ISOBLISTER AI automates the creation of a new blister pack format
ISOBLISTER AI automates the creation of a new blister pack format
Retinae is presenting a new AI-based solution at CPHI Milan 2026. The system assists the operator in creating new blister pack filling control formats for pharmaceutical and nutraceutical products, whilst ensuring that every step remains under human supervision. Also on display is ARGOLABEL, installed on an Etipack labelling machine to check labels before they are applied to the packaging.
Retinae is bringing ISOBLISTER AI to CPHI Milan, an evolution of the ISOBLISTER technology developed by the company, now equipped with an AI-based co-pilot that automates the creation of new formats under the operator’s control.
The technology will be on display on a Partena line at the G.B. Gnudi stand (9F34). At the Retinae stand (9F78), visitors will be able to see ARGOLABEL in action – the system for the visual inspection of labels before they are applied to blister packs. The solution will be installed on an Etipack labelling machine.
We discuss this with Luca Bertocchi, CEO of Retinae.
ISOBLISTER AI is a solution designed to simplify the creation of formats. How does it work?
Packaging lines have to work with blister packs that vary in shape and colour, intended for different types of pharmaceutical products. Each item therefore corresponds to a specific format.
When a new product is introduced, it is necessary to create a new format and train the vision system to correctly recognise the elements that make up the new blister pack format and their positions. The aim of ISOBLISTER AI is to simplify and make this delicate phase of vision system configuration more reliable.
How was this operation carried out before the introduction of artificial intelligence?
Configuration was carried out via a wizard. The operator had to map out the position of the individual blisters and tell the vision system which elements it was observing and where they were located; they then had to identify the position of each blister, the colour of the product and the colour of the blister, as well as set a significant number of parameters. With ISOBLISTER AI, this operation can be performed automatically.
Does the artificial intelligence therefore operate completely autonomously?
No. We do not let it operate on its own because we need to minimise the risk of errors. The system functions as a co-pilot: it processes the configuration, but every single step must be checked and confirmed by the operator.
The procedure remains visible and verifiable. The operator can check the various stages and authorise them right up to the final confirmation of the new format.
What happens after the format has been validated?
Once the format has been created and validated, along with the relevant performance qualification (PQ), the artificial intelligence is taken out of the process. During production, the system uses the same algorithms that would have come into play following a manual configuration. The artificial intelligence therefore intervenes exclusively during the format creation phase and does not take part in the subsequent packaging and inspection process.
Can ISOBLISTER AI also be installed on machines that are already in operation?
Retinae has always made flexibility one of its key strengths. In this case too, we have developed the solution so that it can be installed on machines that have already been sold without the need to modify the hardware. We can therefore carry out retrofits, offering pharmaceutical manufacturers the opportunity to introduce the new function without replacing their existing equipment.
What benefits does ISOBLISTER AI offer users?
We are thinking primarily of contract manufacturers, who frequently need to create new formats. These tasks require experienced staff capable of understanding and correctly applying all the necessary steps. However, the most qualified staff are not always available, and staff turnover can mean that configuration tasks are entrusted to less experienced operators. In such cases, there is an increased risk of missed or false rejects, the possibility of sub-optimal performance, and the need to request assistance – all of which result in additional time and costs. ISOBLISTER AI provides a practical solution because, through a one-off investment, it offers a tool capable of providing constant support to the operator. The procedure is standardised, whilst still leaving the operator in control and responsible for confirming decisions.
What feedback do you expect from CPHI Milan?
We expect interest in a solution that addresses a real need for pharmaceutical companies: making format changes simpler and more reliable, whilst at the same time making the most of existing equipment through retrofitting.
What is the second solution you will be presenting at the trade fair?
At stand 9F78, together with Etipack, we will be presenting a classic solution: the ARGOLABEL system for print inspection and code verification. In this case, the vision system will be installed on an Etipack labelling machine and will check the print on the label before it is applied.
