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According to GlobalData’s Technology Foresights, which uses over 77,000 patents to analyze innovation intensity for the packaging industry, there are 30+ innovation areas that will shape the future of the industry.

Automated vial filling is a key innovation area in Internet of Things

Automated vial filling refers to the process of filling vials or containers with fluid products, particularly for medical, pharmaceutical, cosmetic, food products or the like, using machines and robotic technologies. The process involves various steps such as forming vials, filling them with fluid product, sealing and printing information on them, while ensuring the quality, safety, and sterility of the products.

GlobalData’s analysis also uncovers the companies at the forefront of each innovation area and assesses the potential reach and impact of their patenting activity across different applications and geographies. According to GlobalData, there are 60+ companies, spanning technology vendors, established packaging companies, and up-and-coming start-ups engaged in the development and application of automated vial filling.

Key players in automated vial filling – a disruptive innovation in the packaging industry

‘Application diversity’ measures the number of applications identified for each patent. It broadly splits companies into either ‘niche’ or ‘diversified’ innovators.   

‘Geographic reach’ refers to the number of countries each patent is registered in. It reflects the breadth of geographic application intended, ranging from ‘global’ to ‘local’.  

Patent volumes related to automated vial filling

Amgen is one of the leading patent filers in automated vial filling. Some other key patent filers in the packaging industry include F. Hoffmann-La Roche, Danaher, Sanofi, Robert Bosch Stiftung, and Carl Zeiss Stiftung. OPTIMA, which is among top patent filers, unveiled OPTIMA MultiUse automatic vial filling system recently. According to the company, this machine can process different packaging sizes effectively. It is cost-effective and is said to handle liquid, viscous and freeze-dried solutions.

In terms of application diversity, Sanofi leads the pack, while Seiko Epson and Amgen stood in the second and third positions, respectively. By means of geographic reach, Amgen held the top position, followed by Pfizer and Sanofi.

Automated vial filling will gain traction, as pharmaceutical manufacturers strive to meet the growing demand for medications and vaccines, while ensuring precision, safety, compliance, and cost-effectiveness. To further understand the key themes and technologies disrupting the packaging industry, access GlobalData’s latest thematic research report on Internet of Things (IoT) in Packaging.

GlobalData, the leading provider of industry intelligence, provided the underlying data, research, and analysis used to produce this article.

GlobalData’s Patent Analytics tracks patent filings and grants from official offices around the world. Textual analysis and official patent classifications are used to group patents into key thematic areas and link them to specific companies across the world’s largest industries.