Superior Non-Destructive Leak Detection
Verify the Integrity of Your Packaging
Why does leak detection matter? As part of good manufacturing practice (GMP) requirements, all pharmaceutical packaging needs to be tested for leaks. If your packaging leaks and the product becomes exposed to oxygen or moisture from the outside environment, it can degrade the quality of your product, and the shelf life can decrease dramatically. We’ve partnered with Sepha Ltd., to provide non-destructive leak testing equipment for pharmaceutical packages.
For over 50 years, Ascend Packaging Systems has been one of the leading members of the pharmaceutical packaging industry. We understand how essential it is to have packaging test methods you can count on to maintain your quality. Beyond that, we also see the value of non-destructive leak detection to prevent the waste of your products. Protect the integrity of your products and ensure the effectiveness of your packaging with our professional assistance.
In traditional facilities, drug manufacturers test their packs for leaks by putting them in water baths or blue dye baths. These packaging testers then wait and observe to see if liquid makes its way into the package. These testing methods are subjective and add the variables of the operator’s skills to the results. It is also destructive because leaks or no leaks, the samples used in the test have to be destroyed.
Most drugs are expensive to produce, and destroying them is a significant cost to the manufacturers. These leak test systems offer a non-destructive solution for your packaging testing. Ensure the quality of your seal and package without having to waste or destroy your products. This non-destructive technique is the modern approach to getting peace of mind at a lower cost to your operations.
At Ascend, we offer container closure integrity testing (CCIT) equipment that ensures your packaging is leak-free and unharmed, saving you money and resources. Our machines use a wide range of non-destructive testing (NDT) methods so your examined packages aren’t destroyed. That way, you can ensure the quality of your seal and packaging without wasting or destroying your products.
We offer modern leak testing machinery for:
These leak detectors are a powerful alternative to methods such as blue dye or water baths. These devices offer an objective, reliable, and cost-effective process for identifying leaks in blister packs. Your team gets a clear result for every blister package, and the software can pinpoint the particular cavity with the leak. The old methods of water leak detection were not enough for the level quality assurance that you and your customers deserve. Rely on Ascend for testing solutions that are modern and effective.
We have a tool-less, non-destructive integrity tester for sealed pharmaceutical bottles. It tests multiple bottles per cycle and removes the subjectivity of operator judgement like with other test methods. Its design makes it easy to use and offers quick, repeatable results for your operations. These machines are so precise they can detect a defect down to 5 microns.
Ascend offers a variety of machines to optimize your packaging process.
The leak tester equipment we offer for pouches and sachets guarantee a fast test cycle and non-destructive solutions for leak detection. If you are limited in size or only have R&D demands, Ascend has access to testers with tabletop design that take up a small footprint. Beyond that, we have multi-product leak detection for higher production demands as well.
For rigid and flexible package types, we offer a multi-functional system that serves as an all-in-one solution. This solution tests the integrity of all types of containers, using multiple test methods. It provides fast, tool-less changeover between batches and a recipe-driven system for repeatable accuracy.
It has the capacity to store over 10,000 recipes. They’re all built and designed for the highest requirements of current good manufacturing practice (cGMP) environments. Whatever the demands of your types of packaging, Ascend has the leak detection solutions you need.
Our machines use different types of CCI testing methods to detect packaging leaks:
The vacuum decay leak testing method is designed to identify gross defects and micron leaks in packaging down to 1 micron and is an ideal leak detection solution for pharmaceutical and medical device packaging.
The pressure decay leak test is a common NDT method for vials filled with toxic liquid or powder. Pressure decay leak testing is often used on packaging that can’t be tested using the vacuum decay method.
The force decay leak test confirms packaging integrity for solid or dry products. The force decay method is an ideal NDT solution to identify leaks or weak seals in nonporous, sealed packaging, such as pouches, sachets, bags, and stick packs.
The vacuum deflection leak test is an NDT method that uses a 3D volumetric scanner to measure blister pack deflection surfaces in response to an applied vacuum. The test’s 3D scanning technology offers sensitive results, detecting leaks as low as 5 microns depending on the pack type and material used. Vacuum deflection testing is a great solution for pharmaceutical blister packs and packaging with multiple cavities or pockets.
We’re prepared to support our customers with all their packaging equipment needs.