Flexan develops full-service concept for medical devices

Lincolnshire, Illinois – US medical elastomer parts manufacturer Flexan Group has introduced a new ‘full-service’ concept for the development of silicone and thermoplastic medical devices.

Under the new concept, Flexan supports the entire value chain, from product development, prototyping and toolmaking to mass production, quality assurance and logistics, the company announced 27 Feb.

The firm’s focus will be particularly on services and products in micro injection moulding and micro lumen extrusion of thermoplastic and silicone medical devices.

The move towards becoming a “full-service” provider is in anticipation of increasing demand for silicone and plastics medical devices, according to Werner Krau, European commercial leader at Flexan.

Citing a survey by US market research firm Global View Research, the company said it expected global sales of silicone medical devices to reach nearly $600 million (€525 million) by 2025, with an average annual growth rate of 6.6%.

As a result, said Flexan, OEMs are “increasingly turning to highly specialised contract manufacturers to produce individual components.”

Flexan expanded its contract manufacturing services for the medical device industry with the acquisition of IntroMed LLC in April last year.

Based in Salt Lake City, IntroMed manufactures patent protected sheath introducers used in catheter placements.

In its latest release 27 Feb, Flexan said IntroMED played “a key role” in enabling it to strengthen its production and added value in medical technology.