The digital transformation is in full swing also in the pharmaceutical industry. Smart and interactive solutions for process optimization, digital tracing, authentication, and patient support are becoming increasingly important. But it takes more than a chip in a label for truly reliable performance of applications in the healthcare sector—it takes in-depth expertise and that’s exactly where Schreiner MediPharm displays its fortes.

Drawing on more than twenty years of experience in RFID technology specifically for pharmaceutical applications, Schreiner MediPharm is a leading supplier of smart label solutions for the pharmaceutical industry committed to the maxim: Pharma-RFID that outperforms—in other words, RFID that absolutely reliably performs under the special conditions of the pharmaceutical sector. “Many suppliers talk about smart applications—we make them a reality. Our claim is to achieve smooth RFID imple­mentation from the first test to final use,” says Sebastian Münscher, Senior Product Manager RFID/NFC Solutions at Schreiner MediPharm.

Tailored Technology for Complex Requirements

Whereas standard RFID-Labels are often stretched to the limits as early as in high-speed processing—for instance, due to chip breakage or antenna issues—Schreiner MediPharm has developed unique robust label designs that are specifically tailored to the requirements of the pharmaceutical industry. Whether for vials, syringes, pens, or secondary packaging, the solutions are designed to combine top quality, scalabil­ity, and process reliability. Thanks to extensive research and development capacities, Schreiner MediPharm offers a wide range of customized RFID solutions: from application-specific chip selection to specifically developed antenna geometries to extensive testing opportunities.

Technology Leader with Industry Knowledge

Schreiner MediPharm excels particularly in terms of combining technological know-how and in-depth understanding of pharmaceutical requirements. As a long-standing A-level supplier to leading global pharmaceutical corporations, the company draws on detailed knowledge of the regulatory hurdles, production processes, and security requirements of its customers. “An RFID project is no standard solution. We support our customers from the initial idea to series production—including intensive testing, integration into pharma packaging lines, and validation,” Münscher explains. State-of-the-art production systems and flexible scaling options enable us to produce even large volumes at consistently high levels of quality. At the same time, stringent quality management ensures that the RFID functionality is reliably retained up until it reaches the final user—be it in bulk reading processes in hospital settings or tapping with a smartphone. That not only optimizes logistics processes along the supply chain but also enables interactions with patients and healthcare staff—for instance, by means of NFC solutions for authentication or digital first-opening indications.

Smart Solution, True Added Value

The benefits for pharmaceutical manufacturers are obvious: Reliable RFID solutions from Schreiner MediPharm minimize failure rates, prevent production downtimes due to faulty labels, and avoid higher costs. At the same time, they increase patient safety and contribute to differentiation in the market. With every successfully implemented solution, Schreiner MediPharm underscores its role as a pioneer in the field of pharmaceutical RFID-Labels—not only technologically but also strategically. “Our customers expect technology that works—we deliver solutions that stand the test of real-world settings. That makes us the leading partner for pharma RFID worldwide,” concludes Münscher.

Innovative active ingredients such as mRNA, biologics, or cell and gene therapies not only bring progress—they also place the highest demands on their packaging. The situation becomes particularly critical when drugs are stored and transported at high sub-zero temperatures. In those cases, reliable tamper evidence truly poses a challenge. Schreiner MediPharm has developed a new solution exactly for that purpose: a transparent deep-freeze seal that reliably works even at temperatures down to -196 °C (-320 °F).

The special feature of the seal is that it will destroy itself when trying to remove it due to a dual security mechanism: the multi-tear effect. It means that not only the seal itself tears due to integrated security cuts that irreversibly destroy it (film tear) but that the cardboard surface of the folding box comes off as well (fiber tear). Any tampering attempt thus becomes immediately visible. In addition, the deep-freeze seal offers a guilloche as an integrated authentication feature. Further overt, semi-covert, and covert authenticity features can be added on request, resulting in a multi-level security solution tailored to the customer’s specific needs.

The transparent deep-freeze seal is suitable for storage temperatures down to -196 °C (-320 °F). Two variants of the seal are available: one for dispensing at 10 °C (50 °F) and a second one for application at temperatures down to as much as -50 °C (-58 °F). Both variants reliably adhere to the folding box across the entire supply chain—from production to final use.

