The packaging industry continues to be a hotbed of patent innovation. Activity is driven by protection from light, shelf life, temper-proof, and recyclability, and growing importance of technologies such as 3D printing, internet of things (IoT), blockchain, and hologram scanner. In the last three years alone, there have been over 427,000 patents filed and granted in the packaging industry, according to GlobalData’s report on Robotics in packaging: automated vial filling. Buy the report here.
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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 robotics
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.
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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
| Company | Total patents (2010 - 2022) | Premium intelligence on the world's largest companies |
| Amgen | 106 | Unlock Company Profile |
| F. Hoffmann-La Roche | 83 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Danaher | 70 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Sanofi | 49 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Robert Bosch Stiftung | 47 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Becton Dickinson | 47 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Carl Zeiss Stiftung | 47 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Medical Instill Technologies | 41 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Schott Kaisha | 39 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Pfizer | 38 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Vetter & Co Apotheker | 36 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Telebrands | 29 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Automobile Reseau Tunisien et Services | 24 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Marchesini Group | 21 | Unlock Company Profile |
| West Pharmaceutical Services | 18 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Kocher-Plastik Maschinenbau | 16 | Unlock Company Profile |
| AptarGroup | 14 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Baxter International | 14 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Terumo | 13 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Sun Pharmaceutical Industries | 12 | Unlock Company Profile |
| New Injection Systems | 12 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Syntegon Technology | 11 | Unlock Company Profile |
| BC Partners | 11 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Clair Global | 11 | Unlock Company Profile |
| AMW | 10 | Unlock Company Profile |
| 3M | 10 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Truking Technology | 10 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Sun Pharmaceutical Industries | 10 | Unlock Company Profile |
| GSK | 10 | Unlock Company Profile |
| W. L. Gore & Associates | 9 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Kiefel | 8 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Fresenius | 7 | Unlock Company Profile |
| General Electric | 7 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Coherus BioSciences | 7 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Coesia | 7 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Groninger and Co., | 6 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Teva Pharmaceutical Industries | 6 | Unlock Company Profile |
| American Securities | 6 | Unlock Company Profile |
| ProJect Pharmaceutics | 6 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Muffin | 5 | Unlock Company Profile |
| OSARTIS | 5 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Kabushiki Kaisha Hosokawa Yoko | 5 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Gerhard Schubert | 5 | Unlock Company Profile |
| ARaymond | 4 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Lipont Pharmaceuticals | 4 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Seiko Epson | 3 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Hikma Pharmaceuticals | 3 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Xi'an Libang Pharmaceuticals | 3 | Unlock Company Profile |
| OPTIMA Packaging Group | 3 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Dr. Rentschler | 3 | Unlock Company Profile |
Source: GlobalData Patent Analytics
Amgen is one of the leading patent filers in automated vial filling. Some other key patent filersspace include F. Hoffmann-La Roche, Danaher, Sanofi, Robert Bosch Stiftung, and Carl Zeiss Stiftung.
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 Packaging.
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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.
