Requirements for labeling pharmaceutical and healthcare products continue to increase. With the upcoming reform of EU pharmaceutical legislation, requirements are expected to become even more stringent in the years ahead. Traceability, validation, labeling quality, and process reliability will be more critical than ever. At Interpack 2026 (Hall 16, Booth D72-3), HERMA will demonstrate how these challenges can be reliably addressed as part of the Packaging Valley joint exhibit. The focus will be on three labeling machines specifically designed for pharmaceutical and related applications, including the new 152E HC. “In highly regulated industries such as pharmaceuticals, as well as healthcare and cosmetics, it is more important than ever that labeling solutions deliver maximum process reliability while remaining flexible enough to integrate into existing production environments,” says Tobias Erhardt, Head of Sales and Service at HERMA Labeling Machines.
New solution for smaller production volumes
The new 152E HC wrap-around labeling machine is ideally suited for pharmaceutical contract packers. It handles a wide range of product formats while requiring only a minimal number of change parts. Many pharmaceutical requirements are already implemented as standard, including audit trail and batch reporting capabilities, laser coding, camera inspection, and reject handling via a dedicated conveyor. This is made possible by the standardized design based on HERMA’s new CleanDesign concept, which also enables shorter delivery times. The 152E HC achieves speeds of up to 200 products per minute while fully meeting pharmaceutical labeling requirements. Thanks to its compact footprint and ease of operation, it integrates seamlessly into existing production environments. At Interpack, it will be on display with a Keyence vision system and a Domino CO₂ laser for permanent and precise marking.
Robotics automates manual product feeding
Another highlight is the robot-assisted labeling cell HERMA 211R HC. It has been specifically developed to enable compliant labeling of small batch sizes, for example in clinical trials or personalized medicine. The integrated robot automatically removes products from trays, positions them precisely in the labeling station, and places them back after labeling. This replaces what has often been a manual feeding process and significantly reduces the risk of human error. Labeling is performed using a HERMA 500. After labeling, a sensor verifies label presence and the printed variable data. Only correctly labeled products are transferred to the accepted goods tray.
High-performance labeling for large-scale pharma lines
For high-throughput applications, HERMA will present the wrap-around labeling machine HERMA 132M HC. It is designed for pharmaceutical manufacturers with demanding performance requirements and can label up to 600 products per minute. At the show, the machine will be equipped with a thermal transfer printing system and a pharma-compliant vision inspection system. This combination ensures reliable verification of labels, print data, and variable information. A servo-driven rotary starwheel with integrated overload protection ensures safe handling of sensitive products such as vials, even at high speeds.
Digital services increase system availability
To further optimize system availability, HERMA will also showcase its digital service offerings, including remote diagnostics and a training platform with a wide range of videos and tutorials for self-guided learning on operating and troubleshooting HERMA labeling machines. These digital tools are complemented by traditional services such as upgrades, retrofits, custom modifications, and service contracts with tiered service levels. “Against the backdrop of increasingly stringent regulatory requirements—such as the upcoming EU pharmaceutical reform and stricter traceability requirements in other markets like the United States—it is essential to ensure that labeling processes are safe, transparent, and reliable,” says Erhardt. “HERMA solutions help manufacturers meet these requirements efficiently and in a future-proof way.”
