When it comes to the pharmaceuticals market, Famar Tec. has always been renowned for its efficiency, reliability, and sustainability. Based in Sala Bolognese (Bologna, Italy) and part of the Curti Industries Group, the company has always shown a natural propensity for innovation; now it is focussing increasing attention on sustainability, versatility,  and new markets such as beauty and personal care.  The company's managing director Eugenio Guerrieri  and  Michele Saccani (head of sales, customer service and business development) talked to us about the new products and features we can expect to see at IPACK-IMA and Pharmintech 2025.

What does exhibiting at Pharmintech and IPACK-IMA mean for Famar Tec?

“Attending the fair is an opportunity to strengthen our position on the market ”Mr Guerrieri began, “our aim is to present the company through the products we showcase, which we have selected  with great care so as to highlight the technological innovations of both the product and service. We believe that a trade fair is the ideal setting to display the most innovative solutions in a company's  range.”

What are your target markets?

“We operate in markets ranging from the Mediterranean basin to South America and also Europe, with our historical stronghold being  France and Spain." Mr Guerrieri  continued. “As for South America, we cover Central America, Mexico, and Brazil. We are therefore a company with a strong international reach. We always seize opportunities to take part in trade fairs because, as I have already mentioned, we consider them an indispensable channel for our sales network to procure new business. Our ties with Italian and European markets are strong, but over recent years we have also been looking more carefully, as  I said,  at the South America and the Middle East markets. This  demonstrates how Famar Tec has evolved in all aspects of its business, including how what we consider its most important assets have developed, i.e. its people. Here at Famar Tec, human resources mean competence, determination, and consistency in our approach to the market and a determining factor of our success, especially when combined with familiarity with the  market territory. We are therefore trying to consolidate traditional markets while also nurturing a growing propensity to expand beyond Europe.”

Moving on to the offerings that Famar Tec brings to the market, Mr Guerrieri continued: “Looking beyond the horizon of pure pharmaceuticals, we are now moving into nutraceuticals and also a certain high-end cosmetics, such  as botulinum applications, whose production standards are very similar to those of pharmaceuticals. Our strengths, which include precision and know-how, are a crucial combination in these markets, especially given the new technical challenges faced in the demand for packaging that offers both quality and aesthetics. A beauty product must reach its customer flawlessly packaged because consumers' expectations concern more than just the product.”

What previews will you be giving at upcoming events prior to Pharmintech and IPACK-IMA?

In answer to this, as regards products, Michele Saccani focussed on the A 180 C form-fill-seal machine, which the company will be showcasing at numerous international events. “The A 180 C is a continuous motion horizontal machine that offers speeds of up to 150/180 boxes per minute, positioning it in the intermediate range in our portfolio. It features an access balcony, developed leveraging  Famar Tec's internal expertise, whose  modern design that emphasises attention to detail, incorporating accessories typically regarded as optional in standard equipment. Among its pluses, changeover ease makes the A180C suitable for very different products and sizes, positioning the model at the high end of the range, and the level of environmental responsibility achieved by Famar Tec through a series of design measures. Green features of the  form-fill-seal machine include the use of paper and cardboard trays for bottles and syringes and ease of disposal.”

 “From a sustainability lens, we have established a partnership with Curti to work on green economy issues, a topic at the heart of a business community where I serve as director.” continued Eugenio Guerrieri. “I must stress that we have begun the LCA analysis of the machine and are therefore aiming for low consumption and working on absorption, use of consumables, compressed air and aerodynamics. The final areas we have addressed include the carbon footprint of the contents and the overall dimensions of this new solution which, as already mentioned, is designed with a focus on end-of-life considerations, reducing the presence of mixed materials for easier disposal in the recycling chain. Plastic in itself is not a problem, but the energy needed to separate it from other materials is one aspect that, in our opinion, should be taken into consideration from the early design stages.”

 “To underline Famar Tec’s focus on detail,” Mr Saccani pointed out that: “It is important to note that the AVM model has no rivals.” It is a vertical form-fill-seal machine that allows bottles and ampoules to be placed in the box and kept safe therein, suspended by an internal interlayer”. The solution guarantees exceptional product protection, as the containers have no contact with any of the six sides of the box, meaning they are kept in perfect condition. The attention on use of a single material (in this case paper) facilitates disposal, as what would previously have been a PVC internal tray has been replaced with a paper version. Going back to disposal” Mr Saccani continued, “we have launched a new business line for retrofitting, which means we can upgrade existing machines that are already in use to meet more modern standards. After careful review, upgrading, and recertification the machine is put back on the market  perfectly reconditioned. This is a strong example of sustainability impacting the entire supply chain, even retrospectively, as retrofitting reduces emissions by embracing the principle of reuse. It should be stressed that these unique characteristics are actually transversal to all our solutions, which means Famar Tec's high standards will be a feature of any model chosen by the customer.”

What are the most significant market trends you are seeing at present?

“The impact of international instability is significant,” ended Mr. Guerrieri, “but aside from unpredictable events, one interesting development is the search for new sources of rare earths for semiconductor production.” Africa is one of the leading continents, not only due to its mineral resources but also because it receives large amounts of electronic waste, which allows some of the components to be converted into valuable resources.  It is a market to monitor closely, as it has the potential to shift, at least in part, the balance of the electrical revolution. In terms of packaging in the strictest sense, there is a growing market for research into new materials to reduce the environmental impact of plastic, which remains an essential component for certain applications. The trend also presents significant challenges to the packaging industry, which must develop technical solutions that can adapt to the evolution of materials. This is an area that, as demonstrated by the A180C form-fill-seal machine, Famar Tec has long mastered, offering cutting-edge solutions that are attuned to market needs.