Medtech players to team up to display FEP line at MD&M West

Machinery industry company Davis-Standard is teaming up with Conair and Zumbach along with other companies to display a running FEP line at MD&M West.

The coextrusion line will be processing FEP medical tubing with three barium sulfite stripes. The line will be equipped with two of Davis-Standard’s MEDD (Medical Extruder Direct Drive) extruders along with Conair MedLine upstream and downstream equipment, Zumbach gauging, Guill die tooling and resins supplied by Daikin and PolyOne Colorant Chromatics.

Dr. Jason Baird, senior process engineer at Davis-Standard, said: “The tubing at the show will feature three stripes and will represent the latest technology required for processing barium sulfite products. One of the greatest advantages of this line is that it gives the processor the option to lay the stripes on the outside of the tubing or embed them within the tubing wall. Every component is engineered for tight tolerances, high-quality and output efficiency.”

The MEDD enables processors to swap barrels and/or feedsection liners to change extruder diameter and/or length while keeping alignment intact, providing versatility in cleanroom settings where space is limited.

At the MD&M show, both extruders will have 3⁄4-inch (19mm) diameter barrels with L/D’s of 24:1 and 16:1. In order to limit exposure of the radio- opaque barium sulfate filler to the high temperatures of fluoropolymer processing, a shorter 16:1 extruder along with special screw design will be used. All components of the tubing line will be monitored and controlled by Davis-Standard’s eVUE control system.

Kevin Dipollino, Davis-Standard’s product manager of pipe, profile and tubing, said: “This line represents an all-encompassing package in both design and processing technology. It shows the value of complementary components among reputable industry partners in creating an end-to-end solution that addresses a growing segment within the medical tubing marketplace.”

The technologies of Davis-Standard, Conair, Zumbach and other companies will be on display at MD&M West at booth 3839 from 5-7 February.