VistaMed Expands Catheter Manufacturing Operation in Ireland
Leading Ireland-based extrusion and catheter provider for medical device makers VistaMed has announced that it is expanding its operations in Carrick-on-Shannon, in County Leitrim, to increase capacity as a result of increasing demand for sophisticated catheter systems. The expansion will cover 35,000 sq ft (3,252 sq m) expansion of the facility includes 12,000 sq ft of cleanroom required to meet the growing need for diverse braided catheter assemblies as well as a new area dedicated to thermoplastic extrusion. VistaMed is also developing an engineering laboratory which will support the company’s growth in design and development projects and enhance the fast project turn-around time that customers currently enjoy.
“Over the last two years, VistaMed has made a significant investment in state-of-the-art extrusion equipment,” said Patrick Mulholland, managing director of VistaMed. “These new extrusion lines have allowed us tighter dimensional control together with superior control over tubing mechanical properties. The new equipment also supports our growing balloon catheter business and gives VistaMed increased capability to produce more complex balloons.”
The facility expansion will also increase capacity for VistaMed’s existing high pressure braided tubing lines and will be the production centre for a newly developed range of extra high pressure braided tubing. VistaMed expects to move into the expanded premises in November 2013.
VistaMed is a Helix Medical joint venture company of Helix Medical, a division of the Freudenberg Group. The company was founded in 1999 and has two medical manufacturing operations in Ireland. Products produced in VistaMed’s cleanrooms include PTFE-lined guide catheters, steerable catheters, balloon catheters, endoscopic catheters, urological catheters, micro perfusion pain management catheters, as well as ancillary devices such as dilators and introducers. Working with PEEK, polyurethane, polycarbonate, nylon, and other thermoplastics, VistaMed offers single-lumen, multi-lumen, tri-layer and co-extrusion, micro-extrusion, bump, braided, and wire-reinforced tubing solutions for complex catheter systems. The company is ISO13485 and FDA registered.
Helix Medical is a global custom manufacturer for the medical device, pharmaceutical, and IVD industries with 10 manufacturing operations worldwide. Medical manufacturing capabilities include design and development, silicone and thermoplastic moulding and extrusion, complex catheter systems, assembly, packaging, and engineering services. Helix Medical operates FDA-registered medical device facilities, certified ISO 13485 with Class 7 & 8 cleanrooms. Established in 1984, Helix Medical currently manufactures in the United States, Costa Rica, Germany, Ireland, and China.
Freudenberg Group is a German family-owned diversified group of manufacturing companies operating in a range of business to business and consumer industries
VistaMed, a Helix Medical joint venture company, is a leading extrusion and catheter provider to the medical device industry worldwide.