PRESS RELEASE Paris, France, October 7, 2014

Transcription

1 PRESS RELEASE Paris, France, October 7, 2014 Medical device manufacturers can now meet the need for smaller, lighter, more discreet drug delivery units thanks to the addition of a unique material solution from SABIC s Innovative Plastics business, highlighted today at InnoPack, a packaging and pharmaceutical show in Paris. SABIC will also highlight two new grades of high-modulus carbon fiber-reinforced thermoplastic, which support the growing shift away from using traditional metal or other fiber-filled materials in medical devices, in order 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 its customers adapt to this trend with its new 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 in order 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 color options, helping to create an attractive design that appeals to patients. 1

2 Reducing Costs with Lightweight Metal Replacement Solutions A growing opportunity for medical device manufacturers includes a shift from using traditional metal or other fiber-filled materials in their applications to plastic. SABIC is working with its customers to support this shift with two solutions that offer medical device manufacturers the potential to optimize system costs as well as improve processability. These two grades of highmodulus carbon fiber reinforced thermoplastics show significant improvement in stiffness versus similar compounds with standard carbon fiber technology, making them excellent candidates for replacing metal and other fiber-filled thermoplastics. SABIC s LUBRICOMP TM DCI06APH compound is a high-flow material suitable for high-strength components where the use of metals or other fiber-filled thermoplastics with poor flow can create design and manufacturing challenges. The compound enables complex part designs and potential part consolidation, enabling healthcare molders to reduce waste and improve cycle times. Potential applications include disposable surgical instruments, medical device housings as well as drug delivery device components. Designed to be comparable to the strength of metal, THERMOCOMP TM EC006AQH compound enables medical device manufacturers to expand their use of injection-moldable engineering thermoplastics for several reasons. These include the potential for reducing system costs, achieving greater design flexibility and enhancing device compatibility with image guided surgeries. Additionally, replacing metal can also enable part consolidation, which can reduce both the effort and cost of manufacturing devices. Potential applications for this compound include either disposable or re-usable surgical instruments, patient transport devices, fixation devices and medical device housings. Supporting Healthcare Industry with Diverse Portfolio of Material Solutions SABIC s broad and diverse portfolio of polymer and engineering thermoplastics solutions has helped customers meet many of the healthcare industry s toughest challenges. From polymer based materials such as SABIC PP PCGR40 and SABIC PP PCGR40L which improve accuracy, efficiency and precision in drug delivery to advanced engineering thermoplastic technologies such as SABIC s ULTEM resins and LNP antimicrobial compounds designed to help reduce Healthcare Associated Infections (HCAIs), SABIC is committed to working with medical device manufacturers to identify solutions that address evolving healthcare trends. Visit SABIC at InnoPack, Hall 2, Stand 2F40 to find out more about their innovative healthcare solutions from October 7-9, 2014, in Paris, France. More information on SABIC s solutions for the 2

3 healthcare industry can be found on the website ( For technical product inquiries, please contact us at ( 3

4 PHOTO DESCRIPTION: 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 its customers adapt to this trend with its new CYCOLOY HCX1640 resin, which can enable manufacturers to design robust, light and attractive drug delivery devices that meet standard healthcare regulations. 4

5 NOTES TO EDITORS SABIC and brands marked with are trademarks of SABIC or its subsidiaries or affiliates High-resolution photos are available upon request SABIC should be written in every instance in all uppercase Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC) ranks among the world s top petrochemical companies. The company is among the world s market leaders in the production of polyethylene, polypropylene and other advanced thermoplastics, glycols, methanol and fertilizers. SABIC recorded a net profit of SR 25.3 billion (US$ 6.7 billion) in Sales revenues for 2013 totaled SR 189 billion (US$ 50.4 billion). Total assets stood at SR billion (US$ 90.4 billion) at the end of SABIC s businesses are grouped into Chemicals, Polymers, Performance Chemicals, Fertilizers, Metals and Innovative Plastics. SABIC has significant research resources with 19 dedicated Technology & Innovation facilities in Saudi Arabia, the USA, the Netherlands, Spain, Japan, India, China and South Korea. The company operates in more than 45 countries across the world with around 40,000 employees worldwide. SABIC manufactures on a global scale in Saudi Arabia, the Americas, Europe and Asia Pacific. Headquartered in Riyadh, SABIC was founded in 1976 when the Saudi Arabian Government decided to use the hydrocarbon gases associated with its oil production as the principal feedstock for production of chemicals, polymers and fertilizers. The Saudi Arabian Government owns 70 percent of SABIC shares with the remaining 30 percent held by private investors in Saudi Arabia and other Gulf Cooperation Council countries. SABIC s Innovative Plastics business is a leading, global supplier of engineering thermoplastics with an 80-year history of breakthrough solutions that solve its customers most pressing challenges. Today, Innovative Plastics is a multi-billion-dollar company with operations in more than 35 countries and approximately 9,000 employees worldwide. The company continues to lead the plastics industry with customer collaboration and continued investments in new polymer technologies, global application development, process technologies, and environmentally responsible solutions that serve diverse markets such as Healthcare, Transportation, Automotive, Electrical, Lighting and Consumer Electronics. The company s extensive product portfolio includes thermoplastic resins, coatings, specialty compounds, film, and sheet. Innovative Plastics ( is a wholly owned subsidiary of Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC). 5

6 Innovative Plastics Media Contacts Michael Wheeler E: T: Agency Media Contacts Harriet Chanarin E: P: