BITO presents special inlays for refrigerated reusable boxes

Another advancement in vaccine transport: BITO CAMPUS GmbH and BITO-Lagertechnik Bittmann GmbH have developed special inlays for their refrigerated reusable containers, allowing pre-filled syringes to be safely transported over long distances. The idea originated from an inventor from the Eifel region, with whom BITO collaborates.

(Press Release; Meisenheim) Vaccinations are in full swing, and mobile vaccinations are currently running at full speed. Safe and effective vaccine logistics are an absolute must. To expedite the transport of vaccines and securely transport pre-filled syringes, the BITO syringe inlay has now been developed. This allows the vaccine to be prepared centrally by professionals, such as pharmacists or trained personnel, and then safely distributed to vaccination staff with the help of the inlay. The BITO syringe inlay is also perfectly tailored to the BITO PharmaBox and the BITO reusable container MB with thermal insulation insert – creating a complete system that enables smooth, safe, and refrigerated vaccine transport.

Idea originated from an inventor from the Eifel

The success story begins with Frank Heckenbach. The passionate inventor from Speicher in the Eifel, with a wealth of medical knowledge, enjoys designing technical products in his spare time. A friend employed at the Red Cross, who was looking for a safe transport solution to use pre-filled syringes in cool boxes for mobile vaccinations, knew this.

“I wanted to help my friend and came up with a corresponding solution, which I printed on my 3D printers at home and then assembled. But then the demand became so great that I could hardly keep up with production, as it takes about 40 hours to print the syringe holder on the 3D printers,” says Frank Heckenbach.

Contribution in SWR led to cooperation

SWR reported on Frank Heckenbach’s initiative – and Kim-Saskia Christian from the Meisenheim Innovation Center BITO CAMPUS became aware of Frank Heckenbach through the report. “My first thought was that this syringe holder fits perfectly with the reusable container solutions with thermal insulation insert or the new MB PharmaBox from BITO-Lagertechnik,” says Kim-Saskia Christian. Contact was immediately established with Frank Heckenbach, who was also excited about the possibility of collaboration.

Frank Heckenbach: “The great response and demand from the Red Cross or vaccination centers and doctors surprised me at the time. I could no longer handle the demand alone. I was even more pleased that my invention found great acceptance with a professional manufacturer like BITO-Lagertechnik. Of course, there were still many aspects regarding handling, materials, production time, etc., to optimize and standardize in my ‘home-made’ version, so that the syringe holder could go into production to accommodate as many vaccines and fill volumes as possible. Therefore, I was grateful for the professional support.”

In collaboration with Frank Heckenbach, who is normally employed by a construction machinery manufacturer, the BITO CAMPUS team, and BITO-Lagertechnik, it was possible to further develop the product in a short time so that it is now manufactured in series.

BITO syringe inlay as a special, safe transport solution

The new syringe transport solution has been adapted to the specifications of the refrigerated BITO MB reusable container and is now available as an additional accessory for storage and transport boxes. The syringe inlay is available in one or multiple levels – each level can transport up to ten syringes. With a maximum configuration of eight levels per reusable container, up to 80 syringes can fit in a cool box. The levels are removable and can also be stored in refrigerators. The holder is also flexibly standardized for as many syringe types and fill volumes as possible. The syringes are securely anchored, preventing any syringe from accidentally emptying. The BITO syringe inlay withstands temperatures up to 143°C and can therefore be easily disinfected in steam sterilizers, making it an environmentally friendly reusable solution.

Another BITO cooperation product in medical technology

The BITO syringe inlay is another product in medical technology that has emerged from a collaboration. Together with the BITO CAMPUS startup Tec4med, the BITO PharmaBox has already been developed as a high-performance digital refrigerated transport reusable container that can maintain temperatures of, for example, 2 – 8°C over a long period. As an innovation center, BITO CAMPUS GmbH is always on the lookout for good and promising ideas that can be developed into innovative solutions for logistics and intralogistics in collaboration with BITO-Lagertechnik.

Photo: © Bito