Originally Published PMPN February 2005
NEWS
New Material for Lidding and Pouching DebutsAt the MD&M West 2005 trade show, Oliver Medical (Grand Rapids, MI) announced a new sterile barrier material for lidding and pouching applications. Ovantex is a breathable composite substrate made up of cellulose and synthetic fibers. Coated with a nontoxic hot-melt heat-sealable adhesive in a dot pattern, it offers puncture and tear resistance. The adhesive coating uses controlled cohesive separation to prevent fiber tear of peelable seals, providing uniform adhesive transfer on most flexible plastics, reads the firm’s product data sheet.
The new material is not positioned to compete against any one material, says Jeff Murak, director of sales and marketing for Oliver. Instead, it fills the gap between price and performance, he says, that often exists between paper and Tyvek. The tensile strength of Ovantex, for instance, is 42 lb/in., compared with 34 lb/in. for 50-lb paper and 43 lb/in. for Tyvek 1073B.
Ovantex seals at the same temperature settings as Oliver’s other hot-melt coatings. Normal machine settings are between 240° to 270°F. No sealing modifications are necessary, says Murak. The only adjustments that may need to be made are for in-line printing applications.
Because the material is made from synthetic fiber, certain inks perform better on its surface. Oliver is in the process of putting together a guide to help medical device manufacturers in this application.
Murak says that the material is currently in trials for use in packing syringes, catheters, stopcocks, and dialysis products. These trials are all in various stages and are going well. And he reports that Ovantex created a huge buzz at MD&M West. “Device manufacturers as well as converters and the companies currently supplying known materials to the industry all expressed a high level of interest,” he says.
Copyright ©2005 Pharmaceutical & Medical Packaging News
