Avery Dennison and Controlant 10.04.24

Avery Dennison is partnering with Controlant, a digital platform provider for pharma supply chains, to drive real-time, end-to-end visibility and support sustainability initiatives in the pharma industry.

Avery Dennison designs and manufactures a range of Internet of Things (IoT) devices and has collaborated with Controlant to bring to market the Saga Card. This consists of multiple components including a cellular modem with Long-Term Evolution Machine Type Communication (LTE-M) and NarrowBand-Internet of Things (NB-IoT), an integrated nuSIM, a zinc-based battery, and sensors. 

The Saga Card is a compact monitoring device that apparently extends visibility further into the pharma supply chain. When combined with Controlant’s Aurora cloud platform, the device provides real-time inventory visibility at country, region, and city levels to pharma companies, packaging providers, and logistics companies serving the pharma industry. The device generates data as medicines cross multiple handover points in the journey to the patient, making it easier for pharma companies to monitor and control inventories and reduce waste. 

Barbara van Rymenam, senior director of healthcare at Avery Dennison, says: “The pharma industry has long lacked an effective real-time, end-to-end supply chain visibility solution. Due to the highly regulated and complex supply network, industry adoption of new technologies is typically slow. 

“The new IoT device extends visibility to the point of care or the patient by tracking the product on the unit or case level, addressing the needs of the dynamic cold chain market where selecting the right solutions is crucial based on the value, urgency, and requirements of the medicines being shipped,” van Rymenam adds. 

Gisli Herjolfsson, CEO and co-founder of Controlant, says: “With $35 billion lost in the pharmaceutical industry every year due to failures in temperature-controlled logistics, the benefits of end-to-end visibility into the flow of medicines and vaccines down to the unit level creates an incredible opportunity to revolutionize how the pharma supply chain operates. Saga Card will have a significant impact on minimizing waste, ensuring patient safety, and bringing us closer to zero-waste pharma supply chains.” 

The device will be featured at LogiPharma 2024, which takes place from April 16-18th at Le Centre de Congrès de Lyon, France. Avery Dennison representatives will be at booth #142 and Controlant can be found at booth #95. 

In related news, Systech has launched a rework solution for exception management designed to help manufacturers, CMOs (Contract Manufacturing Organizations), CPOs (Contract Packaging Organisations) and distributors minimize data misalignment, product delays and associated risks in the pharmaceutical sector. Apparently, the solution offers rework starting on the line and through the supply chain, with a built-in data inspector and the flexibility to adapt to any workflow and ecosystem.

Faller Packaging recently developed a recyclable, fibre-based, semi-transparent and tamper-proof label with first-opening indication, designed for use in the pharmaceutical industry. The semi-transparent label is reportedly made of a fibre-based, unmixed material, using paper sourced from sustainable forestry. 

If you liked this story, you might also enjoy:

Report: The ultimate guide to global plastic sustainability regulation 

The Brief: Oxo-(bio)degradables: the who, what, and why of breaking down fossil-based plastics 

Sustainable Packaging Summit: How Kraft-Heinz uses collaboration to drive innovation 

The Brief: Using ocean-bound plastic in packaging – how, why and should we?