Safely dispensed

Shaking or tilting doesn't help: once again, not a single drop comes out of the bottle – and when it does, several come out at once. We all know the problem. Especially with small children, administering medication can often be a nerve-wracking experience. But it doesn't have to be that way: Heinlein Plastik-Technik is fully committed to the art of correct dosing. The ALPLApharma member has been perfecting droppers since 1978. More than 100 models are available. They all have one thing in common: ease of use. The accuracy varies depending on the application and requirements. 

The European Pharmacopoeia sets the standards for dosing in the pharmaceutical and medical sectors. This defines high, medium and low dosing accuracy. For medically effective drops – the highest category – the dosage may deviate by a maximum of 15 per cent up or down. A constant drop rate is also mandatory. A maximum of two drops per second may come out of the bottle. This is the only way to ensure that the quantity is truly countable. So much for the theory. 

Not all liquids are the same

In practical implementation, it all depends on the content: the liquids that are dripped are sometimes viscous, sometimes watery or oily. If they contain alcohol or suspended solids, this also affects the dripping behaviour. "We dimension the dropper geometry according to the product and offer our customers the right dropper. The key factors are the viscosity, any additives and the surface tension of the liquid," explains General Sales Manager Sedat Findik. 

The perfect drop is determined in advance in the laboratory – classic manual work. "Our quality department drips, analyses and recommends the appropriate system. Our customers really appreciate this service," reports Findik. Heinlein Plastik-Technik also supplies the cap to match the dropper – with tamper-proof or child-resistant options available on request. The two elements are produced separately and then assembled for filling at the customer's premises. There, they are screwed onto the glass or plastic bottle. Thanks to the standard GL 18 thread, all systems are compatible. 

‘The overall package makes the difference. This is the only way to ensure that the product is leak-proof and only drips when it should,’ emphasises Findik. Another advantage is that the consistent design of the closure constructions strengthens brand recognition in the market. This means that all of the customer's products look the same. Does the customer want exclusivity or an individual design? Heinlein Plastik-Technik can meet even the most sophisticated requirements. Company logos on the cap or individual brand symbols on the packaging are feasible.

Horizontal or vertical?

If precise dripping is required, the choice falls on so-called vertical droppers. As the name suggests, they only release their contents at a 90-degree angle. The vertical bottle angle allows the drop size and speed to be optimally controlled. The design with a central dropper tube and side air tube guarantees precise drop dispensing. The speed, size and weight of the drop depend on the liquid and the diameter of the dropper tube.

Horizontal or universal droppers are used for less precise dosing. The horizontal dropper is designed for a wide range of applications. It is suitable, for example, for cough remedies, dietary supplements, essential oils or cosmetic products. The horizontal version drips at an angle of 120 to 150 degrees. With such a range, minor deviations are unavoidable. However, they are not particularly significant in these applications. 

More than 300 customers worldwide rely on the versatile and proven dosing systems from Heinlein Plastik-Technik. They ensure the right drop at the right time for medicines, dietary supplements, lifestyle products and many other liquids.

Online product catalogue: www.alplapharma.com/de/product-catalogue

Free sample box: www.heinlein-plastik.de/die-heinlein-musterboxen

For enquiries, please contact martina.engelhard@alpla.com