The global trade in counterfeit medications is a $75 billion industry, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Fake pharmaceuticals, often containing incorrect or even toxic ingredients—such as ground bricks, flour, and insecticides—pose a serious risk to public health worldwide. This crisis has driven regulatory bodies, pharmaceutical companies, and serialization pioneers to take decisive action against counterfeit drugs. At the forefront of this battle is Swiss-based Hicof, whose innovative coding machines, powered by LinMot’s cutting-edge linear drive technology, play a crucial role in ensuring pharmaceutical safety. With over six billion products processed annually, Hicof has positioned itself as a leader in serialization and track-and-trace solutions.
Two decades ago, the idea of assigning a unique serial number to every pharmaceutical product was dismissed as unrealistic, with critics citing the sheer volume of data required. However, Hicof, under the leadership of CEO Sascha Toedtli, has transformed this vision into reality. Today, the company not only develops advanced software capable of handling vast amounts of product data but also manufactures state-of-the-art coding machines that enhance pharmaceutical security.
Switzerland’s pharmaceutical industry has grown significantly over the past decade, contributing CHF 36.8 billion in added value. However, its global reach also makes it highly susceptible to counterfeit threats. Recognizing these vulnerabilities early on, Hicof identified a major flaw in pharmaceutical serialization: the use of fragmented and inefficient systems from multiple manufacturers. This lack of standardization resulted in expensive, error-prone, and inflexible serialization solutions. Hicof’s answer was to develop a comprehensive, all-in-one serialization system that could efficiently track products throughout their entire lifecycle, ensuring maximum protection against counterfeiting and tampering.
The political landscape has also evolved in response to the counterfeit crisis. The European Union introduced the Falsified Medicines Directive (FMD 2011/62/EU), mandating serial number labeling and tamper-evident packaging for pharmaceuticals. Yet, when the directive was enacted, suitable machine solutions were scarce. Hicof stepped in to bridge this gap with its AMACODER machine, a pioneering system designed for serialization that eliminates the need for conventional conveyor belts.
Traditional serialization systems rely on conveyor belts, distributed IT infrastructures, and multiple process steps, making them costly and prone to errors. In contrast, Hicof’s AMACODER machine, based on an innovative pusher system, operates intermittently, offering superior coding precision and stability. This system ensures that each product is marked with an individual 2D DataMatrix barcode, guaranteeing authenticity and traceability. The key to its success lies in precise mechanical movement—an engineering challenge that Hicof overcame through its partnership with LinMot.
LinMot’s high-performance linear drive technology provides the precise motion control needed for accurate product alignment and barcode application. By integrating this advanced drive technology, Hicof has created a serialization system that is more reliable, efficient, and adaptable to future industry needs. The partnership between Hicof and LinMot exemplifies how innovation in engineering and automation can play a crucial role in global pharmaceutical security.
Precision Engineering by Hicof, Powered by LinMot. This state-of-the-art packaging solution redefines serialization with unmatched efficiency and seamless automation.
With counterfeiting posing an ever-growing risk to public health, Hicof’s groundbreaking solutions are helping to safeguard the integrity of pharmaceutical supply chains worldwide. Through its collaboration with LinMot, the company continues to push the boundaries of serialization technology, ensuring that patients receive only genuine, safe medications. As regulatory demands increase and counterfeit threats evolve, Hicof’s comprehensive serialization approach is set to remain a critical defense against pharmaceutical fraud. Learn more about the success story…
