimizing long-term costs in this comprehensive analysis.
Read More
Is your palletizing solution leaving money on the floor?