The supply chain challenge
The supply chain challenges for Type I glass packaging materials over the last year are a result of a series of events with a ripple effect across the industry. The Covid-19 pandemic placed an enormous global demand on the supply of Type I glass vials (especially on tubular glass for vaccines), which led to many pharma manufacturers experiencing vial shortages and requiring a secondary solution. When one of the largest pharmaceutical firms in the Americas faced an urgent need for tubular vials after securing a significant contract, the disruption in their supply chain jeopardized their ability to provide their drug to the market. The firm had a sudden increase in demand for a product from their Human Health plant and their incumbent glass manufacturer could not fulfil the large quantity of 10ml tubular vials within the time frame required.