With its many years of expertise in the development of security seals for the pharmaceutical industry, Schreiner MediPharm not only offers technical excellence but also comprehensive consulting support along the entire process chain. Every seal project is customized to suit the specific use case and threat scenario—naturally in compliance with the EU’s Falsified Medicines Directive and ISO 21976.

Safety for the user, cost efficiency for the manufacturer, and a clear gain for the environment: With Needle-Trap, Schreiner MediPharm offers a unique system for protection against needlestick injuries combining economy and sustainability in a single product—while setting standards.

Unlike conventional systems, the needle protection of Schreiner MediPharm’s Needle-Trap is not an additional device but an integral component of the label. Delivered on rolls, it can be applied to syringes on dispensing systems at high speed and without additional process steps. For pharmaceutical manufacturers, that means less logistical effort, less material, less costs.

But Needle-Trap impresses not only in terms of processing and process optimization. Regarding sustainability, the system shows its strengths as well: Compact design, no need for metallic springs, and clearly reduced plastics content have effects along the entire supply chain—from reduced space requirements during storage, transportation, and cooling to more eco-friendly disposal.

The newest version, Needle-Trap Secu, even takes these benefits a step further. It enables blister-free packaging thanks to an integrated first-opening indication—as another contribution to the reduction of packaging materials, CO₂ emissions, and costs.

Calculation examples for 10 million units of Needle-Trap in terms of total cost of own­ership and sustainability show: double production capacity per year, up to 50% less costs, more than 80% less CO₂ emissions, and reductions of up to 53 tons of plastics—all without compromising safety.

In other words, it’s a system that demonstrates that progress is created where smart solutions solve several challenges at the same time—to the satisfaction of customers and users, and benefit to the environment.

United by an ambitious goal: The members of the Alliance to Zero are committed to sustainably reducing CO₂ emissions along the pharmaceutical supply chain—with a view toward compliance with the Paris Climate Agreement. Halfway into the year, the network got together for an onsite meeting at Schreiner MediPharm in Oberschleissheim—engaged in an intensive exchange with a vision.

The Alliance has existed since June 2021. In addition to the founding members—Datwyler, Harro Höfliger, Körber Pharma, SCHOTT Pharma, Sharp, Ypsomed, and Schreiner MediPharm—Resourcify, a specialist in recycling solutions, has now also joined the initiative. All members share a common goal: Only through close collab­oration can changes be achieved that will transform the entire sector toward net-zero emissions. A specific example of successful collaboration is a Secure Blister-Free Packaging Concept for prefilled syringes that considerably reduces CO₂ emissions, optimizes processes, and reduces costs at the same time.

The most recent meeting in Oberschleissheim offered the Alliance an opportunity to continue driving important topics. In addition to technical presentations—for instance, on the pending Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR)—specific actions were developed in strategic discussions and special working groups.

Company Tour as a Highlight

The company tour at Schreiner Group’s headquarters in Oberschleissheim was a highlight of the gathering. It provided the guests with deep insights into the high-tech production of innovative pharma labels and enabled them to obtain an on-site idea of Schreiner Group’s sustainability measures. A joint evening event rounded off the day and provided room for further informal exchange—all in the spirit of trusting col­laboration on which the Alliance to Zero is based.

The Schreiner Group has reached another milestone in the USA: since autumn, the number of employees has reached triple digits. Site Manager Ken Forlenza and his team welcomed the 100^th employee, who will now work together with his colleagues, dedicatedly operating the state-of-the-art high-tech machines to produce innovative labels for the pharmaceutical and automo­tive industries.

Since 2008, the Schreiner Group has operated a site in Blauvelt, NY — a bold step for a medium-sized family business that has proven to be pioneering in hindsight. “Having a location directly on-site was crucial for long-term success in the US market. Proximity to our customers makes a significant difference,” emphasizes Managing Director Roland Schreiner. In times of increasing trade barriers and global uncertainties, the value of this decision has become even more apparent. The presence in the USA enables flexible and independent responses to market demands — to the benefit of customers and the company’s long-term stability.

 

Continuous Expansion

What initially began with innovative labels and smart solutions for the pharmaceutical industry has steadily evolved: Today, 100 employees work in Blauvelt, and the Schreiner ProTech business unit is also active there with growing success — particularly for customers in the mobility and general industry sectors. Production facilities, the product portfolio, and the modern high-tech machinery have been continuously expanded in recent years.

