ACG Packaging Materials has revealed SuperPod, its cold-form blister technology believed to downsize blister cavities by up to 39% and use less material per pack.
Set to be showcased at Pharmapack 2026, SuperPod comes as an alternative to traditional cold-form aluminium blister cavities, which cannot be drawn deeply without rupturing. The multi-layer laminate is designed to unlock deep-draw, cold-drawing cavity formation – reportedly forming up to three times more blisters per shot.
By unlocking smaller cavities, SuperPod is expected to cut down on material and resource consumption per dosage. This is hoped to lower the solution’s packaging footprint, manufacturing and logistics costs, and carbon emissions.
At the same time, the technology is said to maintain the protective properties of cold-form aluminium and provide the necessary barrier performance. It is available with both PVC-based and halogen-free sealing layers.
ACG also emphasizes that SuperPod is compatible with existing high-speed packaging lines.
“We’re excited to debut SuperPod at Pharmapack 2026,” commented Dr Akbar Ali, general manager and head of Development and Technology at ACG. “The technology effectively makes cold-form blisters lighter by reducing material usage per dosage.
“We see significant opportunities, particularly for high-count formats such as 20-count vitamins and B-complex capsules, where traditional cold-form blisters become impractically large. It also performs exceptionally well for moisture-sensitive and oncology products, where reduced headspace and narrower cavity spacing help minimise gas and moisture exposure, offering enhanced protection.
“SuperPod has already undergone testing with major pharmaceutical manufacturers on high-speed blister lines, demonstrating performance comparable to standard cold-form materials, but with far greater forming capability.”
“The launch of SuperPod encourages the industry to rethink decades-old design conventions and embrace smaller, smarter, and more sustainable blister formats,” added Jochen Scheil, vice president, Global Sales and Business Development. “Digital tools such as QR codes and electronic leaflets further support this transition by reducing reliance on large blister surface areas for printed information.”
SuperPod will be available to view on Stand 4H12 in Hall 4 at Pharmapack Paris. ACG Packaging Materials will also showcase other packaging solutions, including its RecycloPod mono-material, its Ultrasafe thermoforming materials with barrier protection, and its AlumLid Eco lidding foil for online printing and high-speed machinery.
It will also display its desiccant-based cold-form laminate, DryPod. This format is engineered to protect moisture-sensitive drug molecules, avoid specialized retrofits or process changes, and run on existing blister lines.
In other news, Huber+Suhner has packaged its fibre modules in blister packs made from 100% recycled PET. In doing so, it aims tominimize waste and halve CO2 emissions compared to traditional packaging solutions.
IWK Packaging Systems has also developed its CABLIblue 870 Blister System, which seals a cardboard blister to backing made of the same material to create a recyclable pack. Targeting the pharmaceutical, beauty and health sectors, the machine can be reconfigured to suit a range of blister shapes and sizes.
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