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Management Forum

A Practical Overview of Pre-Filled Syringes Training Course

Master pre-filled syringe manufacturing, quality control, and regulatory compliance in this comprehensive 2-day course. Includes hands-on workshops, expert insights, and CPD certification.

★★★★★ "It was an enlightening course, and the speakers were so explanatory."

5-6 November 2025
+ 11-12 May 2026, 11-12 November 2026 »
from £1299

Need help? Enrol/reserve

Course overview

This course offers a comprehensive introduction to the world of pre-filled syringes (PFS), designed specifically for those who are new to the field or looking to refresh their understanding of the fundamentals. Participants will gain a clear overview of the entire processing journey, from component selection and design considerations through filling, assembly, and quality control.

What sets this program apart is the independence of its expert speakers, who provide practical, vendor-neutral insights based on real-world experience across different parts of the industry. Their diverse perspectives help ensure a balanced view of current practices and future directions, free from commercial bias.

In addition to structured presentations, delegates will benefit from interactive workshops designed to encourage discussion, questions, and peer-to-peer exchange. This creates a unique opportunity not only to learn the essentials of pre-filled syringe processing, but also to explore the latest developments and challenges shaping the field today.

This course is part of our range of Medical Devices training courses

Benefits of attending

Understand the full journey of pre-filled syringe processing, from design to quality control
Discover key design choices and practical solutions to common challenges
Explore vendor-neutral, real-world insights from independent experts
Engage in interactive workshops that spark discussion and peer learning
Stay ahead with the latest trends, innovations, and industry developments

Who should attend?

Pharma start-ups and small to mid-sized pharma companies
Contract research organisations (CROs) and contract manufacturing organisations (CMOs)
Machine and equipment suppliers
Hospital dispensaries
Professionals new to pre-filled syringes (PFS) or looking to refresh their knowledge in a relaxed, open setting
Experts involved in device programmes, product development, life cycle management, regulatory affairs, quality assurance, or combination products
Drug delivery specialists
Business development and product development managers

Enrol/reserve

This course will cover:

Day 1
Day 2

Syringe manufacture from components to the final product – an overview

Elements of pre-filled syringes
Process options
Component preparation: the basics
Siliconisation: a closer look
Filling and stoppering in a nutshell (with videos)

PFS filling & closing machines – available options

Lab scale to high-speed
Typical processes therein
Decision matrix & supplier assessment criteria

PFS filling & closing machines – a closer look

A typical filling line from start to end – an overview
Introduction of components – Infeed
Filling and closing in real life (with videos)
Pumps – ‘fit for purpose’/stoppering options
Getting the filled units out – Outfeed

Terminal sterilisation of pre-filled syringes

Why?
How it is done?
Points to consider
Validation

Visual inspection of pre-filled syringes

Defects and their detection
Inspection methods
Assessing batch and sorting quality
Specific aspects of pre-filled syringes
Visual inspection in the quality life-cycle
Setting up a manual visual inspection

Secondary packaging machines for PFS: an introduction

What is secondary packaging?
Walk through a typical facility 2° packaging line (example/video)
Trends in secondary packaging
PFS handling special: glass-to-glass contact

Trends in PFS: drug delivery

Market dynamics
Innovation in PFS
Drug development trends
Manufacturing technology trends

PFS: from the early days to the latest developments

Evolution of systems
Evolution of components
Evolution of application and application systems

Device assembling and control processes for autoinjectors

Target product process
Impact primary packaging material
Assembling steps
Inline controls
Function/release tests
Final packaging

Regulatory requirements for pre-filled syringes

ISO design compliance
New MDR – what about it?
US requirements for combination products

A primer on system selection

Points to consider
Available options

Workshop: for 3 product profiles

Identify the optimal components (primary and accessories)
Identify the optimal target fill volume
Identify the optimal processes (siliconisation and filling)

What comes back – typical technical complaints

Some statistics
PFS complaints ‘decoded’
Issues when dealing with PFS-related complaints
Some examples and typical investigation routes

PFS state-of-the-union address and event summary

Review of the market for PFS
Review of PFS Processing
Future trends in PFS

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Dale Charlton
DCBio Automation SIA

Dale Charlton is a Freelance Consultant for automation and fill / finish. Dale has spent a lifelong career in Life Sciences and Biotechnology encompassing both the academic and industrial sectors. Dale worked in a technical capacity in basic R&D at a major University and EMBL Heidelberg before embarking on a more formal academic career in biotechnology and studying for a PhD within the Drug Discovery Group of Pfizer into growth factor research (rGH, GHRF, IgF) . With industrial spells at Porton Down and Pittman-Moore (formerly Glaxo Animal Vaccines) in API and API scale-up, Dale settled back into biotech manufacture and moved more into the supply chain of finished drug products for small molecules & biologics, first as the MD of a life sciences distribution company and later as Director of Business Development, Optima pharma in sterile production automation. Having worked in the pharmaceutical industry from R&D to finished drug product, Dale has a unique understanding of the entire drug development life cycle and offers insight from both the pharma and a suppliers perspective.

