Amcor Flexibles has completed a major investment to increase its capacity and production expertise in sterilisable packaging applications. AF Coulommiers supplies sterilisation pouches and reels to hospitals and medical device manufacturers.
AF Coulommiers has also announced the launch of a new medical pouch, Amcor Ultra, which it claims offers "reassurance in safety and performance". For use in hospitals for the packaging of surgical equipment, Amcor Ultra pouches are extremely resistant and are suited to all hospital sterilisation processes with unique resistance for steam sterilisation. In addition to this, Amcor Ultra is also fully recyclable, according to the firm.
Speaking to Packaging News, at the inauguration of the Coulommiers facility, Amcor Flexibles vice president Medical Europe sales and marketing, Didier Lepee said: "Our history with pouches began 30 years ago when the first pouch consisted of one side paper and one side film.
"That idea originated from an Amcor sales representative who witnessed a nurse combining film and wrapping paper to comprise a pouch whilst in hospital.
"AF Coulommiers has always led innovation within the market, firstly with non-woven pouches, fully peelable pouches and now we have the Amcor Ultra pouch for healthcare packaging".
Market leader
Amcor Flexibles vice president Medical Europe operations, Michael Orye added: "As the market leader, we are consistently the first to create new innovations. This therefore requires that we are first to outline the manufacturing environment standards within our facilities and continue to lead within the European market.
"We are seeing numerous products that do not have the same standards as our products coming in from the Far East and other low-cost countries. We feel obliged to uphold our standards as the market leader. Therefore, the investment here came naturally as part of that journey.
"With the launch of our new product and our state-of-the art manufacturing facility, we have an expectation that Amcor Ultra is going to create new standards within the hospital pouch market".
Hospital packaging
According to Lepee, Amcor Ultra is extremely resistant. He said that the hospital market is currently experiencing a predicament. He explained: "Every three to five years they need to invest in sterilisation containers for surgical instruments. These containers are often difficult to sterilise and can also raise concerns regarding the maintenance of sterility after sterilisation. The container cost of use and thorough maintenance is also considered an issue for hospitals.
"These concerns have resulted in hospitals requiring an alternative.
"Amcor Ultra promotes a reassurance of safety and performance, which could not be granted before".
High standards
Orye said: "It is often thought that Europe is not a competitive place to produce. That is not true.
"Europe is a competitive place to produce. We can deliver great products with high quality.
"The premium paid is worth it, compared to the risk you may take when buying products from unreputable sources.
"The team here have managed to undertake a comprehensive renovation project.
"It has taken approximately 25,000 hours without incurring one single health and safety incident. That is an outstanding achievement. It really is testament to what a team can do when safety is taken seriously".