International Orientation

The Blauvelt site exemplifies the Schreiner Group’s international focus and sustainable growth strategy. With high quality, innovation, and reliability, the team in the USA has established itself as an important partner for customers in the North American market — thereby making a significant contribution to the company’s global success.

Schreiner Group continues to grow internationally – and one key pillar of this success lies in China. The Jinshan site in the Greater Shanghai area is developing steadily and making an important contribution to the company’s global strength. President and CEO Roland Schreiner is pleased with the positive progress and the strong performance of the local team.

“I am impressed by the dedication and expertise of our team in China. The development of the site shows that our international strategy is exactly right,” says Roland Schreiner. The production facilities meet the same high standards of quality, cleanliness, and high-tech equipment as those in Germany. The plant in Jinshan supplies innovative marking and pressure compensation solutions for batteries, sensors, or electronic components primarily to international automotive suppliers—and a growing number of local Chinese manufacturers. Concurrently, the site for some time has been intensively manufacturing products for the pharmaceu­tical industry as well: specialty labels—for syringes or vials for example.

The strong demand in both market segments underscores the importance of the Chinese location for Schreiner Group’s growth. The local employees possess high expertise. One of the reasons for that is an outstanding nearby talent factory. Jamie Long, General Manager of the Chinese location, enthuses about the longstanding collaboration with the Shanghai Publishing and Printing College, “Our partnership with the college is a true gain. We’ve been able to recruit many outstanding employees directly from there in recent years—superbly educated, engaged, and motivated.” The education at the prestigious college with a hands-on approach is an ideal fit for Schreiner Group’s high claim to quality. Especially in terms of printing technology and quality assurance both parties benefit from the close collaboration.

Overall, the plant in Jinshan has seen a dynamic development in recent years. Innovative technologies, modern production facilities, and a close connection to local markets make the location a central component of Schreiner Group’s global value creation—especially for customers in the Healthcare and Mobility markets.

Schreiner Group visibly and noticeably keeps investing in its second German location in Dorfen. The successful completion of the extension of the plant and rollout of the Automated Guided Vehicle (AGV) starts a new chapter for the production location. More space, more efficiency—and an important step toward a Lean Factory. “We’re proud of having reached our goal despite all the challenges in recent years,” said Martin Moser, Schreiner Group’s Operations Manager. “The extension was necessary to accommodate our growth—and the AGV is the next logical step in our automation strategy.”

More Room for Growth

As early as when the new factory building was purchased and opened in 2019, the future extension of the location was included in the conceptualization and planning process. Now it has been completed: The new building has been finished since fall, making clearly larger areas available for logistics functions such as the receiving department, raw materials warehouse, and shipping department. The additional space creates new prospects on the factory floor for additional high-tech machines and thus more production volume. But the true star of the new concept is silently moving through the halls: the Automated Guided Vehicle. The employees have affectionately christened their “new colleague” Toni and integrated him in the team.

Next-Level Smart Logistics

Since summer, the AGV has been in operation in a first version that’s successively becoming even smarter, for instance, due to the pending full integration with a link to the warehouse management system.

The objective is to automate material flows in real time, avoid empty runs, and to further shorten throughput times. “The rollout of the AGV clearly moves us closer toward our goal of even leaner, connected production operations,” said Moser. “It significantly enhances the efficiency of our internal logistics—and as a side effect eases the employees’ workload.”

Dorfen as Factory of the Future

With the combination of a building extension and digitalization, the Dorfen location is an example that shows what modern industrial production can look like today. Flexible scalability, high delivery performance and automated workflow create value—for customers and employees alike.

A great honor for the international family business from Oberschleissheim: Schreiner Group has been recognized with the 2025 Bavarian Medium-Size Business Award. The awards ceremony took place in a festive setting at the Munich “Künstlerhaus” at the end of July.

The Bavarian Medium-Size Business Award recognizes up to ten companies per year that stand out from the crowd due to innovative prowess, sustainability, social engagement, and a strong corporate culture. From numerous entries, the judging panel this year selected Schreiner Group—a third-generation family-owned business that has long become established as an international innovation leader in the field of high-tech labels and functional labels.

