PRODUCTS & SERVICES
Spotlight on Manufacturing Equipment
Dispensing units
Dispensing systems operate according to positive volume displacement to ensure that a consistent amount of fluid is deposited, regardless of viscosity, within a defined range. The system incorporates disposable pinch-tube valves devoid of dead areas. Conventional mechanical valves may include potentially dead areas in their design, according to the company, where the curing agent may accumulate and harden. This can lead to clogged passageways or inaccurate flow. The dispensing systems are suited for a variety of microbonding applications in the medical and pharmaceutical sectors. LCL DispensTech, Wellingborough, Northants, UK.
Slot-die system
A slot-die system with internal deckling applies transdermal coatings, adhesives, and other low-viscosity substances onto web substrates. The system comes with a modular version of the company's automated slot-gap and coating-thickness controller, which allows the unit to be mounted on two or more dies in succession. Consequently, one die can be kept off-line for cleaning or maintenance while production is maintained using the second unit. Compared to roll coating, the slot-die method provides higher output, greater control of coating thickness, and an absence of coating contamination. EDI-Europe, Wiehl-Hübender, Germany.
Packaging system
Packaging machinery with sterile zones, called isolators, help maintain the sterility of pharmaceuticals and other products. Isolators typically enclose the filling stations of the packaging systems; several gloved-access areas facilitate operator intervention in the clean zones. Suited for the processing of ampoules, vials, and ready-to-use syringes, the technology is rapidly gaining in popularity, according to the manufacturer, because it represents potential cost savings and prevents personnel from coming into contact with the product. Isolators can be retrofitted onto some recent models of the machine manufacturer's pharmaceutical packaging equipment. Robert Bosch GmbH, Stuttgart, Germany.
Tube cutter
A benchtop programmable tube-cutting machine includes a built-in solvent dispenser. The cut and wetted tubing is deposited in the operator's hand, ready for assembly. The READYcut can be programmed in 1-mm increments to produce segments between 50 and 9999 mm, and it can process tubing in ODs ranging from 3.0 to 9.9 mm. The company also supplies cutting machines for reel stock and extrusion lines, solvent dispensers, coiling and banding machines, tubing expanders, leak testers, and custom automation equipment. Tecnoideal S.r.l., Mirandola (MO), Italy.
Automation equipment
Automation and process equipment is supplied globally by a firm with facilities in Italy and the United States. Rotary, linear, and continuous-motion technology is used in the design and construction of equipment suited for the manufacture of IV tubing sets, syringes, needles, catheters, and related disposable products. Equipment installation and maintenance are among the services offered by the company. Kahle Europea S.p.A., Caravaggio (BG), Italy.
Injection moulding machines
Injection moulding machines incorporate features such as digital signal processing, which enables unfamiliar users to navigate pull-down menus while more-experienced operators can press so-called hot keys that directly access specific parameters. 
All relevant operator information is displayed clearly on the control box, and an integrated log records all short-term events affecting the production process. Changeovers have been simplified through the addition of a pivoting hopper, fast-clamping plasticizing unit, and other improvements. Machines with clamping forces of 600 to 6000 kN are available.
Netstal-Maschinen AG, Naefels, Switzerland.
Catheter processing equipment
A supplier of hole-making equipment suited for catheter production offers a range of CNC and manual precision drilling machines as well as manual and pneumatic hole-punching systems. Programmable drills and punches can produce a variety of hole patterns in single- or multilumen tubing. Round or oval stainless-steel cutters in custom or standard designs and manual and automatic skiving systems are available. Technical Innovations Inc., Brazoria, TX, USA.
Benchtop moulder
Extensive experience in the design and manufacture of disposable medical devices aided in the development of an injection moulding press. The tabletop insert moulding machine features a 5-tn clamp and 10,000 psi pressure. It can be operated manually for process development and barrel purging or in automatic mode when close control of process parameters is required. The machine is equally well suited for prototyping, short runs, and volume moulding of materials that do not require screw-type machines. Novel Biomedical, Plymouth, MN, USA.
