Unicep Packaging Inc., of Sandpoint, says it has added pouch, or sachet, packaging machinery to its unit-dose packaging operation for contract pharmaceutical, oral health-care, veterinary, cosmetic, and personal-care packaging customers.

The packager of gels, liquids, and creams says its new pouch-packaging capabilities include filling either foil or laminate pouches.

"Pouch packaging is a great way to market your sample or retail products," says Clint Marshall, Unicep's vice president of business development. "We will continue to invest to keep pace with the increased demand for unit-dose packaging."

Founded in 1991 by Dr. John Snedden, a Sandpoint dentist, Unicep is a privately held company that began as a contract manufacturer of unit-dose packaging of dental materials. The company says it has developed proprietary machinery and methods for producing its patented MicroDose and Twist-Tip dispensers at its U.S. Food and Drug Administration-registered Sandpoint facility

The company, which has an operation in Liberty Lake, says it also provides non-sterile contract packaging and mixing of gels, liquids, lotions, and emulsions for oral health care, pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and other markets.

It says its new capabilities include pouch packaging in a variety of sizes, an easy-tear feature, packaging of products ranging from very thick ointments to liquids as thin as water, packaging in single pouches or groups of three, and perforation between pouches that are grouped.