Pharmacies wanting to improve efficiency have a new option with the official launch of TCGRx, based in Powers Lake, Wisc., the latest venture of Duane Chudy, the firm's president and CEO. Chudy was the founder of AutoMed Technologies.

"We've taken 20-plus years of experience with prescription fulfillment technology, pharmacy process, and the healthcare marketplace, and created a company that offers the very best hardware, software, consultative expertise, and support services," says Chudy.

The new company announced the introduction of  the ATP (Automated Tablet Packaging) Series. The ATP is a unit-dose and multi-dose pouch packet system that offers one device and one software platform to produce packets that fit cabinets, carts, boxes, and larger multi-dose packages. ATP technology has been on the market for years, but according to the company, has been reengineered for better reliability and performance.

The ATP Series includes new labeling technology that ensures correct labeling of all pouch packets; an exclusive fill-to-light system for external trays, to make the handling of exception medications faster and more accurate; a skip-med feature that allows a batch to continue to process when a medication is not available to replenish the device; and improved software that allows the system to perform multiple tasks simultaneously.

The TCGRx ATP Series also features an interchangeable packaging mechanism for on-site hardware redundancy, improved canister design, and flexible printing options.

TCGRx has partnered with Cardinal Health to offer value- added solutions to the long-term care market, while selling direct to all U.S. markets. TCGRx offers its products to the Canadian market through Healthmark, its exclusive distributor.