Europe Pharmaceutical Processing & Packaging Equipment Market by Mode of Delivery (Oral, Parenteral, Topical), Secondary Packaging (Cartoning, Labelling, Serialization, Wrapping) and End-of-Line Packaging (Palletizing, Case Packaging) - Forecast to 2032

The Europe Pharmaceutical Processing and Packaging Equipment Market is projected to reach $7.2 billion by 2032, at a CAGR of 3.6% from 2025 to 2032. Pharmaceutical processing and packaging equipment plays a crucial role in ensuring the quality and safety of pharmaceutical products. These machines are designed to meet strict industry standards and regulations, ensuring that the drugs produced are safe, effective, and high-quality. Packaging equipment provides protective barriers that safeguard the integrity of drugs during storage, transportation, and distribution.

The growth of this market is driven by the growing pharmaceuticals market, rising demand for flexible manufacturing, increasing need to comply with various regulations, and growing trend of contract manufacturing in the pharmaceutical sector. However, the preference for refurbished equipment restrains this market's growth to a significant extent. Additionally, emerging pharmaceutical manufacturing hotspots and growing pharmaceutical R&D spending offer opportunities for market growth. However, changing market demands in the constantly evolving pharmaceutical space is the major challenge for market growth.

Rising Demand for Flexible Manufacturing Impacts the Europe Pharmaceutical Processing and Packaging Equipment

Recent pharmaceutical trends support the development of specialized products for small groups of patients. Regulatory agencies support this trend by expediting drug approvals. Further, the increasing focus of pharmaceutical companies on cost control coupled with unpredictable demand for pharmaceuticals has created a need for more agile and flexible pharmaceutical manufacturing facilities. The emergence of continuous manufacturing and single-use technologies has supported the development of flexible manufacturing facilities, allowing for pharmaceutical processing and packaging innovation.

Fast-track drug approval programs and the need for operational flexibility among pharmaceutical companies and CMOs further support adopting flexible manufacturing processes. Orphan drug development is gaining traction due to its incentivization by regulatory authorities, accelerated drug approvals, and the exclusivity of molecules. Orphan drug developers focus on shortening the clinical development phase, wherein processes involving chemistry, manufacturing, control development, scale-up, validation, tech transfer, and stability testing must be completed rapidly after securing initial regulatory approval. Moreover, orphan drug development programs contribute to the increased adoption of orphan drugs. For instance, The European Medicines Agency (EMA) offers financial incentives for orphan drug development, including funding through the EU's research and innovation program, Horizon 2020. Such factors have increased the demand for flexible manufacturing in the pharmaceutical sector.

Thus, the increasing preference for specialized therapies among patients has boosted the adoption of flexible manufacturing practices involving single-use systems, continuous manufacturing systems, and modular facilities.

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Rising Geriatric Population Drives the Demand for Pharmaceutical Processing and Packaging Equipment

Growth in the aging population and the rapid increase in the burden of chronic and infectious diseases have increased the demand for pharmaceuticals. According to Eurostat, the population of Europe in 2021 was 747.8 million, out of which around 22.8% share was contributed by elderly people (above 65), which is expected to increase to 40.6% by 2050. In 2022, the geriatric population (aged 65 or over) accounted for a share of 21.1% of the total population in Europe, which increased from 20.8% in 2021. In 2022, Italy (23.8%), Portugal (23.7%), Finland (23.1%), Greece (22.7%), and Croatia (22.5%) had the highest share of the geriatric population. Consistent growth in the aging population is increasing the burden of chronic diseases. Common conditions affecting the geriatric population include osteoarthritis, diabetes, heart diseases, chronic obstructive pulmonary disorders, depression, and dementia. The rising prevalence of these conditions is increasing the demand for pharmaceuticals, thereby driving the pharmaceutical processing and packaging equipment market.  

Chronic diseases are a leading cause of disability, illness, and death globally, with cardiovascular diseases, cancer, diabetes, and chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD) being the most common chronic disorders. Cancer is the leading cause of death globally. According to the GLOBOCAN, in Europe, the new cancer cases will reach 3,830,683 cases in 2032 from 3,266,461 cases in 2020, for the age group of 60 to 85+ years of age. Thus, the growing burden of chronic diseases has increased the consumption of pharmaceuticals, positively impacting the demand for pharmaceutical processing and packaging equipment.

Key Findings of the Europe Pharmaceutical Processing and Packaging Equipment Market Study:

In 2025, the Oral Formulations Segment is Expected to Dominate the Europe Pharmaceutical Processing and Packaging Equipment Market

Among the mode of drug delivery, in 2025, the oral formulations segment is expected to account for the largest share of the Europe pharmaceutical processing and packaging equipment market. Oral formulations include oral solid dosages and oral liquid dosages. Factors contributing to the segment’s largest share include patients' high preference for oral formulations due to their advantages, including ease of administration, high patient compliance, non-painful and better safety, lowest variability, and accurate dosing.

In 2025, the Cartoning Equipment Segment is Expected to Dominate the Europe Secondary Packaging Equipment Market

Among the types of secondary packaging equipment, in 2025, the cartoning equipment segment is expected to account for the largest share of the Europe pharmaceutical processing and packaging equipment market. Cartoning equipment is used to pack the primarily packaged pharmaceuticals to provide extra protection. It helps protect the products during shipment in a very cost-effective & efficient way. Regulatory agencies, such as U.S. FDA, also recommend using secondary packaging of pharmaceuticals, such as cartons, to protect the medicines from moisture, light, or any possible contaminants. Hence, cartons are considered an ideal secondary packaging for product handling, increasing their utilization and contributing to the segment’s largest share.

In 2025, the Case Packaging Equipment Segment is Expected to Dominate the Europe End-of-Line Packaging Equipment Market

Among the types of end-of-line packaging equipment, in 2025, the case packaging equipment segment is expected to account for the largest share of the Europe pharmaceutical processing and packaging equipment market. Factors such as the importance of case packaging in bulk packaging, supply chain efficiency, automation benefits, versatility, and the overall growth of the pharmaceutical industry contribute to the segment’s growth. Moreover, regulatory compliance also contributed to the segment’s growth as according to European Medicines Agency (EMA), there are guidelines and regulations related to Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) for the manufacturing of pharmaceutical products, including requirements for processing and packaging equipment which are needed to be followed by the companies.

Ireland: Fastest-growing Country-level Market

Based on geography, Ireland is slated to record the highest growth rate during the forecast period. The growth of this market is mainly driven by the growing population in the country and the need for drugs by the growing population due to the prevalence of chronic disorders. For instance, the Ireland population reached 5.03 million in 2021 from 4,93 million in 2019. Moreover, the rising government activities to support research and innovation, availability of skilled professionals, increasing export of pharmaceuticals, and the rising pharmaceutical contract development and manufacturing partnerships in the country contribute to this region's market growth.

Key Players

The key players profiled in the sample preparation market report are Bausch+Ströbel (Germany), Korber AG (Germany), KORSCH AG (Germany), M.A.R. S.p.A. Macchine Automatiche Riempitrici (Italy), MAQUINARIA INDUSTRIAL DARA, SL (Spain), Marchesini Group S.p.A. (Italy), OPTIMA packaging group GmbH (Germany), Syntegon Technology GmbH (Germany), ANTARES VISION S.p.A. (Italy), BREVETTI CEA S.P.A. (Italy), CAM Packaging IT (Italy), Coesia S.p.A. (Italy), Fette Compacting (Germany), GEA GROUP (Germany), Glatt GmbH (Germany), LINXIS GROUP (France), Harro Höfliger Verpackungsmaschinen GmbH (Germany), I.M.A INDUSTRIA MACCHINE AUTOMATICHE S.P.A. (Italy), Uhlmann PacSysteme GmbH & Co. KG (Germany), and Tecnomaco Italia SRL (Italy).

