Industry News
Maker of Medical-Grade PU Foams Increases Production Capacity
A manufacturer of medical-grade hydrophilic polyurethane foams, Rynel Inc. (Wiscasset, ME, USA) recently moved into a new manufacturing facility. The first occupant in a new technology park, the company had the facility designed according to its exact specifications. It includes environmental controls, a USP water system, and technologies that enhance the manufacturing process and the quality of the firm’s wound- care, medical device, and cosmetic products.
The space will allow the company to double its production capacity and features increased R&D capabilities, including a lab and expanded prototyping facilities. Although much of the company’s production is automated, the company expects to hire additional employees to accommodate continued growth. “This new facility, and the additional investment in equipment and people, represents our commitment to our existing and future customers,” says company president Jim Detert.
For more information, contact Rynel Inc., 11 Twin Rivers Dr., Industrial Park, Wiscasset, ME 04578, USA; phone: +1 207 8820200; fax: +1 207 8820288; e-mail: info@rynel.com; Internet: www.rynel.com.
Supplier to Manufacture Organ Preservation System
Contract manufacturer Medisize (Hilligom, Netherlands) has announced that it will play a key role in the production of a disposable preservation system for donor organs, developed and marketed by Doorzand Medical Innovations (Amsterdam, Netherlands). In addition to participating in the end-stage development of the device, Medisize will source and assemble the oxygen and perfusion fluid pathways, mould and assemble the disposable pump components, assemble the electronic circuitry, and perform the final assembly, testing, and sterilization of the Airdrive system. All of the manufacturing will take place in the company’s on-site cleanroom.
The product is described as a lightweight, compact, and low-cost transport system for donor organs. It preserves and oxygenates the organs over an extended period of time. A newly developed perfusion solution is used in conjunction with the Airdrive to metabolically support organs during the preservation process.
For additional information, contact Medisize, Edisonstraat 1, 2181 AB Hillegom, Netherlands; phone: +31 252 576888; fax: +31 252 519825; Internet: www.medisize.com/dm.
Acquisition Expands Scope of Contract Services
American Medical Instrument Holdings (AMIH; Lake Forest, IL, USA) has acquired Point Technologies (Boulder, CO, USA), a global manufacturer of wire and tube components for medical applications. Point Technologies will become the contract manufacturing division of AMIH, taking over the resources of the existing Inter-V OEM division consisting of Manan Medical Products, Medical Device Technologies, and American Medical Instruments. The new division will have manufacturing sites in the United States in Boulder, CO; Gibbon, MN; Wheeling, IL; Gainesville, FL; and Dartmouth, MA; and in Heredia, Costa Rica. This branch of the company will enlarge its technology centre and enhance its service offerings at several locations.
Point Technologies currently manufactures critical device components by means of wire and tube micromachining, burr-free cutting, and electrochemical pointing and plating technologies for small-diameter wire and tubing. The acquisition adds device assembly, plastic-injection moulding, wire and tube grinding, laser welding, NiTi heat setting, and packaging capabilities to its array of services. The new division will provide incision technology in addition to precision wire and tube machining for endoscopic, ophthalmic, arthroscopic, orthopaedic, ENT, and other devices for minimally invasive applications.
For more information, contact Rynel Inc., PO Box 21, Lyons, CO 80540, USA; phone: +1 800 5577059; fax: +1 303 4159866;
e-mail: info@pointtech.com; Internet: www.pointtech.com.
Rexam Acquires Precise Technology
Rexam (London) plans to enter the North American pharmaceutical and healthcare packaging market through its acquisition of Precise Technology Inc. (North Versailles, PA, USA). Employing approximately 1700 people, Precise Technology currently comprises 15 plants in the United States, a facility in the Netherlands, and one in the final stages of construction in Poland. Precise Technology’s “proprietary technology in dispensing closures complements Rexam’s existing product line,” explains Lars Emilson, Rexam’s chief executive officer. “In addition to the new sales opportunities expected from broadening our customer relationships, we expect further synergies in materials purchasing and from in-house tooling manufacture.”
For more information, contact Rexam plc, 4 Millbank, London SW1P 3XR, UK; phone: +44 20 72274100; fax: +44 20 72274109; e-mail: group.communications@rexam.com; Internet: www.rexam.com.
Merit Purchases MCTec
To broaden its manufacturing capability in the area of guidewires and other products, Merit Medical Systems Inc. (South Jordan, UT, USA) has announced its acquisition of MCTec Holding B.V. (Venlo, Netherlands) from British Columbia, Canada–based Angiotech Pharmaceuticals Inc.
The approximately US$3-million purchase will expand Merit’s presence in Europe, adding a European facility in Venlo, Netherlands, to its existing branches in Galway, Ireland, and Maastricht, Netherlands. Merit believes MCTec’s expertise in coating wire and tubing will add value to its business activities.
For more information, contact Anne-Marie Wright, Merit Holdings Europe, Horsterweg 24, 6199 AC Maastricht-Airport, Netherlands; phone: +31 43 3588222; fax: +31 43 3588221; e-mail: awright@merit.com; Internet: www.merit.com.
Parker Hannifin Acquires TexLoc
Fluoroplastic tubing supplier TexLoc Ltd. (Fort Worth, TX, USA) and its TexMed medical division have been acquired by Parker Hannifin Corp. (Hemel Hempstead, Herts, UK). Parker Hannifin is a manufacturer of motion and control technologies and systems operating in 48 countries. The purchase will allow TexLoc and TexMed to expand their product lines globally, says general manager Dan Rodriguez.
For more information, contact Parker-TexLoc, 4700 Lone Star Blvd., Fort Worth, TX 76106, USA; phone: +1 800 4236551; fax: +1 800 4389562; e-mail: texloc@texloc.com; Internet: www.texloc.com.
Shield Medicare Plans New Site
Shield Medicare (Farnham, Surrey, UK) has announced plans to build a new facility at Baglan Energy Park, near Swansea, South Wales. The project is scheduled to bring the company’s production, warehouse, and distribution facilities under one roof by December 2006. In addition to quadrupling the size of the existing production and distribution facilities, the new site will house production cleanrooms and sophisticated microbiology labs. Additional resources will enable the company to develop new products and meet increased customer demand.
For more information, contact Shield Medicare Ltd., Hurlands Business Park, Farnham, Surrey GU9 9JE, UK; phone: +44 1252 717616; fax: +44 1252 717942; e-mail: info@shieldmedicare.com; Internet: www.shieldmedicare.com.