Responsible Entrepreneurship

“This award means a lot to us. It validates our daily striving not only to deliver top technological performance but to also ‘live’ responsible entrepreneurship—in dealing with our customers, our partners, and especially our employees,” said President and CEO Roland Schreiner.

The judging panel particularly recognized the company’s clear strategic focus on innovation, internationalization, and sustainability. Schreiner Group consistently combines high tech with humanity. The company shows how lived values, excellent quality, and a strong sense of responsibility for the environment and society can go hand in hand.

Roland Schreiner
President and CEO

Sustainable Development

Schreiner Group has been standing for sustainable developments in the label industry for years—by investing in climate-friendly production, development of smart product solutions, and strengthening of global locations, among other things. At the same time, the company remains loyal to its medium-size business roots—with a clear commitment to quality in apprentice training, employee development, and social engagement.

At this year’s FINAT Label Competition, Schreiner Group impressed with the Smart Syringe Box from the Schreiner MediPharm business unit. The smart packaging solution specifically for syringes won the first-place award in the “Innovation” category. As part of the European Label Forum, the high-tech company was recognized with the award by the European association for the self-adhesive label industry (FINAT).

Dr. Jens Vor der Brüggen, Head of Technology and Innovation Management, personally accepted the award in Amsterdam. “This recognition shows how important smart packaging solutions are for the future of clinical trials,” said Dr. Jens Vor der Brüggen. Schreiner Group has been developing smart labels and packaging solutions for various industries for many years. The Schreiner MediPharm business unit specializes in the pharmaceutical and healthcare industry and offers smart solutions for safe and efficient uses. “Our many years of expertise in the development of innovative products make us a reliable partner for the Healthcare, Mobility, and General Industry markets,” said Roland Schreiner, President and CEO of Schreiner Group. “The FINAT Award validates the fact that our innovative products not only meet the current requirements but also set new standards for the future.”

Intelligent Packaging: Smart Syringe Box

The Smart Syringe Box from Schreiner MediPharm is an intelligent form of packaging for syringes that has been developed primarily for use in clinical trials. The box includes perforated compartments with integrated electronics that document the exact removal of individual syringes. As a result, relevant data such as the time of removal and compartment can be stored and transmitted to the database in real time via NFC, App, or Bluetooth. In addition, temperature monitoring and tracking ensure maximum safety and traceability.

Praise for the Third License Plate in Kosovo

In addition to the Smart Syringe Box from Schreiner MediPharm, the Third License Plate in Kosovo from Schreiner PrinTrust was recognized with a “Highly recommended certificate.” Due to the large number of non-registered vehicles and resulting economic damage, the Third License Plate was rolled out in Kosovo. It is applied to the inside of the windshield and contains all the key vehicle data and insurance status. That makes it easier for law enforcement officers to identify non-registered vehicles and enhances traffic safety.

The EU Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) requires many companies to comprehensively report about their environmental and social impact, and corporate governance. The objective is to achieve transparent and comparable sustainability reporting within the EU. To jointly master these requirements, Schreiner Group and seven other medium-size companies in various industries engage in a regular exchange within the CSRD business network of the “Forschungsstelle für Energiewirtschaft (FfE).”

Exchange on an Equal Footing

Activities are centered on hands-on workshops covering all relevant CSRD topics— from climate protection to waste management to social responsibility. Exchange of experience and benchmarking are intended to help recognize challenges and develop solutions. “Especially in the case of complex requirements like the CSRD, direct exchange with other companies is indispensable. Only together can we find practical approaches and learn from each other,” said Dr. Thomas Gulden, Envi­ronmental and Occupational Health and Safety Officer at Schreiner Group.

Workshop at Schreiner Group

The fifth in-person workshop took place at Schreiner Group in Oberschleissheim in the middle of the year. Topics this time were external tools for CSRD reporting, supplemented by experience-based reports of Schreiner Group from the field and a plant tour. A presentation by Valentin Aman, CEO of ESG-X, on the subject of “AI in Sustainability Reporting” complemented the program.

A Network with Added Value

For Schreiner Group, participation in the CSRD company network is an important step for systematically developing the company’s own sustainability activities and to be prepared for the requirements of the new directive early on. The professional exchange with other companies, practical inspiration, and specific application examples provide valuable guidance on the road toward delivering a sustainability report that’s fit for the future and complies with the rules.