11 Feb 2010
Answers from an Expert: A Conversation with Tom O’Brien of SABIC Innovative Plastics on Materials for Home Healthcare Medical Devices
Q. What are today’s most important trends regarding home healthcare medical devices?
One of the most important trends we are seeing in the use of home healthcare medical devices is increased usage due to the move toward self-care to reduce costs and boost efficiency of home care delivery; consumers’ increasing medical knowledge and desire to play a larger role in their own care; and greater emphasis on monitoring of widespread, chronic conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure to improve outcomes. Examples of home healthcare devices include continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) devices, nebulizers, drug delivery devices, digital signal processing hearing aids, glucose monitoring systems and self-test (in vitro diagnostic) devices. The global market for home healthcare devices is set to grow by more than nine percent by 2012 with the market exceeding $70 billion in 20121.
11 Feb 2010
SABIC Innovative Plastics’ New Anti-Static Stat-Loy* Compounds Breathe Life into Inhalation Devices for Safer Drug Dispensing and Reduced Costs
BERGEN OP ZOOM, The Netherlands – February 11, 2010 – Patients and medical device OEMs can now breathe easier thanks to SABIC Innovative Plastics’ new breakthrough anti-static compounds for inhalation devices. At MD&M West in booth #1783, the company launched three major additions to its family of high-performance LNP* Stat-Loy* specialty compounds. The new transparent materials provide permanent anti-static properties, eliminating the need for expensive secondary operations, and help ensure repeatability of dosing and potentially lower drug costs through more-efficient aerosol and powder dispensing. The new LNP Stat-Loy specialty compound grades are also pre-assessed for biocompatibility according to ISO 10993 to help manufacturers expedite compliance and time to market. SABIC Innovative Plastics’ ongoing investment in these and other leading-edge healthcare technologies illustrate the company’s commitment to its customers by actively addressing mounting medical industry demand for improved patient safety and lower manufacturing costs.
17 Dec 2009
SABIC Innovative Plastics’ Proactive Healthcare Product Policy Gives Medical Device OEMs Big Edge to Meet Regulatory Rules
BERGEN OP ZOOM, The Netherlands – December 17, 2009 – Continuing to demonstrate its clear leadership in the medical device market, SABIC Innovative Plastics has created a comprehensive healthcare product policy – including over 50 high-tech healthcare materials designed with the intent of supporting OEMs in achieving regulatory compliance for their healthcare and pharmaceutical applications. SABIC Innovative Plastics’ healthcare product policy is making huge contributions to faster marketing approval and successful commercialization of a range of medical devices.
15 Dec 2009
SABIC Innovative Plastics Paces Asia’s Accelerating Demand for High-Performance Lexan* Sheet with Capacity Expansion in India
BERGEN OP ZOOM, The Netherlands – December 15, 2009 – SABIC Innovative Plastics today announced that it has expanded production, increased capacity and upgraded capabilities at its specialty film and sheet facility in Vadodara, India to continue leading and to support future growth in the region. The company has already increased Lexan* polycarbonate (PC) sheet production with two new, state-of-the-art extrusion lines to boost capacity. SABIC Innovative Plastics’ commitment to the growth of Asia is evidenced by this move to provide its customers with an ample, local supply of its popular, high-performance sheet products.
7 Dec 2009
Eight Auto Applications Molded from SABIC Innovative Plastics’ High-End Materials Capture Top Honors at 2009 SPE Innovation Awards Ceremony
BERGEN OP ZOOM, The Netherlands – December 7, 2009 – Automotive applications molded from SABIC Innovative Plastics’ industry-leading materials received a total of eight honors as part of the 2009 Society of Plastics Engineers (SPE) Automotive Innovation Awards Program: four winners – including the coveted Hall of Fame Award – and four finalists. Ranging from body panels and pedestrian protection to lighting, interior trim and wiring, these winning applications showcase the exceptional scope and diversity of SABIC Innovative Plastics’ automotive thermoplastic portfolio. They also clearly demonstrate the numerous ways in which the company’s advanced materials solutions are driving greater automotive design freedom, higher performance and enhanced sustainability. The awards were presented on Nov. 12 at a ceremony in Livonia, Michigan.
11 Nov 2009
Vitality Foodservice Slashes System Costs with SABIC Innovative Plastics’ High-Temp Ultem* Resin for New Coffee Dispensing System
BERGEN OP ZOOM, The Netherlands – November 11, 2009 – SABIC Innovative Plastics’ high-temperature Ultem* 1000 resin has been chosen by Vitality Foodservice, a leading provider of beverage solutions, to create a new low-dose bump pump for its latest coffee dispensing system. The high processing temperature, stiffness and dimensional stability of Ultem resin, combined with a new, highly efficient two-shot injection molding process helped Vitality achieve part consolidation, reduce cycle times and improve overall production efficiencies. Ultem resin’s strength and durable bond with overmolded silicone ensure exceptional part precision and consistent dispensing, giving Vitality a competitive advantage and a unique offering for new market sectors. SABIC Innovative Plastics’ pioneering work in high-performance thermoplastics is giving customers like Vitality new ways to reduce their overall system costs.
