The German packaging and processing tech firm bought Eisai this time last year, explaining that the deal expanded its production line inspection capabilities in both sterile liquids and solid dosage form manufacturing.
The rebranded unit will merge with Bosch Packaging Technology KK, creating an organisation with offices in Tokyo and Osaka and production facilities in Funabashi and Honjo, which - division president Joachim Baczewski – believes is good news for customers.
“By bundling our competencies, utilizing our employees and consolidating our portfolios, we make use of existing synergies. We are certain that both our customers and Bosch will greatly benefit from the integration.”
Focus on inspection
The decision to emphasise Eisai’s inspection capabilities – rather than its labelling or cleanroom offerings – follows just a few months after Bosch strengthened its technology offering in this area and fits with the firm's wider strategy.
In June last year Bosch launched KKX3900, a new X-ray inspection system for pharmaceutical capsules.
Speaking to in-PharmaTechnologist.com at the time, product manager Melanie Beck said: “There is a bigger need in the industry at the moment to form a greater understanding of the manufacturing process, and how to control it because of new guidance such as the FDA’s (US Food and Drug Administration) Process Analytical Technology guidance (PAT).
This was echoed by senior VP of the pharma business unit, Wolfgang Szczerba, who set the Eisai takeover in the context of growing manufacturer demand for inspection technologies and quality control systems (QC).
“This growth in PAT [provided by Eisai] enhances the existing Bosch portfolio and fits extremely well into our overall strategy. It’s no coincidence that Eisai Machinery and Bosch Packaging Technology have worked together on numerous projects – the systems complement each other perfectly.”
“Good quality controls save money because there is no need for product recalls. You also get a speedy time to market, which means less storage, and there is less product waste and so higher efficiency,” he continued, adding “If you can react with the information immediately you don’t lose time and money.”