MEDTEC 98 Product Preview
Approximately 300 companies are expected to exhibit at MEDTEC in Amsterdam from 7 to 9 October. Here are just a few of the innovative products and services that await medical device manufacturers at the European industry's premiere event.
Engineering plastics
A supplier of high-temperature engineering thermoplastics offers high-performance resins such as PSU, PEI, PPSU, and PEEK. Pure plastics compounded without fillers can be used to manufacture surgical instruments and related components that need to be sterilized via superheated steam, EtO, gamma irradiation, hot air, or hot water. High-temperature resins can also be provided to meet customer requirements concerning sturdiness, low weight, partial transparency, resistance to chemicals and corrosion, electrical insulation, and radiolucency. In addition to producing semifinished parts, the supplier offers product planning and design services leading up to series production. Ensinger GmbH + Co., Nufringen, Germany.
Blister packing
A supplier of packaging materials and equipment offers blisters, lids, and machinery for producing sterile blister packs. The company offers an extensive selection of lidding and blister materials to suit a wide range of applications and sterilization processes. In addition to providing design and prototyping services, the supplier also offers a cleanroom facility for contract packaging or development; the facility can be used to support clinical trials of test packaging as well as longer-term supply contracts. Customers can select from a range of benchtop single-cavity machines as well as 2-, 4-, and 6-station rotary tables. Reciprocating systems are available for handling large packs. Machines can be specified in two optional die sizes with automatic or manual operation. Systems are also designed with cleanroom features and offer easily validated systems control. Flexible Medical Packaging Ltd., Lancaster, UK.
Assembly equipment
A supplier of high-performance assembly machines and feeders can build either entire production lines or stand-alone units to meet customer needs. Company engineers are able to create assembly solutions for a variety of parts weighing up to 1 kg. The most complex assembly processes have been mastered by the firm, which has constructed more than 2000 units, many of them for the medical and pharmaceutical industries. The company recently modified its name to better reflect its process, team, and customer orientations. sortimat Technology GmbH & Co., Winnenden, Germany.
Cable and wire
Flexible braids and cables, litz wire, and specialty insulated wire are offered for use in medical devices. Standard products range from insulated straight cable and coil cords for robotics and computer peripherals to insulated litz wire for specialty coil-winding applications. Braid-reinforced tubing characterized by kink resistance and good torque performance is also supplied for use in catheters, fibre-optic scopes, and similar devices.New England Electric Wire Corp., Lisbon, NH, USA.
View more of the products and services on display at MEDTEC 98.
