Medical device manufacturer Flexan has announced it has expanded its portfolio following the acquisition of IntroMED last April and Medron in 2016 by introducing a full-service concept for silicone and thermoplastic medical devices.
IntroMED, a contract manufacturer of patented introducers for catheter placement while Medron is a specialist in the in-house manufacture and assembly of catheter end products. Flexan’s focus is on development services and products in micro injection moulding and micro lumen extrusion of thermoplastic and silicone medical devices.
Werner Karau, European commercial leader at Flexan said: “Demand for medical devices made of plastic and silicone as well the capability to combine and assemble them has been increasing steadily over the last few years, as have the quality requirements that these products have to meet.
“As a full-service provider in medical component manufacture, Flexan supports the entire value chain, from product development, prototyping and toolmaking all the way to mass production with comprehensive quality assurance and logistics.”
According to a survey by US market research firm Global View Research, global sales of silicone medical devices will reach approximately $597 million by 2025, with an average annual growth rate of 6.6%.
The increasing demand for plastic and silicone products produced in microextrusion and micromoulding processes is partly attributable to the characteristics of the materials – primarily their biocompatibility, along with their chemical and thermal stability and bacterial resistance.
Processing liquid silicone (LSR) can be challenging. While its low viscosity can be an advantage in the manufacture of thin-walled products and also allows for complex geometries, the varying consistencies of the silicones on the market require precise tooling to prevent leaks and burrs.
Werner Karau added: “We’ve been working closely with certified tool and mould makers for many years now, which means we can make the necessary adjustments and modifications quickly and cost-effectively during prototyping. So it takes us very little time to produce a custom injection moulding tool for every job.”