Originally Published EMDM
January/February 2004
INDUSTRY NEWS
Biomaterials Supplier Builds State-of-the-Art R&D and Production Facility |
| A supplier of custom compounds for use in medical tubing and devices, Foster Corp. is building a state-of-the-art facility for the production of nanocomposites and other biomedical polymers. |
As medical devices become more complex, so do the demands on materials suppliers. OEMs want “lean and clean production,” says Ken Pickering, director of operations at
Foster Corp. (Dayville, CT, USA). And he intends to give them just that. The firm has broken ground on a 45,000-sq-ft biomedical polymer compounding facility. The plant will produce nanocomposites and water-soluble plastics, among other products. It was slated to begin operations in January.
Neurology catheters, drug-eluting stents, and other advanced devices have placed new challenges on materials suppliers, says the firm. It has responded by investing in the latest production and data-tracking systems and a meticulously clean environment. Epoxy covers the entire plant floor, and leading-edge filtration and air management systems have been installed. A lean workflow design is an integral part of the layout.
The biomedical market calls for quality data, detailed tracking, and rapid turnaround times, adds Pickering. He notes that manufacturing software and bar coding systems will track materials from reception to finished goods. The firm has also added new extrusion lines for development and production use.
For more information, contact Foster Corp., 329 Lake Rd., Dayville, CT 06241, USA; phone: +1 860 7743964; fax: +1 860 7790805; e-mail:
foster.corp@fostercomp.com; Internet:
www.fostercomp.com.
Norbert Sparrow
Copyright ©2003 European Medical Device Manufacturer
