Noack blister machine passes FAT test virtually

Romaco is responding to the coronavirus crisis by taking new approaches with the factory acceptance tests for its machines. The first Romaco Noack blister machine for a pharmaceutical producer in southern China has now passed its virtual FAT, which was carried out via a live stream.

In light of current travel restrictions due to the pandemic, the company is now organising its day-to-day operations in virtual space. Since the pharmaceutical machinery manufacturer’s customers are not allowed to attend the factory acceptance tests for their new equipment in person as of now, Romaco has begun carrying out FATs via a live stream or a video conferencing facility instead.

Live stream of a factory acceptance test for a Romaco Noack blister machine

The first live remote FAT for a Noack blister machine was recently completed successfully at the Romaco manufacturing facility in Karlsruhe (Germany). This machine for a pharmaceutical producer in southern China can now be shipped and put into operation as planned. Apart from the fact that the customer was not physically present, the virtual FAT followed exactly the same procedure as its conventional counterpart. According to the FAT report, all tests relevant to production and safety were performed on the machine and streamed live.

Only half a day was required for the virtual acceptance of the Noack 623 blister machine, which will be used to seal ultra-lightweight and almost transparent hard gelatine capsules in aluminium-aluminium blisters. The people responsible at the customer end in China monitored the various functional tests closely during the live broadcast. The project manager in charge at Romaco China was at their side to translate any questions and answers straight away and ensure problem-free communication.

Virtual day-to-day activities

“The only things we have to do without when carrying out digital acceptance tests are the meals we normally eat together and of course the group photo standing next to the machine after it’s passed the FAT,” explained Markus Frey, Area Sales Manager at Romaco Pharmatechnik GmbH in Karlsruhe. “We intend to catch up on all of that later on after the pandemic is over.”

In the meantime, Romaco is developing a certain routine when it comes to streaming factory acceptance tests live. A blister line, complete with cartoner and case packer, is currently being acceptance-tested via a live link for a French manufacturer of contract packaging. Parallel to this, preparations are also under way for the FAT for two Romaco Siebler effervescent packaging lines destined for a pharmaceutical group in the US.

Romaco is a leading international supplier of processing and packaging equipment specialising in engineering technologies for pharmaceutical solids. The group provides individual machines and turnkey solutions for manufacturing and packing powders, granulates, pellets, tablets, capsules, syringes and medical devices. Romaco also serves the food and chemical industries.

The Romaco Group has its headquarters in Karlsruhe (Germany) and is part of the Truking Group, a globally operating high-tech enterprise based in Changsha (China). Truking’s core competency is handling and filling pharmaceutical liquids. It operates from four European business sites, with a broad portfolio comprised of six established product brands. Noack and Siebler (Karlsruhe, Germany) supply blister, heat-sealing and rigid tube filling machines. Macofar (Bologna, Italy) markets technologies for filling sterile and non-sterile powders and liquids. Promatic (also Bologna, Italy) specializes in cartoners, track & trace systems and case packers. Kilian (Cologne, Germany) offers compression solutions for tableting while Innojet (Steinen, Germany) is an innovation leader for granulation and coating.