Health Supply US (HSUS) has acquired two V-Shapes Alpha single-dose packaging machines and a VS dflex nearline digital printing system.

HSUS is dedicated to transforming the pipeline for America’s healthcare facilities, first responder networks, and federal, state and local governments. The company identifies, sources and delivers safety and medical supplies to frontline workers,

HSUS has invested millions of dollars into infrastructure, machinery, equipment, technology and people to meet these goals. A recent investment has been the acquisition of two V-Shapes Alpha single-dose packaging machines and a V-Shapes VS dflex nearline digital printing system. Alpha is a highly automated packaging machine for filling, sealing and die-cutting single-dose sachets in sizes ranging from 40 x 50mm to 85 x 100mm. Brands can choose to use a variety of printing options, from simple one-colour coding to high-quality full-colour printing on the top and/or bottom of the sachet to promote a brand. VS dflex is a nearline reel-to-reel printer featuring Memjet DuraFlex inkjet printing technology to print flexible packaging on-site, eliminating the need to outsource printing or to tie up other printing equipment in the plant, especially for shorter runs of customised sachets.

Cesar Garcia, HSUS managing partner, said, ‘Our original plan was to contract out the manufacture of single-dose branded sachets of hand sanitiser we could hand out at events and for other uses. But it quickly became evident that it made more sense to actually install the equipment in our North Carolina plant.

‘Once we installed our first Alpha and were on our way to our second, it also became clear that we could easily do on-site printing rather than outsourcing it with the VS dflex printer.’

For HSUS, these acquisitions have ‘dramatically’ transformed the design and approval process for single-dose products, making it easier to meet tight customer delivery deadlines and setting the company apart from the competition.

Mr Garcia said, ‘I have a printing background, and I looked at all the possibilities of being able to show our clients right away what their packaging would look like instead of putting a file together, sending it to an outside printer, having them print a massive run and then coming back and putting it on our Alpha for filling. By using both the Alpha and VS dflex, I am able to do everything on-site and on demand; and that saves me about 2.5 weeks at a minimum for each project, dramatically improving our cycle time. Now I can go see a client in the morning; and in the afternoon, I’m printing out sample sachets for them that I can show them the next day.’

The flexibility offered by the combination of the V-Shapes Alpha and the VS dflex has also opened up new opportunities for HSUS, as Mr Garcia explained. ‘While we were originally looking at packaging sanitiser, we are now also looking at producing various types of creams and lotions. In addition to the need for medical gels that can be conveniently and hygienically dispensed, we also see opportunities for packaging high-end sauces or sampling for cosmetics, as well as products for other industries. It enables us to deliver a complete, end-to-end solution to our clients that goes beyond simply filling the sachets. We can work with our clients on designing their sachets, as well as their secondary packaging.’

He concluded, ‘It gives us the ability to offer additional services, better turnaround time and better customisation. If we look good, our partners look good. And the V-Shapes solution makes us all look good.’