Getting materials choices right is an essential first step towards building products that deliver the right combination of safety, efficacy, cost effectiveness, manufacturability and sustainability; and helps to avoid unnecessary delays in the product development process. 

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We put fundamentals first and offer an approach that is unbiased, efficient and informed with respect to user, quality, regulatory and manufacturing constraints; and augment this with services that ensure consistent, logical, comprehensive and easy to understand results. We also undertake many on-site assignments providing a resourceful extension of in-house resources.

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Please find our services and related technologies below. We would also be delighted to hear from you if you have any questions or suggestions regarding our services.

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Services and related technologies​​​​

• Advanced material selection, modelling and development

• Tailored gas permeability films, membranes and barrier layers for optimal performance and shelf life

• Novel blends and advanced polyolefins in a multilayer format up to 5 layers

• PVC substitution solutions and equivalency studies

• Polymer blends, composites,  elastomers, biomedical materials, adhesives, non-woven fabrics, and device components

• Informed material selection for sustainability and recyclability

• Materials development and analysis

• Multilayer gas barrier analysis

• High value breakthrough materials including recyclates

• Training and development: 'Introduction to materials selection and substitution: avoiding common pitfalls' 'Derisking the product development process' 'Features and functionality of medical devices through informed materials choices'

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Specific projects undertaken to date include:

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• Identification of substitutes for plasticised PVC in transfusion/infusion products.

• Formulation of technical polyolefin-TPE blends for multilayer packaging.

• Consolidating rollstock polymers by identifying/developing new materials that provide high clarity in antistatic formats.

• Identification of a substitute material for a legacy ICI Propathene PP Homopolymer.

• Remedial study to address small dark particles on the surface and/or in the bulk of Polycarbonate parts.

• Cost-performance analysis addressing the cost and performance gaps between PEEK and other high-performance polymers for a medical device application.

• Resolution of ABS-PC delamination issue.

• Selection of PP homopolymer and copolymer grades for optimum springback and integral hinge performance.

• Rationale for removal of PTFE and silicone from medical device components.

• Rationale and approach to auto-assembly of LSR valve by eliminating post cure step.

• Remedies and approach to colour change and biocompatibility issues.

• Evaluation and implementation of material selection best practice procedures.

• Consolidation of rollstock polymers by identifying/developing new materials that provide high clarity in antistatic formats.

• Relationship between haze and wall thickness in moulded and extruded parts and how to optimise transparency. 

• Consulting activities for Silicone catheter manufacturing facilities including handling of Pt-catalysed addition cure materials, milling, extrusion, punching and drilling, tip shaping and assembly.

• Identification of a transparent medical thermoplastic material that blocks UV light transmission.

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