Eastman demonstrates commitment to reducing patient risk at MD&M West

Eastman to showcase industry collaborations and next-generation materials at world's largest med tech event

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Jan 29, 2019, 08:41 ET

KINGSPORT, Tenn., Jan. 29, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Global specialty plastics provider Eastman showcases its leadership role in mitigating patient and clinician risk with superior materials for medical packaging and devices at the Medical Design & Manufacturing (MD&M) West trade show in Anaheim, California, Feb. 5 to 7. Eastman leverages forty years of medical industry expertise to produce specialty plastics for rigid medical packaging and medical devices. The company will highlight the many ways it works throughout the value chain to impact positive patient outcomes. This includes supporting the development of new packaging engineers, working closely with original equipment manufacturer (OEM) designers and engineers to improve processes and drive product innovations, and deeply engaging with the healthcare industry to bring awareness to the role of surfaces and materials in combating healthcare-associated infections (HAIs). Collaborations to be spotlighted include the Clemson University Capstone Project, the Healthcare Plastics Recycling Council (HPRC), Mindray and the Healthcare Surfaces Institute.

At Clemson University, as part of its ongoing collaboration with the Packaging Science degree program, Eastman works with co-sponsors Remington Medical, a leading producer of disposable medical devices, and Tek Pak, an innovative medical thermoformer, to help students develop prototypes of rigid medical packaging for hip implants and to learn critical elements of the validation protocol. The student team in Dr. Robert Kimmel's Package Design and Development course worked with extruded polyester sheet provided by Pacur, while getting hands-on guidance from Eastman and co-sponsors. The overall experience allowed the students to get a preview of a career in the medical device industry as a packaging engineer.

As a longstanding member of the HPRC North American chapter, Eastman is also expanding its engagement in 2019 by joining the council's European chapter. Eastman will work alongside other companies that are members of HPRC to help facilitate efforts related to sustainability and recycling of medical plastics in the region.

Eastman continues to evolve how it works with OEMs to bring innovations to market. Mindray, a leading global manufacturer of medical technology, has selected Eastman's medical polymers for its patient monitors, demonstrating its commitment to producing medical equipment and devices that are easy to use and clean, and that will withstand the cleaning protocols so necessary in healthcare environments to keep patients safe. Mindray's product selection was a result of independently replicating Eastman's testing protocols, for example, its 4-step test, to validate performance data.

Eastman is expanding its portfolio of medical polymers, working with OEMs to identify the attributes needed for specific product requirements and processing characteristics that improve manufacturability. Eastman Tritan™ copolyester fuels its portfolio of flame retardant polymers for electronic medical device housings and hardware. The materials offer unsurpassed chemical compatibility with a wide range of disinfectants used to combat HAIs as well as improved durability and impact strength.

Eastman invites attendees to learn more about these and other product advancements at Lunch and Learn events in rigid medical packaging and medical devices as well as through sessions on the MD&M West conference program. Eastman will host a session titled Choosing the Right Polymers for Manufacturability and Durability: What Hospitals Measure on Thursday, Feb. 7 at 10:15 a.m. Highlighting the role additive manufacturing can play in medical device development and production, Eastman will also give a presentation titled Thermoplastic Elastomer Powder and its Benefits in Printing Medical Devices on Thursday, Feb. 7 at 9:15 a.m. as part of the 3D Innovation Summit.

In addition to Eastman MXF221 for device housings, Eastman's family of brands includes Tritan™ copolyesters for devices and packaging, Eastar copolyester 6763 and Eastalite copolyesters for rigid medical packaging, Ecdel elastomers for pharmaceutical packaging and Eastman 168™ non-phthalate plasticizer.

Visit Booth 2301 for more information.

About Eastman Chemical Company
Eastman is a global advanced materials and specialty additives company that produces a broad range of products found in items people use every day. With a portfolio of specialty businesses, Eastman works with customers to deliver innovative products and solutions while maintaining a commitment to safety and sustainability. Its market-driven approaches take advantage of world-class technology platforms and leading positions in attractive end markets such as transportation, building and construction, and consumables. Eastman focuses on creating consistent, superior value for all stakeholders. As a globally diverse company, Eastman serves customers in more than 100 countries and had 2017 revenues of approximately $9.5 billion. The company is headquartered in Kingsport, Tennessee, USA, and employs approximately 14,500 people around the world.

For more information, visit eastman.com.

Editorial Contact:
Laura Mansfield, APR
The Tombras Group
+1 (865) 599.9968
[email protected]

SOURCE Eastman