Virtually the entire medicinal product manufacturing industry is undergoing a paradigm shift. Driven by this new era of high-tech industry, companies are radically rethinking leveraging digital processes and develop in a targeted way. Keywords such as connectivity and interface management are just two of the terms that are gaining importance in drug manufacturing. The next generation of drugs is less common in terms of fixed specifications; it will be connected and intelligent, and in the future, it will be controlled and monitored in real-time.
The growing amount of data linked to connected systems already forms the basis for fully automated medicinal product manufacturing processes. Assuming authorities like the FDA soon begin to change standards and establish regulations, companies like Stäubli are already developing robots with software and hardware that can be at the heart of intelligent, integrated manufacturing throughout the entire process chain.
Why robotics is indispensable in the production of medicinal products
How strong the theme of high-tech innovation has become in drug research and production is apparent, for example, in statements by representatives of pharmaceutical industry management and production. The prevailing impression is that high-tech innovation will be followed by new megatrends.
Globalization, an aging population, and the personification of medicinal product would define new fields of action for pharmaceutical companies in the future. These are central themes that will influence the technological development of machines, factory manufacturers, and their suppliers such as Stäubli.
More and more, there is an assertion: the need for leaner and more flexible structures to respond quickly and consistently to changes in the market. In addition to the areas of research mentioned above, automated processes will soon be one of the new standards in laboratories and biotherapy. Processes for handling active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), production of liquids and solids, and primary and secondary packaging will, of course, be automated to some extent to further accelerate production and significantly improve operator safety.