Glass Packaging & Pharmaceutical Glossary
Complete reference of over 50 essential terms in the glass packaging and pharmaceutical industry. Understand the terminology used in production processes, materials, quality control, and certifications.
A
Amber Glass
Brown-yellow colored glass that provides UV light protection. Essential for packaging light-sensitive medicines and essential oils.
View related productsAnnealing
Process of controlled cooling of glass in a lehr to remove internal stress. Ensures durability and safety of glass bottles.
B
Batch House
The part of a glass factory where raw materials (silica sand, soda ash, limestone) are mixed according to formulation before entering the furnace.
Blow and Blow Process
Glass bottle forming method for narrow-neck bottles using two stages of air blowing in an IS machine. Suitable for bottles with narrow openings.
Borosilicate Glass
Glass with high boron oxide content (USP Type I) providing the best thermal and chemical resistance. Ideal for injection medicine packaging and sensitive products.
BPOM
Indonesia's National Agency of Drug and Food Control, regulating the safety of medicines, food, and packaging in contact with consumer products.
View related productsC
cGMP (current Good Manufacturing Practice)
Regulatory production standard ensuring consistent product quality. Mandatory for primary pharmaceutical packaging manufacturers like Pharmaglass.
View related productsClosure (Bottle Cap)
Glass bottle sealing components including screw caps, crown caps, dropper assemblies, pumps, and pilfer-proof caps.
Cobalt Blue Glass
Dark blue glass providing UV protection and premium appearance. Popular for essential oil bottles and aromatherapy products.
View related productsCrown Cap
Metal bottle cap pressed onto a crown finish. Commonly used for beverage bottles and some pharmaceutical products.
Cullet
Recycled glass fragments mixed with new raw materials during melting. Reduces energy consumption and production costs.
D
Dealkalization
Surface treatment process of soda-lime glass with sulfur dioxide to reduce alkali release, converting it to USP Type II.
Delamination
Condition where thin glass layers separate from the bottle's internal surface and enter the product. A serious issue for pharmaceutical packaging that must be prevented.
E
Euro-Dropper
European standard dropper system fitted to bottle mouths to control drop quantity. Common for essential oil bottles and eye drops.
View related productsF
Flint Glass (Clear Glass)
Transparent colorless glass providing full visibility of product contents. Suitable for colored syrups and products that need to be displayed.
Furnace (Melting Tank)
A 1,500 degree Celsius tank that melts glass raw materials into molten glass. Pharmaglass operates large-capacity furnaces with 2 active lines.
G
Gob
A drop of molten glass from the furnace that will be formed into a bottle by the IS machine. Gob weight and temperature must be precisely controlled.
GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice)
Production practice standards ensuring product quality and safety. The basis for cGMP certification.
View related productsH
Hydrolytic Resistance
The ability of glass to withstand chemical degradation when in contact with water or aqueous solutions. Measured through alkali release testing. Key to pharmaceutical glass quality.
Halal Certification
Certification ensuring glass bottle production processes comply with Islamic law, including materials and processes used.
View related productsI
IS Machine (Individual Section)
Glass bottle forming machine consisting of multiple independent sections, each capable of producing bottles simultaneously.
ISO 9001
International standard for quality management systems. Pharmaglass is ISO 9001 certified to ensure production process consistency.
View related productsISO 14001
International standard for environmental management systems. Ensures glass production processes are environmentally friendly and sustainable.
View related productsISO 15378
International standard specifically for primary pharmaceutical packaging, integrating ISO 9001 with additional GMP requirements.
View related productsISO 45001
International standard for occupational health and safety management systems. Protects workers in glass factory environments.
View related productsL
Lehr (Annealing Oven)
Long cooling oven where glass bottles undergo gradual annealing from high temperature to room temperature.
Light Transmission
Percentage of light that can penetrate glass. Amber glass blocks most UV/visible light, protecting light-sensitive products.
Limestone
Glass raw material (CaCO3) that provides chemical stability and durability to the final glass product.
Lead Time
Total time from order confirmation to product ready for shipment. Typically 3-7 business days for standard stock at Pharmaglass.
M
MOQ (Minimum Order Quantity)
Minimum order quantity. At Pharmaglass, MOQ starts from 10,000 pcs per design for standard glass bottles.
View related productsMold (Glass Mold)
Cast iron or specialized metal mold that shapes gobs into glass bottles. Consists of blank mold and blow mold.
View related productsN
Narrow Mouth
Glass bottle with a small mouth diameter, typically for syrup bottles, droppers, and essential oils.
Neck Ring
The part of the mold that forms the bottle neck and neck finish. Determines closure compatibility.
O
Opal Glass
Semi-transparent milky white glass providing a premium appearance. Suitable for cosmetic jars and luxury skincare bottles.
View related productsP
Parenteral
Drug administration route other than through the digestive tract (injection, infusion). Parenteral packaging requires USP Type I or II glass.
