MARKET WATCH
Products
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Firm Converts Nonwoven Materials for IVD Applications
A full-service convertor processes delicate nonwoven and thinly woven materials for IVD, device filtration, and skin-contact applications. In particular, G&L Precision Die Cutting (Amstelveen, Netherlands) specializes in slitting and laminating these components for the fabrication of IVD backing cards.
The firm offers subcontracting services and converts pressure-sensitive adhesive-backed woven and nonwoven materials for a number of applications. These include wound-closure and patient monitoring products, as well as disposable devices, surgical drapes, transdermal products, and filters.
Tight-tolerance die-cutting, printing, laminating, and subassembly work is provided at the company’s headquarters in the United States.
PP Resin Imparts Cloth-Like Feel to Nonwovens
Makers of medical apparel that wish to impart a soft touch and cloth-like feel to their nonwoven materials may benefit from a new polypropylene (PP) resin. Moplen RP1669 is a copolymer PP based on metallocene catalyst technology. It was introduced by Basell Polyolefins Europe (Hoofddorp, Netherlands) in December 2005.
The resin has a narrow molecular weight and a mass-flow rate of 25, making it suitable for the production of fine-denier fibres. Based on feedback from customers who have tested the product during its precommercial rollout, the material is a candidate for hospital gowns, sterile wraps, face masks, and numerous consumer applications, according to the company.
Hydrogel Technology Made Available to OEMs
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A company’s hydrogel formulation and manufacturing expertise is offered to manufacturers of wound-care products. First Water Ltd. (Marlborough, Wilts, UK) operates two BSI-registered manufacturing sites that are certified to ISO 9001:2000 and ISO 13485:2003. Its US FDA–registered main facility is equipped with Class 10,000 cleanrooms.
Leveraging its strengths in polymer science and processing technologies, the firm has developed materials designed to hydrate dry wounds and actively extract large amounts of exudates from moist wounds. Active hydrogels, foams, and colloids; sheet gel dressings for burns; wound-contact dressings; and custom additives are supplied by the company to the professional wound-care market. Its most recent products are antimicrobial hydrogels.
Skin-friendly antimicrobial hydrogels eliminate the need for preservatives or silver-based agents in wound-care products. They are designed to ensure that bacteria coming into contact with the gel or contained within the exudates are absorbed, contained, and killed. The hydrogels are available in sizes from 75 × 45 to 200 × 200 mm, and are backed with a breathable polyurethane bacterial barrier in adhesive-bordered and nonbordered versions.
OR Fabric Combines Softness and Durability
Described as the next generation of nonwoven fabrics for use in the operating room, a bicomponent material reportedly delivers high levels of strength and comfort. Suprel medical fabric developed by DuPont (Luxembourg) is based on the company’s Advanced Composite Technology and integrates bicomponent fibres such as polyester and polyethylene materials.
Suprel’s barrier and strength properties exceed the guidelines of EN 13795, the new European standard that requires manufacturers of surgical gowns and drapes as well as suppliers of associated materials to operate quality controls that ensure consistent product quality. In addition, the low-linting product meets the specific demands of some surgical specialties.
The material features a smooth and silky texture that affords a freedom of movement that cannot be achieved with polypropylene SMS fabrics.
Technology Enables Mass Production of Nanofibres
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Invented at the Technical University of Liberec in the Czech Republic, Nanospider technology enables the mass production of nanofibrous nonwoven textiles with fibre diameters of 50 to 500 nm and weights between 0.1 and 10 g/m2. The technology is being further developed by Elmarco S.R.O. (also in Liberec).
In a manner similar to electrospinning, the process extracts nanoscale polymer fibres from a charged jet of polymer melt. Traditional systems use a nozzle-shaped spinning head to produce nanofibres. An electrostatic field competes with the polymer solution’s surface tension to form a Taylor cone. The conventional architecture of the system makes it impossible to position several nozzles next to each other, thus limiting production quantities.
By contrast, Nanospider technology produces Taylor cones in close proximity to each other on a cylinder. The cylinder is partly immersed in a polymer solution. A controlled amount of the polymer solution creates a thin film on the cylinder’s surface, where a number of Taylor cones are formed.
In addition to refining and commercializing the production technology, the firm is developing nanofibre materials for healthcare and other applications. In particular, the company cites filtration products, wound dressings, tissue-engineering devices, and encapsulation of pharmaceuticals as potential uses for the materials.
Nonwovens Producer Offers Full Range of Services
A company with 17 business units and a global dealer network supplies a range of nonwovens, films, and laminates for medical applications. RKW AG (Worms, Germany) offers carded and spunbonded nonwovens and cast and blown films. Its capabilities include lamination by means of ultrasonic and thermal bonding and adhesives, extrusion coating, and in-line and off-line perforation.
Breathable and nonbreathable film, elastic film and laminates, polyethylene film for ostomy bags and medical tapes, and perforated film for wound-care applications are among the available medical-grade products. The firm’s extrusions and adhesive laminates are routinely used for the fabrication of gowns, surgical drapes, and Mayo stand covers.
