German Innovation Award for smart packaging
This year the German Innovation Award was presented for the second time. The award also went to a clever packaging for medicines.
On May 28, 2019, the digitized and interactive packaging solution “Medical Prescription” received the German Innovation Award 2019 in the category “Excellence in Business to Business – Medical Technologies”. This prototype of intelligent packaging was developed by August Faller GmbH & Co KG, Waldkirch, together with AVNET Integrated and the Pforzheim University of Applied Sciences.
The digitized folding box has a particularly flat electronics with e-paper display, operating keys, microcontroller, battery and Bluetooth interface. With the help of an app, doctors or pharmacists can transfer the individually created prescription directly to the packaging. The box independently monitors the number of tablets contained and reminds the patient with an integrated clock, an LED and an acoustic signal of the punctual intake of medication. If the stock of tablets falls below a defined minimum quantity, the display also shows a warning message and recommends that a new prescription be requested.
According to Faller, interest in smart packaging solutions is growing rapidly in the pharmaceutical industry. According to the manufacturer, intelligent and digitized drug packaging can improve compliance and make handling easier for patients. This is why, according to Faller, several prototypes of interactive packaging solutions have been developed. “We are convinced that digitization and interactivity are the most important industry trends for the coming years,” emphasizes Armin Rambach, Head of Research & Development at August Faller.
