On October 14, 2012, the National Conference on the Product Quality of Blister Machines convened in Tianjin. Hosted by the China Association for Pharmaceutical Equipment (CAPE) and organized by the Tianjin Quality Supervision and Inspection Center, the summit gathered roughly 40 key stakeholders, including academic scholars, senior engineers, and executives from the country’s leading packaging machinery manufacturers.
Presided over by Mr. Zhao Lin, Vice Secretary-General of CAPE, the conference served as a critical platform to evaluate current manufacturing standards, address technical deficiencies, and chart the course for global competitiveness.
Bridging the Gap with Global cGMP Standards
In her opening address, Ms. Shi Qing of CAPE traced the 30-year evolution of China’s blister packaging sector. While acknowledging significant industry growth, she candidly addressed the remaining gaps between domestic equipment and elite international standards. She urged manufacturers to deepen their integration of Current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP) into their design philosophies, emphasizing that true quality enhancement stems from an uncompromising focus on engineering details.
Rigorous Inspections and Technical Pain Points
Engineers from the Tianjin Inspection Center presented the sobering results of the 2012 national spot checks. Ms. Sun Huili reported that among the 19 blister machine manufacturers evaluated, the qualification rate stood at only 68.42%. The data revealed a stark divide, with large and medium-sized enterprises significantly outperforming smaller manufacturers in safety and finished-product quality.
Mr. Liu Hui, a senior engineer at the center, provided a detailed technical breakdown of the most common failure points. He highlighted critical electrical safety concerns, such as inadequate grounding circuit continuity and insufficient creepage distances. He also addressed mechanical performance issues directly impacting pharmaceutical safety, including compromised seal integrity, inaccurate filling ratios, and dimensional non-compliance. Furthermore, he reminded manufacturers that even seemingly minor oversights, such as non-standard wire labeling, trigger immediate non-compliance ratings.
Investing in Future-Ready Testing Infrastructure
Center Director Madam Qi Baofen expressed gratitude for the industry’s ongoing support and extended an invitation to tour their newly inaugurated testing facility. Built to international standards, the facility features a state-of-the-art 10-meter semi-anechoic chamber specifically designed for Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) testing of pharmaceutical and medical machinery. This advanced infrastructure will provide crucial technical support for manufacturers looking to certify their equipment for rigorous export markets.
Following the tour, Professor Sun Huaiyuan from the University of Shanghai for Science & Technology delivered a lecture on the developmental trajectory of blister machine technologies in Western markets, providing valuable strategic foresight for the attendees.
Industry Leaders Call for Stricter Benchmarks
The summit culminated in a dynamic roundtable focused on modernizing technical regulations. As the General Manager of Shanghai JORNEN Machinery, I was honored to join fellow industry leaders—including executives from Zhejiang Feiyun and Zhejiang Hualian—in a deep-dive discussion on practical production challenges.
Together, we strongly advocated for the immediate revision and elevation of China’s professional standards for blister machines. By actively participating in this regulatory overhaul, top-tier manufacturers are committing to closing the gap with, and eventually surpassing, advanced global benchmarks.
The conference concluded successfully, fostering a unified vision for the future. We extend our highest regards to the engineering and technical teams at the Tianjin Inspection Center for their rigorous, impartial, and highly professional oversight. Moving forward, JORNEN remains fiercely dedicated to leading the charge in equipment safety, reliability, and cGMP compliance.