Editor's Letter: All around the world

Olivia Friett sums up the past year of innovation and discusses being on the road attending exhibitions.

Hello, and welcome to Q4 of Medical Plastics News - the final issue of 2023. It feels as if this year has gone by in the blink of an eye yet we have seen so much happen. 

The team has visited multiple shows around the world this year - Arab Health, MD&M West, Med-Tech Innovation Expo, MD&M East, Interplas and still have Compamed to visit in November. How is it possible to speak to so many companies and see so much innovation and yet there is still always something new around the corner?  

At Arab Health, Diamedica show how its portable systems can enable safe anaesthesia and respiratory support. The portable machine can function anywhere from in a hospital or in a rural clinic. Designed with some of the world’s most challenging environments in mind, it shows how far the industry has come with making technology accessible for all.  

DuPont showcased its healthcare portfolio, including their soft elastomeric silicone adhesive at MD&M West (you can read more about this on page 6). In collaboration with Aevice Health, they shared their smart stethoscope, used for connected at-home monitoring and early detection of asthma attacks. To think that around 2,000 people around the world use an inhaler every second, how much this stethoscope must help avoid potential casualties. 

Med-Tech Innovation Expo saw ZwickRoell showcase its testing machinery. Its therapy systems products include autoinjectors, insulin pens, prefilled syringes and more. The portfolio also included testing blister packaging to establish how much force is required for a tablet to be removed for consumption. Everything that is used on a patient needs a quality test and with regulatory standards rising, the requirement for testing needs to rise along with this.  

Of course, one thing that everyone could have predicted this year is the continuous regulation delays and numerous companies are using their expertise to aid other companies where they can; one of these companies is AND Technology. At Med-Tech Innovation Expo, the company launched TENTO+, an online platform that helps you manage design and risk compliance of medical devices across all major regulation.  

Regulation is the focus of many companies in the industry, including BioInteractions who unveiled a new pathway. On page 19, you can read about how the company has utilised its 30 years of expertise to create the Product Pathway Partnership (PPP).  

MD&M East in New York gave us the opportunity to meet ICP DAS, Asia’s first medical-grade thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) manufacturers. The company produces three product series: Alithane, Durathane and Arothane – you can learn more about the company on page 30.  

Our Rapid News sister show Interplas – the UK’s biggest show for the plastics industry – saw Ampacet showcase the ProVital and ProVital+ range of masterbatches for healthcare applications. The combination of raw materials and strict manufacturing conditions with the masterbatch means packaging can meet high industry requirements and regulations. 

Last but not least in 2023 is Medica/Compamed in November - one of the biggest medical shows in the world, with nearly 6000 exhibitors across 18 halls. We’re excited to meet new companies, see new innovations and catch up with familiar faces. If you have something to show us that we simply must see, please get in touch! 

With more shows to visit and innovations to see, who knows what 2024 will bring? I’m looking forward to finding out.