Contract filling refers to the contractual transfer of filling processes to a specialized service provider. This provider then takes care of the filling, labeling, and packaging of the product. The model is particularly used in regulated industries such as pharmaceuticals or chemicals, where aseptic conditions are essential. Companies that are unable or unwilling to fill their products themselves, due to capacity or technological limitations, commission specialized partners to handle the precise, hygienic, and legally compliant filling of their liquids, suspensions, or viscous media.
Reasons for Contract Filling
Many companies, from start-ups to established industrial enterprises, utilize contract-filling services. The reasons are just as diverse.
On the one hand, it saves the company a great deal of effort. There is no need to purchase expensive machinery or build a production hall. Nor is there a need to train additional personnel. Instead, the contract filler takes care of exactly what they do best - efficiently, cleanly, and reliably.
Then there is the know-how: many service providers bring years of experience, modern technology, and certified processes. So why build everything yourself when the professionals have already mastered it?
Another critical factor is the flexibility that comes with contract filling. Especially for small production quantities, seasonal promotions, or test runs, this aspect plays a crucial role.
Often, contract fillers even take over the entire manufacturing process, including mixing, filling, packaging, and logistics. This is particularly useful when exceptionally high requirements apply - for example, with sterile products in the pharmaceutical industry.
What Exactly Is Done in Contract Filling?
Contract fillers often take on more than just filling bottles or containers:
- Filling: Liquid, pasty, or solid - depending on the product, special systems are used to ensure hygiene, precision, and efficiency.
- Labeling: Application of logos, ingredient information, batch numbers, or legally required details.
- Packaging: Final packaging, shipping cartons, or displays - everything is assembled exactly as it should appear on the shelf or reach the customer.
Quality Assurance According to the Highest Standards
Contract filling is a matter of trust. After all, it concerns one’s own product and, therefore, one’s reputation. This is why reputable contract fillers work with well-designed quality processes, trained personnel, and state-of-the-art technology.
Especially in highly regulated industries such as pharmaceuticals, chemicals, food, or cosmetics, the utmost care is required. Contract fillers must comply with strict regulations such as GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) or HACCP for food products. Medicinal products follow EU-GMP (EudraLex Vol. 4, including Annex 1 for sterile manufacture); food businesses apply HACCP under Regulation (EC) No. 852/2004; cosmetics comply with EN ISO 22716, which serves as the harmonized GMP standard in the EU.
Reliable partners conduct regular inspections, document every step, and ensure that everything proceeds exactly as it should. After all, product integrity must be guaranteed throughout the entire filling process.
Practical Example: Rommelag as a Contract Filler
Rommelag CDMO offers aseptic contract filling services utilizing Blow-Fill-Seal (BFS) technology. BFS is an industry-standard aseptic process (container formed-filled-sealed in one step); bottelpack® is Rommelag’s BFS implementation
This enables the aseptic processing of products such as:
- Injection solutions
- Infusions
- Eye drops
- Inhalation products
- Sterile aqueous dosage forms
Rommelag not only brings decades of experience but also operates production environments at the highest technical level in accordance with EU-GMP guidelines.