Sterile Medical Packaging

HealthPack organizers have extended invitations to nurses to attend this year's event in San Antonio, TX, to offer feedback on different medical device packages. Volunteers are needed to donate packaged product (in quantities of 4 - one for each nurse) for panel analysis. "This was a huge success last year," event organizers report. "What better opportunity for you to get live feedback on your package design!"

HealthPack 2010, taking place March 2-4, will be at the Sheraton Gunter, San Antonio.

Oliver-Tolas Healthcare Packaging (Grand Rapids, MI) has hired Jane Severin, PhD, to serve as director of technology. Dr. Severin is an IoPP Certified Packaging Professional with a B.S. and a Ph.D. in Packaging from Michigan State University and an MBA from Keller Graduate School of Management. She brings more than 20 years of experience in the pharmaceutical, healthcare, and packaging industries to the organization, with expertise in packaging development and validation, scientific and regulatory affairs, technical problem solving, and sustainability.

Catalent Pharma Solutions Inc. (Somerset, NJ) announced the appointment of Paul Burns to the position of Vice President of Global Sales. In this newly created role, Mr. Burns will be responsible for developing Catalent’s global sales strategy and driving sales force excellence across the company, with a particular focus on enhancing Catalent’s sales capability for all offerings.

With two staff changes, Oliver-Tolas Healthcare Packaging (Grand Rapids, MI) has added to its management team and enhanced its marketing approach. Jim Ferry has joined the company as director of operations for its Grand Rapids facility. In addition, Teri Meadow will be expanding her responsibilities as director of marketing and strategic development. 

Perfecseal, a Bemis company and global market leader in the medical device and pharmaceutical packaging industries, announces registration to the ISO 13485:2003 Medical Device Quality Management System for its manufacturing facility in Philadelphia. This completes the registration of all four Perfecseal facilities in the continental United States to this new standard, including Philadelphia; Mankato, MN; Oshkosh, WI; and New London, WI. ISO 13485:2003 specifies requirements for quality management systems in which organizations demonstrate the ability to provide medical devices and related services that consistently meet both customer and regulatory requirements.

Oliver-Tolas Health Care Packaging is sad to announce that Carl Marotta, longtime former owner of Tolas Healthcare Packaging (Feasterville, PA), passed away on June 24. Marotta built a highly successful business by combining state-of-the-art processes with innovative ideas.

Marotta was known for his strong commitment to quality, service, and performance as well as his solid technological capability and leadership.

Success also depends upon clear communication between partners, emphasized Lora Keena, vice president, quality assurance and regulatory affairs, for Oliver-Tolas Healthcare Packaging (Grand Rapids, MI). Keena spoke at MD&M West 2009's preshow packaging conference. "It is important to gain a thorough understanding of expectations through due diligence before projects begin," she said. "This includes performing risk assessments so both parties can anticipate potential failures before they occur."