Overlooked Thermal Considerations for PCBAs
Although we immediately think of electronics when printed circuit board assemblies (PCBAs) are mentioned, good PCBA design is in fact a multidisciplinary endeavor spanning electrical, mechanical, and even chemical engineering. However, one area where technology companies can run into trouble with PCBA designs

The Importance of Tool Material Choice
In injection molding, there are two critical “material” choices that need to be made: which plastic material to make the product out of, and which tool material to use when building the part’s mold. Each choice has many options, but to add to the complexity, the resin selected can impose significant constrain

The Importance of Gates
Gates can be a standard part of the injection molding process. They are normally formed as molten plastic flows from the machine’s nozzle tip into a sprue and runner system, then into the part’s cavity. Gates are the last section of the runner system and attach it to the part. Therefore, everything from the g

Using Core-outs to Reduce the Weight of Plastic Parts
Core-outs are sections of a plastic part where a thick section of solid material has been replaced by a square, rectangle, or hexagonal section. This effectively replaces that solid material with empty voids surrounded by walls and ribs of uniform thickness. The core-outs themselves are usually placed on non-

Importance of DFM Analysis For Injection Molding
An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure; or prevents hundreds of scrapped parts at least. Of all the design requirements, meetings, specifications and documentation involved when it comes to injection molded plastic parts, one of the most critical elements of the design process is often overlooked: a

Choosing the Correct Tool Cavitation
Injection molding is a great way to produce a large number of plastic components at high speed and a reasonable cost. What OEMs often overlook however, is one key question which could make this great method even better: How many cavities should my tool have to make the most parts, at the best quali

The Importance of Uniform Wall Thickness in Plastics
Keeping the walls of your injection molded plastic part the same thickness is important for maintaining good cosmetics and structural integrity. In this article, we’ll explain in-depth why uniform wall thickness is so important. Preventing Sink Marks The number one reason

Medical Device Contract Manufacturing — When Less is More
In the highly competitive industry of medical devices, outsourcing is almost required to stay ahead. Its benefits are evident — multidisciplinary expertise, cost savings, flexibility, expansion, reduced risk, increased innovation, and quality assurance to name just a few. As a highly competitive industry, the

Predictable Adhesion in Manufacturing Through Process Verification
From start to finish, manufacturers rely on process controls that are predictable, dependable and consistent. This is the only way to deliver reliable, high-quality products. Controlling adhesion and cleaning processes found throughout manufacturing operations is crucial to achieving the predictable high perf

Supporting Variable Demand: Strategies that Work
Variable demand projects are often the most difficult to outsource. The challenge isn’t finding electronics manufacturing services (EMS) providers who are willing to build them. The challenge is finding EMS providers whose processes have been optimized to efficiently support them. SigmaTron International regu

How to optimize coatings and substrates for compatible devices
Through careful analysis of surface properties of coatings, substrates, and surface preparation we gain an abundance of information about their compatibility within the body and with each other, such as: ·        how completely a coating

Zebra OEM Siemens case
Siemens Healthineers and Zebra Technologies: Optimizing patient care with fast, accurate and secure blood gas analysis

Case Study: Custom Formulated Material Delivers High Performance for a Surgical Seal Solution
A large medical technology company aimed to upgrade its medical device solution used primarily to cut and cauterize tissue in minimally invasive surgeries. The goal was to improve the design to allow surgeons to reuse the device by creating a disposable biocompatible flexible sleeve cover for the surgical i

Tubing for Hemodialysis Pumps
Hemodialysis is the dominant form of treatment for patients with chronic kidney disease, particularly in countries that offer accessibility to dialysis clinics. This more common form of treatment, as compared to daily peritoneal dialysis, will continue to expand with the advent of home treatment hemodialysis

The Advantages of Ultra High Barrier PVDC Coated PVC Films
With pharmaceutical companies constantly looking for ways to improve their product packaging with performance-driven, cost-effective solutions, there is an alternative to traditional structures that is making its way into the main stream. Super barrier coated (SBC) films should be taken into consideration for

