Historically, the Sterilization Packaging Manufacturers Council®’s (SPMC) member companies voluntarily lent their technical expertise to the development of test methods and guidance documents. This work continues to advance through the development of industry white papers, active participation on national and global regulatory organizations, and an arsenal of 100 FAQs designed to help packaging professionals and engineers solve material challenges.
“SPMC’s technical work has proven invaluable to the industry, and we want more organizations to benefit from our efforts,” explains Don Alip, director of product excellence, healthcare, Amcor Flexibles and SPMC’s marketing committee chair. “That’s why I’m pleased that over the past year, SPMC embarked on a mission to raise awareness for the value and importance of sterilizable medical packaging.”
On March 10, 2021, the council celebrated the inaugural Sterile Packaging Day. The event was founded to recognize and thank the partners within the supply chain who work collaboratively to deliver innovative, safe, and sterilized devices and supplies to the medical community. The celebration received wide industry support, culminating in dozens of posts, stories, and videos on social media throughout the day.
On June 15–17, SPMC sponsored Virtual Engineering Days, a three-day digital conference and exhibition for plastics, packaging, and manufacturing professionals. The event featured over 30 free content sessions on the trends and technologies impacting a broad spectrum of manufacturers.
In November, SPMC was a sponsor of Medical Design & Manufacturing (MD&M) Minneapolis, the Midwest’s largest advanced manufacturing and medtech event. SPMC was one of approximately 400 exhibitors at the show, and it hosted a session titled “Unpacking the Science of Medical Packaging Requirements” at the MedTech Central Theater on Nov. 3.
Three leaders from the organization brought their 60-plus combined years of experience to the presentation. The high-caliber lineup featured Dhuanne Dodrill, CEO, PAXXUS, Inc.; Henk Blom, vice president of research and technology, PAXXUS, Inc.; and Amy Stewart, product development manager, Printpack Medical.
Panelists provided an overview of SPMC’s long-standing relationship with AAMI and ASTM, as well as highlighting key components from the SPMC’s latest white paper publications that demystify medical packaging requirements and considerations related to gels, package integrity, and standard specifications for rollstock and pouches.
Thanks to the overwhelmingly positive industry response to Sterile Packaging Day 2021, SPMC secured April 13 for its second celebration. The event will be held during MD&M West in Anaheim, California, where an in-person celebration is in the works.
In addition to shining a light on the strength of the industry, SPMC hopes to give back to the community, as well. “We are securing financial support from other industry partners so that we can either create a scholarship award to a packaging engineer student or make a donation to a worthy cause such as St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital,” Alip says.
Complete details about Sterile Packaging Day 2022 can be found on SPMC’s website, sterilizationpackaging.org.
Lourdes Pogue is a marketing consultant at C5 Communications in Richmond, Virginia. Reach her at lourdes@C5CI.com.