6 Nov 2009
Buick® LeSabre® T-Type Fenders Molded From SABIC Innovative Plastics’ Noryl* GTX Resin Go the Distance to Win SPE 2009 Hall of Fame Award
BERGEN OP ZOOM, The Netherlands – November 6, 2009 – SABIC Innovative Plastics’ tough, lightweight Noryl* GTX resin was recognized today for its key role in helping General Motors (GM) 1987 MY Buick® LeSabre® T-Type fenders win the coveted Hall of Fame Award from the Automotive Division of the Society of Plastics Engineers (SPE®). Presented to GM for the sports coupe fenders, the award is given annually to an iconic and innovative application that has been in continuous use for more than 15 years, delivered a value proposition that could not be met by traditional materials, and has been broadly adopted within the automotive or ground-transportation industries. The Hall of Fame Award will be presented to GM in Livonia, Mich. on Nov. 12, 2009 at the 39th annual SPE Innovation Awards Gala. The SPE Automotive Innovation Awards Competition is the oldest and largest recognition event in the automotive and plastics industries.
5 Nov 2009
SABIC Innovative Plastics’ Flexible Noryl* Resin Leads Pack as One of the First Halogen-Free, UL 62 Certified Materials for AC Power Cords
BERGEN OP ZOOM, The Netherlands – November 5, 2009 – SABIC Innovative Plastics’ flame-retardant (FR) Flexible Noryl* resin has achieved a major milestone as one of the first non-halogenated materials to be used in AC power cords meeting stringent Underwriters Laboratories (UL) 62 TPE 90 ºC and 105 ºC safety standards. Available in three specialized grades for different AC power cord configurations, the new material provides outstanding FR performance that meets global environmental regulations and delivers excellent flexibility with a high-quality surface finish. SABIC Innovative Plastics’ Flexible Noryl resin is a premier product technology developed to help wire and cable customers achieve their environmental sustainability goals, differentiate their products, and create reliable, high-performance power cord solutions.
28 Oct 2009
SABIC Innovative Plastics’ New Lexan* HFD Copolymer Resins with High-Flow, High-Ductility, Top-Performance Edge for Greater Design Freedom
BERGEN OP ZOOM, The Netherlands – October 28, 2009 – SABIC Innovative Plastics today launched a new copolymer technology: Lexan* HFD specialty copolymer resins, a material innovation that gives customers high melt flow without traditional decreases in toughness; and improved ductility without impacting melt flow. These materials build upon the unmatched clarity, extreme toughness and high-performance for which Lexan polycarbonate (PC) resin is known. The new material opens the door to vast new design options, especially in key application areas where thin-wall parts, complex geometries and high-impact products that can withstand very low temperatures with no compromise on clarity are required.
28 Oct 2009
New SABIC Innovative Plastics’ Lexan* Copolymer Resins Break the Mold to Deliver Extreme Performance for Most Challenging, Advanced Designs
BERGEN OP ZOOM, The Netherlands – October 28, 2009 – To meet the ever-increasing performance requirements for new cutting-edge application designs, and to help customers reduce system costs, SABIC Innovative Plastics has developed an extreme performance portfolio of Lexan* polycarbonate (PC) copolymer resins. The fruits of more than a decade of polymer science labor, this new high-end Lexan resin portfolio gives SABIC Innovative Plastics’ customers greatly expanded design options to create next-generation solutions to differentiate their products, grow current markets, expand into new markets and application areas, and increase overall productivity and profitability.
23 Oct 2009
SABIC Innovative Plastics’ Eco-Engineered Flexible Noryl* Resin Wired for Success with Top Performance Properties for LTK’s AWM Applications
BERGEN OP ZOOM, The Netherlands – October 23, 2009 – SABIC Innovative Plastics has announced that LTK Industries, a leading Hong Kong-based wire and cable OEM and long-term customer, is driving the use of SABIC Innovative Plastics’ eco-progressive Flexible Noryl* resin into appliance wiring material (AWM) applications used in consumer electronics. The advanced flame-retardant (FR) resin passes the stringent Underwriters Laboratories (UL) VW-1 flame test, and is helping manufacturers like LTK meet tough global requirements for halogen-free parts while delivering a virtually perfect balance of exceptional high-performance properties. By upgrading from polyvinyl chloride (PVC) – which can release hazardous toxins when burned – to Flexible Noryl resin, LTK has further strengthened its position as a leading global provider of wire and cable solutions.
5 Oct 2009
SABIC Innovative Plastics Scores Big with 2009 Responsible Care® Award Win for Eco-Optimized iQ* Resin
BERGEN OP ZOOM, The Netherlands – October 5, 2009 – SABIC Innovative Plastics’ environmentally progressive iQ* resin platform was recognized on October 2 with a 2009 Responsible Care® Award at the Conseil Européen des Fédérations de l'Industrie Chimique1 (Cefic) Annual General Assembly ceremony in Lisbon, Portugal. The company received the highly coveted award in the general category for its eco-responsible iQ resin, which uses a proprietary process to convert used polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles into high-performance resin for a broad range of high-end applications. Responsible Care is the chemical industry’s global voluntary initiative under which companies work together to continuously improve their health, safety and environmental performance.