Pharmacopoeia
Official standard reference book containing specifications for raw materials, medicines, and pharmaceutical packaging. Indonesia has Farmakope Indonesia (FI).
Pilfer-Proof Cap
Bottle cap with a tamper-evident ring that breaks when first opened, indicating the product has not been previously opened.
Press and Blow Process
Wide-mouth glass bottle forming method using plunger pressing then air blowing. Suitable for jars and wide-mouth bottles.
View related productsQ
QC (Quality Control)
Inspection and quality testing process for every production batch. Pharmaglass has an integrated QC laboratory.
View related productsR
Rubber Teat (Bulb)
Rubber component on a dropper assembly that is squeezed to draw and release liquid through a glass pipette.
S
Screw Thread Finish
Bottle neck finish type with threads for screw cap compatibility. Common standards: GPI 400, 410, 415.
SEDEX SMETA
Ethical trade audit covering labor standards, health & safety, environment, and ethical business practices.
View related productsSilica Sand
Primary glass raw material (SiO2) comprising 70-75% of glass composition. Silica sand quality determines glass clarity.
Soda Ash (Sodium Carbonate)
Glass raw material (Na2CO3) that lowers silica melting point and makes the melting process more efficient.
Soda-Lime Glass
The most common glass type made from silica, soda ash, and limestone. USP Type III. Economical for syrup and oral product packaging.
View related productsStress Test
Internal stress testing of glass bottles using a polariscope. Bottles with excessive stress must be rejected due to breakage risk.
T
Thermal Shock Resistance
The ability of glass to withstand sudden temperature changes without cracking. Important for bottles undergoing sterilization or hot-fill processes.
Traceability
The ability to track every production batch from raw materials to finished products. A mandatory cGMP requirement for pharmaceutical packaging.
Type I Glass (USP)
Borosilicate glass with the highest chemical resistance. For injection medicine packaging, vaccines, and sensitive pharmaceutical products.
Type II Glass (USP)
Treated (dealkalized) soda-lime glass with improved chemical resistance. For acid solutions, alkalis, and infusions.
Type III Glass (USP)
Standard soda-lime glass. For syrup packaging, oral medicines, and products not sensitive to glass interaction.
View related productsU
USP (United States Pharmacopeia)
The United States pharmacopeia standard serving as an international reference for pharmaceutical glass classification (Type I, II, III, NP).
V
Visual Inspection
Visual inspection using automated cameras to detect defects such as blistering, stones, cords, seeds, and cracks in glass bottles.
Volume Capacity
Glass bottle fill capacity measured in ml. Must match label claims. Pharmaglass provides sizes from 15ml to 1000ml.
W
Wall Thickness
Glass bottle wall thickness affecting strength, weight, and thermal resistance. Must be uniform to prevent stress points.
Wide Mouth
Glass bottle or jar with a large mouth diameter, suitable for cream products, powders, and packaging requiring wide access.
View related productsFAQ - Glass Packaging & Pharmaceutical Terms
What is the difference between Borosilicate and Soda-Lime glass?
Borosilicate Glass (USP Type I) has a high boron oxide content, providing excellent thermal and chemical resistance. It is ideal for packaging sensitive medicines and injections. Soda-Lime Glass (USP Type III) is made from silica, soda ash, and limestone, more economical and suitable for syrup packaging, oral liquids, and products not requiring high chemical resistance. Pharmaglass produces both types of glass.
What does Hydrolytic Resistance mean for pharmaceutical glass bottles?
Hydrolytic Resistance is the ability of glass to withstand chemical degradation when in contact with water or aqueous solutions. Measured through alkali release testing, glass is classified into USP Type I (most resistant), Type II (treated soda-lime), and Type III (regular soda-lime). The lower the alkali release, the better the glass quality for pharmaceutical packaging.
What is cGMP and why is it important for glass bottle manufacturers?
cGMP (current Good Manufacturing Practice) is a regulatory standard ensuring products are consistently produced and controlled to quality standards. For pharmaceutical glass bottle manufacturers like Pharmaglass, cGMP certification guarantees that every bottle produced meets the cleanliness, precision, and traceability requirements demanded by the pharmaceutical industry.
What is the function of Annealing in glass bottle production?
Annealing is the process of controlled cooling of glass inside a lehr (cooling oven) to remove internal stress formed during the forming process. Without proper annealing, glass bottles would be susceptible to spontaneous cracking or breaking when exposed to temperature changes. This process ensures the durability and safety of pharmaceutical glass bottles.
What is ISO 15378 and its relevance to glass packaging?
ISO 15378 is an international standard specifically for manufacturers of primary packaging for medicinal products. This standard integrates ISO 9001 requirements with additional GMP requirements specific to pharmaceutical packaging. Pharmaglass holds ISO 15378 certification, ensuring that glass bottles produced meet the highest standards for primary drug packaging.
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