More details

Andreas Rothmund
Vetter-Pharma

Dr. Andreas Rothmund is Qualified Person (retd) at Vetter Pharma-Fertigung in Ravensburg, Germany, an independent contract manufacturer specialised in the aseptic production of pre-filled application systems. He started his industrial career in 1985 as a lab manager. After two years he took over production responsibility for a German company specialised in eye drops and eye ointments, a position he held for nearly eight years.

He joined Vetter in 1994, where he has held several positions, including Head of Production for one of Vetter’s aseptic production units. He holds a degree in organic chemistry from the University of Constance, Germany.

More details

Susanne Hall
Vetter Pharma

Susanne Hall began her career in 1990 at Dr. Karl Thomae (today known as Böhringer Ingelheim) in Biberach as Head of Packaging Technology. In 1993, she joined Vetter’s Research and Development department as Head of Packaging Material Incoming Control and in 2008 was named Team Leader of Secondary Packaging.

Since 2019, she has been the Director of Secondary Packaging and AVI Projects. In this position, Susanne leads three teams that ensure the implementation of customer products from development to commercial into production. For secondary packaging this includes device assembly, labeling and final packaging as well as implementing tests for a controlled safe process and the meeting of customer expectations. She is also responsible for the transfer of products from manual visual inspection to fully automated inspection lines.

Susanne has a diploma in engineering from the College of Engineering where she focused on specialized precision engineering.

More details

NEW higher discounts for multiple bookings - bring your colleagues to make your training budget go further:

30% off the 2nd delegate*
40% off the 3rd delegate*
50% off the 4th delegate*

Please contact us for pricing if you are interested in booking 5 or more delegates

5-6 November 2025

Live online

09:30-17:00 UK (London) (UTC+00)
10:30-18:00 Paris (UTC+01)
04:30-12:00 New York (UTC-05)
Timings may be different for each day
Course code 15045

GBP 1,299 1,499
EUR 1,819 2,099
USD 2,087 2,399

Until 01 Oct

2 days live online training
Browser-based, no download usually required
See presenters and interact with fellow attendees
Download documentation and certification of completion
Fair transfer and cancellation policy

View basket

Not ready to book yet?

for 7 days, no obligation

11-12 May 2026

Live online

09:30-17:00 UK (London) (UTC+01)
10:30-18:00 Paris (UTC+02)
04:30-12:00 New York (UTC-04)
Timings may be different for each day
Course code 16282

GBP 1,299 1,499
EUR 1,819 2,099
USD 2,087 2,399

Until 06 Apr

2 days live online training
Browser-based, no download usually required
See presenters and interact with fellow attendees
Download documentation and certification of completion
Fair transfer and cancellation policy

View basket

Not ready to book yet?

for 7 days, no obligation

11-12 November 2026

Live online

09:30-17:00 UK (London) (UTC+00)
10:30-18:00 Paris (UTC+01)
04:30-12:00 New York (UTC-05)
Timings may be different for each day
Course code 16486

GBP 1,299 1,499
EUR 1,819 2,099
USD 2,087 2,399

Until 07 Oct

2 days live online training
Browser-based, no download usually required
See presenters and interact with fellow attendees
Download documentation and certification of completion
Fair transfer and cancellation policy

View basket

Not ready to book yet?

for 7 days, no obligation

* Early booking discounts may not be combined with other discounts or offers. As such, the discounts for 2nd/3rd/4th delegates are based on the full price; and apply only when booking multiple delegates on the same date.

Reviews of IPI's A Practical Overview of Pre-Filled Syringes training course

Overall very good.

Jul 21 2025

William Hensler United States of America
Principal, Alantra BioPharma

Nov 6 2024

It was an enlightening course, and the speakers were so explanatory.

Stergios Kemidis Greece
Head of R&D, ANFARM HELLAS S.A.

Nov 6 2024

Speakers were very knowledgeable and openly shared their experience with the audience especially when asked about specific examples.

Natalia Harasimiuk United Kingdom
Associate Director, Fuji Film

Mar 30 2023

I enjoyed it. I came to the webinar knowing nothing about the process, and I got away with a lot of knowledge. I enjoyed the chat between Andreas and Dale during the presentation, sharing their experience and complementing each other, that was knowledge beyond videos and presentations.

Serge Batubenge United States of America
Mgr. Engineering , Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Mar 30 2022

It was very good, I was impressed, I would have loved to do this course in person but this was a good alternative. The speakers were very good, very knowledgeable but also good at teaching/ relating information. The presentations were easy to follow, it was useful to have the documents there to follow along as the speakers talked. All the content was relevant to the topic and occasional humus. I enjoyed the course and would recommend Management Forum to my colleagues.

Zhané Healey United Kingdom
Senior Laboratory Technician, Medical Engineering Technologies

Mar 27 2019

Very knowledgeable and helped answer numerous questions. Very helpful and interested in individual challenges.

Gabrielle Kelsey United Kingdom
Production Manager, Torbay Pharmaceuticals

Mar 20 2017

Very informative, good overview of PFS development. Speakers were knowledgeable.

William Turner United States of America
Associate Bioedical Engineer, Meridian Medical Technologies, a Pfizer Company

Mar 20 2017

Friendly, knowledgeable people. I would have liked to go a bit deeper into the technical parts (syringes, tubs, machines)

Marc van Nispen Netherlands
Project Engineer, EMCM B.V.