Features Packaging Printing
Avery Dennison partners with Schreiner MediPharm and PragmatIC on NFC technology

Avery Dennison has teamed up with Schreiner MediPharm and PragmatIC on extending the use of NFC technology to the unit-level for everyday pharmaceutical products.

The smart technology can provide important functions such as tamper evidence, secure authentication, end-to-end traceability and easy re-ordering. In the case of pharmaceutical products, it can also help the patient access instructions, video/audio guides, helplines, social media support groups, or even their doctor or clinician.

Traditionally, the costs of NFC technology and its inlays and integrated circuits have been prohibitive, but due to this new partnership, these options can be embedded in cost-sensitive, everyday healthcare and pharmaceutical products.

The technology features Avery Dennison’s NFC inlays, which include NFC ICs from the ConnectIC range of products by PragmatIC, a UK-based company that specializes in ultra-low-cost electronics. These ICs, called FlexICs, are thinner than a human hair, making them suitable for small diameter objects, including cost-sensitive products such as small syringes or vials.

Avery Dennison’s inlays with ConnectIC chips have been adopted by Schreiner MediPharm to extend its portfolio.

“We have always believed that integrating RFID into pharmaceutical products helps improve patient safety by enabling more accurate tracking and authentication of medication through the entire supply chain, with the goal of reducing error rates to nearly zero,” said Francisco Melo, vice president and general manager of Avery Dennison Intelligent Labels. “With our new low-cost inlays based on ConnectIC FlexICs and our partnership with PragmatIC and Schreiner MediPharm, we help to enhance patient safety and experiences through novel smart packaging applications.”

The low-cost NFC inlays and Schreiner MediPharm’s labelling technology are expected to be available in Q1-2021.