Scope of the Report:

Europe Pharmaceutical Processing and Primary Packaging Equipment Market, by Mode of Delivery

• Oral Formulations
  • Oral Solid Dosages
    • Processing Equipment
      • Blending Equipment
      • Fluidized Bed Machine
      • Milling Equipment
      • Compression/Press Equipment
      • Capsule Making Equipment
      • Capsule Filling Equipment
      • Other Equipment
        (Note: Other processing equipment for oral solid dosages majorly includes inspection machines, dust extractors, and polishing machines)
    • Primary Packaging Equipment
      • Tablet Counting Equipment
      • Blister Packaging Equipment
      • Strip Packaging Equipment
      • Powder Sachet Filling & Packaging Equipment
      • Bottle Filling & Capping Equipment
      • Bottle Labelling Equipment
  • Oral Liquid Dosages
    • Processing Equipment
      • Sugar Charging / Transfer Systems
      • Preparation Vessels, Melting Vessels, and Storage Tanks
      • Stirrers and Homogenizers
      • Filtration Units
      • Others
        (Note: Other processing equipment for oral liquid dosages majorly includes transfer pumps and interconnect pipelines)
    • Primary Packaging Equipment
      • Bottle Filling & Capping Equipment
      • Bottle Labelling Equipment
• Parenteral Formulations
  • Processing Equipment
    • Mixing Equipment, Preparation Tanks, and Other Container
    • Process Systems (SVP, LVP)
    • Filtration Units
    • Sterilization Tunnels
    • Clean-In-Place (CIP) and Steam-In-Place (SIP) System
    • Aseptic Inspection Systems
    • Other
      (Note: Other processing equipment for parenteral formulations majorly include debagging machines, nest unpackers, tray unpackers, tray-loading systems, buffering systems, and barrier systems)
  • Primary Packaging Equipment
    • Aseptic Filling Equipment
    • Washing & Drying Equipment
    • Nested Filling System
    • Blow-Fill-Seal (BFS) Equipment
    • Parenteral Labelling Equipment
• Topical Formulation
  • Processing Equipment
    • Planetary and Homogenizer Mixer
    • Preparation Vessels, Reactors, and Storage Tanks
    • Colloid Mills
    • Agitator – Stirrer
    • Other Equipment
      (Note: Other processing equipment for topical formulations majorly include milling equipment and sisters)
  • Primary Packaging Equipment
    • Tube Filling Equipment
    • Cream Filling Equipment
    • Sachet Packaging Equipment
• Other Formulations
  • Processing Equipment
  • Primary Packaging Equipment
    • Blow-Fill-Seal (BFS) Equipment
    • Pharmaceutical Spray Filling Equipment
    • Other Equipment
      (Note: Other packaging equipment for other formulations majorly include bottle filling and sealing equipment, blister packaging equipment, and support packaging equipment)
      (Note: Other formulations majorly include trans-mucosal and inhalation drugs)

Europe Pharmaceutical Secondary Packaging Equipment Market, by Product Type

• Cartoning Equipment
• Wrapping Equipment
• Carton Labelling & Serialization Equipment
• Other Equipment
  (Note: Other pharmaceutical secondary packaging equipment majorly includes checkweigher, pneumatic robotic pick and place, packaging conveyor lines, and others)

Europe Pharmaceutical End-of-Line Packaging Equipment Market, by Product Type

• Case Packaging Equipment
• Palletizing and De-Palletizing Equipment
• Other Equipment
  (Note: Other pharmaceutical end-of-line packaging equipment majorly includes stretch wrapper and stretch-banding)

Europe Pharmaceutical Processing and Packaging Equipment Market, by Country

• Switzerland
• Italy
• Germany
• U.K.
• France
• Ireland
• Spain
• Denmark
• Belgium
• Rest of Europe

Key questions answered in the report: