For the first time, SCHOTT Pharmaceutical Systems will be exhibiting at Interphex Japan as an expert on high-quality pharmaceutical tubing. With around 1,000 exhibitors, Interphex is one of the biggest trade shows worldwide for the pharmaceutical industry and will be held from July 10 – 12 at the Tokyo Big Sight International Exhibition Center. SCHOTT’s booth No. 31-17 will feature the company’s flagship product FIOLAX® – the world’s most frequently used glass tubing for manufacturing primary pharmaceutical packaging.
SCHOTT expects to see Japan’s pharmaceutical market continue to grow slightly over the next five years. Experts from IMS health forecast a growth between 1-4%. In their report “The Global Use of Medicines: Outlook Through 2016”, they state that the reforms, which were implemented in Japan in 2010, will continue to encourage greater adoption of new medicines. While Japan’s population as a whole will decline, an aging population is expected to drive up demand for medicines.”
At the same time, the demands are getting higher and higher for pharmaceutical companies and manufacturers of primary packaging. “Quality really starts with the best quality raw material”, says Wataru Nansai, who is in charge of sales and marketing for tubing at SCHOTT Nippon. “SCHOTT has been manufacturing pharmaceutical tubing under the brand name FIOLAX for over a hundred years. With this proven track record, our customers can rely on first class material for the production of pharmaceutical containers that provide safety to all kinds of sensitive pharmaceuticals, generic drugs and modern biotech medicines.”
Apart from outstanding product quality, SCHOTT’s customers benefit from a true global footprint: With a capacity of more than 140,000 tons per year manufactured at five production sites in Europe, South America and in Asia, the company can secure a steady supply even in case of emergencies such as natural disasters. This enables SCHOTT’s customers to improve the quality of their risk management.
While maintaining its global presence, SCHOTT also employs an experienced team of sales representatives and technical specialists to support Japanese customers on site. These specialists provide a wide range of services, from product analysis to consulting services. In special training programs, they provide information on the composition, properties and production of pharmaceutical glass tubing. Topics such as drug-container interaction, adsorption, chemical resistance and the stability of packaging and freeze-drying of certain pharmaceutical agents are also covered. Combined with know-how exchange with experienced partners, this brings advantages to the whole value chain.
“Our strong presence in Japan ensures that our customers benefit from excellent customer service and the technical support we offer in the region,” concludes Nansai. “By this SCHOTT will be helping the Japanese pharmaceutical industry to benefit from growth opportunities in this market.”
