TricorBraun, USA, and Sasaki Chemical, Japan, join forces with licensing agreement
TricorBraun of St. Louis, Mo., and its licensing partner, Sasaki Chemical of Kyoto, Japan, have announced the commercialization of DryKeep™ Desiccant Technology in the North American market. TricorBraun’s President and CEO Keith Strope says, “This development is a very important step in being able to provide the Sasaki technology to the pharmaceutical, nutritional and consumer products markets. It is another way we are investing in products and innovation that makes our customers more profitable by meeting the needs of their end customers.”
DryKeep™ is a desiccant material compound that includes a standard base resin that can be molded into the structure of packaging components and materials. DryKeep™ molded into the middle or inside layer of a bottle or film absorbs moisture and maintains a consistent atmosphere inside the package, as well as absorbs exterior moisture that migrates into the package. Executive Vice President George Dempsey explains that the DryKeep™ material can be used in both rigid and flexible applications for products that are moisture sensitive in nature. The types of products that can be protected range from pharmaceuticals and vitamins (especially in softgel delivery) to electronics and even cleaning products.
The moisture protection in a package using DryKeep™ desiccant material exceeds current levels achievable through the standard canisters or pillow packs. According to Drew Williams, TricorBraun’s vice president strategic markets, what makes DryKeep™ unique is that the moisture bonds to the material and will not be re-released back into the package. The crystal absorption of DryKeep™ far exceeds the reaction ratios of those processes with the moisture molecule typical of physical or chemical absorption platform. The material maintains equilibrium of moisture in the range of 30 - 40% RH. Its time-release properties provide a package that can be opened and closed numerous times with the excess moisture inside the package being reduced each time as the equilibrium of the target Relative Humidity level is achieved.
According to Dempsey, the benefit to the consumers is that the products they purchase packaged in a DryKeep™ container are constantly protected from moisture after they initially open. The packager of moisture sensitive or hydroscopic products ensures a possible extension of shelf life. The DryKeep™ container may allow the reformulation of some products that are “overloaded” with specific ingredients that decline in potency levels over time when exposed to moisture.
Mr. Sasaki Jr., president and CEO of Sasaki Chemical who has been instrumental in the development, licensing and commercialization of DryKeep™, has stated he is very excited about the opportunity to bring his product to North America to provide product packagers and consumers the benefits of fresher, longer-lasting products that consumers in Japan have been able to enjoy.
Test data and samples are now available, according to Drew Williams.
TricorBraun has 30 offices in the United States and Canada.