Mechatronic Integration for Precision Medical Device Linear Motion
Optimizing the Ball Screw and Motor Interface for Compact Form, High Efficiency, and Positioning Accuracy

Medical device manufacturers: What capabilities should the ideal medical polymer compounder have?
If you are a medical device OEM or a supplier subcontractor who has been entrusted with developing components for your client’s new product, you may be uncertain as to how to evaluate a compounder with whom to partner. This white paper has been structured to provide you with a multi-discipline consideration t

Styrenic TPE Compounds: Growth Drivers & Challenges in Medical Applications
Over the past three decades, regulatory and market drivers, as well as cost pressures, have continued to generate a material choice discussion between polyvinyl chloride (PVC), thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) and rubber materials.

Case Study: Tekni-Plex Solves Material Supply Problem for Contract Packager; Helps Expand Applications
Sourcing blister packaging materials from Asia was resulting in long lead times, high air freight costs and inability to solve a broad range of packaging challenges

Case Study: Tekni-Plex Medical IV Tubing Solution Helps Protect Healthcare Professionals, While Providing Needed Therapy to COVID-19 Patients
Tekni-Plex harnesses global manufacturing footprint to provide tubing ASAP

Elcam Medical’s New & Innovative Minimal Residual Volume Luer Activated Stopcock
Catheter Related Blood Stream Infections (CRBSI) are a well-known and increasingly disturbing problem in hospitals, especially in Intensive Care Units (ICUs) and other units utilizing catheters and their accessories for patient care. Reducing the risk of microbial colonization and proliferation on stopcock

Clinical Study using Marvelous Stopcock
Elcam creates products to minimize infection as noted in the paper by Randy Loftus, MD, et. al, published in the November 2012 issue of Anesthesia and Analgesia using the Ultraport

SafeT™ Stopcocks Lipid Compatibility
The need for a more reliable stopcock increases in an ever-advancing industry objective towards a safer and efficient care-giving environment. Addressing lipid-induced cracking is one way to reach this objective. Lipid induced cracks and leakages are considered under-reported adverse events or mistakenly attr

Case Study: Eliminating Hidden Costs in Outsourcing
Outsourcing discussions often focus on manufacturing capabilities or regional labor costs. However, that narrow focus often allows hidden costs related to transactional redundancies and other inefficiencies to slip in. In this case study, Forefront Medical Technology, a specialty contract manufacturer with

Case Study: Forefront Medical Technology Helps COVID-19 Related Products Get to Market
Around the world, companies and research institutions are developing products used in the fight against COVID-19. In Singapore, Forefront Medical Technology, a specialty contract manufacturer with a focus in disposable diagnostic, drug delivery systems and medical device systems, is helping to commercializ

Corona vs. Plasma Technical Bulletin
What is the difference between corona and plasma? The context of this question is important as some industries have adopted unique definitions of each term. In this article, Enercon explains the similarities and differences of corona & plasma and types of in-line plasma technologies offered.

What Plasma Does to a Surface to Improve Adhesion
Plasma surface treatment is used to improve a surface’s receptiveness to adhesives, inks, paints & coatings. Three distinct surface modification processes occur simultaneously when exposing a surface to plasma treatment: Cleaning, Etching & Functionalizing.

Surface Treating Comparison Chart & Tech Paper
Ultimately your application’s requirements will define which technology is best for you. Enercon can compare various plasma & flame surface treating technologies for your application in our lab, and we can run trials in your facility to prove which is best for you. In this document we’ll share in

Design for Manufacturability: Avoiding Costly Mistakes
Most whitepapers focused on design for manufacturability (DFM) look exclusively at specific issues related to printed circuit board (PCB) layout. However, many decisions made in product design above and beyond PCB layout, from schedule milestones to material selection can impact cost to manufacture and def

Material Selection & Thin-Wall Micromolding Study
This study tackles one of the most widely asked questions of Accumold, resin selection assistance. This study shows how, in terms of micro-molding, picking resins based on data sheets can be misleading or confusing. It’s important to consult with your molder when designing parts that may be considered ou