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TECHNOLOGY | MEDICAL


IMAGE: ARBURG


Above: Arburg Allrounders and Freeformers for the cleanroom


information such as pulse, calorie consumption, movement and sleeping patterns at any time. Other popular products are insulin pens for diabetics and filters for dialysis. Another development step relates to smart devices with integrated electronics such as analysis chips that can communicate with smart- phones. Lab-on-a-chip technology, which has revolutionised diagnostics, is also a dynamic development trend. It is increasingly replacing conventional laboratory diagnostics and also making it possible to realise more individual therapies.” In mass production, efficient processes are key due to the high cost pressures in this market. Arburg says that the hybrid and electric Allrounders are designed for efficient and high-quality series production for applications in the personal care, medical and pharmaceutical industries, producing items such as pipette tips, syringe barrels and closures. They offer short cycle times, reproducibil- ity and reduced energy requirements, as well as process stability and a long service life. They also provide better emission ratings than hydraulic machines. In addition to the increasing automation of production processes, the use of high-speed, high-performance machines for pharmaceutical packaging is another key area. There are increasing synergies with the packaging sector, where Arburg adds that it also has a high level of expertise. Manka says Arburg is also seeing a rising demand for turnkey projects in the field of medical technology. Integrating quality inspection and assembly equipment downstream of injection moulding is increasingly eliminating human intervention and product contamination. The trend towards more individual therapies


increasingly requires production of small-volume batches, down to one-piece flow. “For the imple- mentation of such tasks, Arburg has the Freeformer in its portfolio, an industrial system for additive manufacturing,” adds Manka. “Freeformers process qualified standard materials, enabling the use of a wide range of original materials as well as material and colour combinations. This includes medical


22 INJECTION WORLD | September 2020


grade thermoplastic elastomers or resorbable polylactide (medical PLA). The parts are of high quality and stability. Droplet size and process control can be specifically influenced, resulting in individual customisation options. Potential applica- tions include the individualisation of medication. A Freeformer could be used to produce individual medications that could be optimised in terms of dosage and type of release of the active substance, or even of combinations of active substances, to meet the requirements of patients and therapy.” One implant example involved resorbable,


FDA-approved original material from partner Evonik, which is made to imitate human bone. A Freeformer 200-3X machine processed the Resomer LR 706 (a composite made up of poly L-lactide-co-D,L-lactide and ß-TCP). The result was implant plates designed for use directly in the body as a means of repairing fractures. The polymer composite imitates human bone and contains 30% ceramic additives (ß-TCP), making the resulting component more stable and adding calcium as a means of promoting bone formation. After a certain time has passed, the implant is then fully absorbed. Further applications include medical PLLA (Purasorb PL18) to produce facial and cranial implants or TPE (Medalist MD 12130H) to make individually adapted ventilation masks. The products can also consist of several components, such as a hard/soft combination, and be equipped with a support structure, if required. Digitalisation of the entire medical technology sector in accordance with the specifications of Industry 4.0 can be achieved with Arburg’s host computer system (ALS). “It is all about availability, traceability and the monitoring of validated process windows for product and process reliabil- ity,” says Manka. “Due to the requirements of unique device identification (UDI), it is essential for


Above: Resorbable, FDA-approved original material from Evonik has been made to imitate human bone in a project involving Arburg’s Freeformer technology


www.injectionworld.com


IMAGE: ARBURG


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