News Announcement Clariant presented humidity equilibrium stabilizers at Innopack 2019

24 May 2019

Controlled-atmosphere products maintain adequate level of humidity
Includes packets, canisters, caps and bags
Maintains humidity equilibrium in pharmaceutical and nutraceutical packaging

Mumbai, May 24, 2019 – Clariant, a focused and innovative specialty chemical company, highlighted its recently introduced brand EQius™ at the 8th Annual InnoPack Pharma Confex, in Mumbai. This encompasses products and technology related to Equilibrium Relative Humidity (ERH) stabilization. Equilibrium RH Stabilizers are sorbent products that maintain a certain humidity level in pharmaceutical and nutraceutical packaging in cases where specific relative humidity conditions are required.

The EQius products are made using specially engineered sorbents that can act as humectants (desorbers) and desiccants (adsorbers) simultaneously, maintaining a particular equilibrium relative humidity inside product packaging.

An equilibrium sorbent performs like a humectant (desorber) and desiccant (adsorber) for applications requiring a specific Equilibrium Relative Humidity (ERH) range inside product packaging. What makes the Clariant technology special is the way in which this line of standard equilibrium-stabilizer products (packet, canister, stopper, bags) can maintain ERH levels of 10% to 60% to protect finished drug products in bottles or tubes, or to protect bulk ingredients (powders, capsules) in boxes or bags before, during, or after tableting or filling operations.

Gautam Arora, Sales Head-India & South Asia, Clariant Healthcare Packaging, said “EQius truly showcases the expertise that Clariant’s Healthcare Packaging division has to offer in the primary packaging arena of pharmaceutical products. The product was developed keeping in mind the challenges faced by formulators. EQius as compared to conventional desiccant products is a custom made product and needs to be designed considering the unique properties of each formulation.”

Elisa Le Floch, Pharm.D., Business Development Manager, Clariant Healthcare Packaging, explains, “While hydrolytic degradation of drugs can be addressed by removing substantially all humidity entering the packaging using a desiccant, specific drug properties may require a specific range of humidity to be maintained throughout the shelf life of a drug product or ingredient.” Typical examples include micronized drug powders used in inhalers or gelatin capsules.

Clariant Healthcare Packaging offers full line of controlled-atmosphere packaging solutions including pharmaceutical desiccants, equilibrium sorbents, adsorbent polymers, oxygen scavengers and pharmaceutical closures and containers. Using both active and passive packaging technologies, Clariant offers an array of standard components and complete systems, as well as full innovation and development capabilities. By understanding customer needs and expectations, Clariant is able to offer comprehensive and viable solutions that increase efficiency, reduce costs and improve the environmental compatibility of products.

EQius™ Equilibrium Stabilizers (Photo: Clariant)

Clariant is a focused and innovative specialty chemical company, based in Muttenz near Basel/Switzerland. On 31 December 2018 the company employed a total workforce of 17 901. In the financial year 2018, Clariant recorded sales of CHF 6.623 billion for its continuing businesses. The company reports in four business areas: Care Chemicals, Catalysis, Natural Resources, and Plastics & Coatings. Clariant’s corporate strategy is based on five pillars: focus on innovation and R&D, add value with sustainability, reposition portfolio, intensify growth, and increase profitability.

Clariant in India, headquartered in Navi Mumbai, operates in the business areas of Care Chemicals (BU Industrial & Consumer Specialties), Plastics & Coatings (BU Pigments, BU Masterbatches and BU Additives), Natural Resources (BU Functional Minerals, BL Mining Services) and Catalysis (BU Catalysts). The company has manufacturing units at several locations in India, spread across Vashere & Roha in Maharashtra; Cuddalore in Tamil Nadu; Rania, Nandesari & Kalol in Gujarat; Nagda in Madhya Pradesh; Bonthapally in Telangana and Edayar in Kerala. In 2018, Clariant inaugurated its greenfield Healthcare Packaging production plant in Cuddalore, Tamil Nadu. With dedicated Application Centers and a state-of-the-art Regional Innovation Center (RIC) in India, the company aims to co-create tailor-made solutions for the industry. The RIC is a part of Clariant's Global Innovation Network.