Sabic extends portfolio to help create more discrete drug delivery devices

Published: 14-Oct-2014

The innovative plastics company announced its extended its materials range at InnoPack in Paris

Medical device manufacturers can better meet demand for smaller, lighter, more discreet drug delivery units with the addition of a material solution now offered by Sabic’s Innovative Plastics business.

The new material was highlighted at the packaging event held within the CPhI show in Paris. Sabic also highlighted two new grades of high-modulus carbon fibre-reinforced thermoplastic, which support the growing shift away from using traditional metal or other fiber-filled materials in medical devices, to help reduce costs.

As the healthcare industry moves towards greater outpatient care and home administration of medication, manufacturers of drug delivery devices, such as insulin pens, need to develop solutions that are easy to use, compact and aesthetically pleasing to patients.

Sabic is helping customers adapt to this trend with CYCOLOY HCX1640 resin, which can enable manufacturers to design robust, light and attractive drug delivery devices that meet standard healthcare regulations.

'Today, more patients are administering their medication at home or on-the-go, and therefore they need to feel comfortable with their drug delivery experience. By offering discreet, lightweight and attractive devices, healthcare providers are responding to the needs of a new generation of patients who require easy to use equipment to safely and accurately administer their own medication,' said Cathie Hess, Director of Healthcare Marketing for Sabic’s Innovative Plastics business.,

She added: 'Our new material helps manufacturers achieve thin walls and dimensional stability, as well as improved weld line performance and impact resistance, meaning that the devices are safer and less likely to break. These features also allow manufacturers to create complex designs that are capable of integrating an increased number of mechanical or electronic features. Additionally, the resin has a wide range of colour options, helping to create an attractive design that appeals to patients.'

A growing opportunity for medical device manufacturers includes a shift from using traditional metal or other fibre-filled materials in their applications to plastic. Sabic is working with customers to support this shift with two grades of high-modulus carbon fibre reinforced thermoplastics that show significant improvement in stiffness versus similar compounds with standard carbon fibre technology.

LUBRICOMP DCI06APH is a high-flow material suitable for high-strength components where the use of metals or other fibre-filled thermoplastics with poor flow can create design and manufacturing challenges.

While THERMOCOMP EC006AQH is designed to be comparable to the strength of metal and enables medical device manufacturers reduce system costs and achieve greater design flexibility. Additionally, replacing metal can enable part consolidation, which can reduce both the effort and cost of manufacturing devices.

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