Advanced technologies for pharmaceutical packaging

INGE S.p.A., a long-established Italian company founded in 1947, is a leading manufacturer of primary plastic packaging for the pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, cosmetic, diagnostic, food and household industries. Headquartered in Garbagnate Milanese, the company has over 75 years of experience in the sector and has acquired and consolidated considerable know-how and has continuously developed its production and technical capabilities, both in terms of quality and quantity.

INGE has over 280 patented products, demonstrating its commitment to continuous improvement and innovation.

The company’s own technical department studies new products, which can be customised according to the customer’s requirements, makes prototypes and production moulds, and then proceeds to the production and finishing stages, packaging, silk-screen printing and decoration.

Certified ISO 9001 since 1996, INGE manufactures Class 1 and 1M CE-marked medical devices in compliance with European Standard 93/42 and EU 2017/745. The company is also registered with the FDA for the manufacture of medical devices, enabling it to export internationally.

The sole director of INGE S.p.A., Alessio Nobbio, manages and controls the company, ensuring the achievement of objectives and the optimal use of resources, but also encouraging employees to take part in the innovative development process.

How was INGE founded and what is its structure today?

INGE S.p.A., which stands for ‘Industria Nazionale Guarnizioni Ermetiche‘, was founded in 1947 as a manufacturer of gaskets. Over the years, the company expanded its activities to include the production of primary plastic packaging. In the 1960s and 1970s, INGE S.p.A. shifted its focus to pharmaceutical packaging and in 1974 won its first contract with a major multinational pharmaceutical company.

The company has continued to grow and innovate over the years, adopting new technologies and expanding its production capacity.

INGE has consolidated its position in the packaging sector, providing plastic solutions for the pharmaceutical (72%), cosmetics (4%), nutraceutical (22%), diagnostic, food & beverage and household products industries. Our customer base includes the largest Italian and foreign industrial groups operating in the various sectors.

INGE S.p.A. currently employs around 98 people and has a turnover of 17 million euros. The company serves both the Italian and international markets, with 53% of revenues coming from Italian customers and the remaining 47% from international customers.

Over the years, the company has developed cutting-edge technologies for the processing of plastic materials. What are they?

The production process is fully integrated: from design, mould making and tooling to production, screen printing and packaging.

The in-house R&D department, which has the most extensive knowledge of plastics in the sector and the latest technologies, develops new packaging solutions to meet the most diverse requirements.

Today, plastic products are manufactured through:

• Moulding of thermoplastic resins;
• Blow-moulding of hollow thermoplastic resins;
• Injection blow moulding and injection blow moulding of hollow bodies in thermoplastic resins;
• Screen printing and pad printing;
• Assembly of two or more components, including components of medical devices;
• Blistering and bagging (Flow-Pack), including medical devices.

INGE is also able to design and manufacture various items:

• Pilot moulds;
• Injection moulds;
• Moulds for blow moulding of hollow bodies;
• Injection blow moulds and injection stretch blow moulds;
• Multi-component assembly machines and equipment.

What is INGE’s contribution to the nutraceutical sector?

INGE has registered specific patents for the nutraceutical sector, developing mono-piece separator caps such as Long Life and Moon Cap, which reduce water activity and ensure product preservation until the moment of use.

Are there specific European regulations for this sector?

The company has recently developed a new line of closures and substance separators for the nutraceutical sector, as required by European Directive 2019/904, which will come into force in July 2024, regarding the Tethered Cap, the closure system that cannot be separated from the bottle after use. The aim of this directive is to prevent and reduce the environmental impact of certain plastic products and to promote a circular economy with innovative and sustainable products and materials.

What are your plans for the future? Are there any new product developments on the horizon?

The company’s focus for the future is on the continuous improvement of products and the study of new solutions, technologies and materials, including environmentally sustainable ones.

Since 2023, INGE has published its own Sustainability Report (ESG Manual – Environment, Social, Governance). Through the use of Power Quality units, the company promotes energy efficiency and the optimisation of resources, both within the organisation and in the wider context of sustainability and the reduction of CO2 emissions. These investments demonstrate our commitment to adopting state-of-the-art technological and operational solutions to optimise energy use and promote responsible energy management.

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