Electronic Four Side Seal (4SS) Continuous Control of Seal Integrity

Smith & Nephew, one of the world's leading manufacturers of sterile surgical dressings, has installed the new Electronic Four Side Seal machine manufactured by Doyen of Norwich. The machine is being used to pack surgical dressings in hermetically sealed peelable packs.

The Doyen machine has been electronically linked to the dressing manufacturing machine automating the entire manufacturing and packing process. Packs are produced in a wide range of sizes at wrapping speeds of up to 15 metres/minute the only limiting factor being the characteristics of the packing materials. Other systems provide easy opening peel seal features to give rapid product access in surgical environments.

Full electronic control allows all pack parameters to be stored once the machine has been set up and the pack validated, enabling quick, reliable, and repeatable re-setting of the machine. "Our business requires a machine which can guarantee high integrity easy peel seals" said Trevor Thorpe of Smith & Nephew Medical Ltd., "We must be able to ensure integrity, this is the best way of guaranteeing the quality of our products".

"Doyen have worked very closely with Smith & Nephew to achieve the required specification, giving us the control and operator changeability considered necessary.

The machine's efficiency and ability to achieve production schedules is better than expected and plans are in hand to purchase additional machines. The Doyen machine has provided us with extra confidence in the quality of products we are supplying to the Healthcare Industry".

The Doyen Electronic Four Side Seal machine is one of a range of machines supplied through Doyen, the specialist supplier of packaging and associated equipment to the Healthcare and Pharmaceutical Industry.