Company insight
Using technology and expertise to lead the way
Henkel Adhesive Technologies is the global leader in adhesives, sealants and functional coatings – across all industry segments worldwide. The company’s adhesives and inks are used across medical applications. Alexander Rehn, global business development manager medical partnerships, and Teresa Schneider, marketing strategy director medical, explain how Henkel is approaching digitisation and future medical developments.
How is digitisation affecting Henkel? Teresa Schneider: Data-driven medical capabilities allow greater patient access and convenience, more correlation of medical records and faster diagnoses – all of which ultimately help the patient and provider and result in better outcomes. We see, in many cases, healthcare transitioning from hospitals to point-of-care (POC) to homes, an overlap between healthcare and fitness tracking, through continued miniaturisation and mobility of medical devices. From Henkel’s perspective, these are all very positive developments and our materials are helping to make these technological advances possible. Our experts not only understand various electronic solutions and advanced chemistry platforms, but the sensitivities and demands of the medical market and the importance of the patient experience. Henkel’s broad materials portfolio and unique depth of knowledge allow us to offer distinctive solutions that address product assembly requirements, skin compatibility, regulations, and device miniaturisation realities.
What approach does Henkel take to support development of smart medical devices? Alexander Rehn: Henkel is not just a materials innovator; we’re a solution provider. We work with our customers and partners from the beginning of their design process to ensure that our materials will deliver the desired performance while being manufacturable and cost-effective at the same time. Take smart wearables for example: medical electrodes, smart health patches for remote monitoring, moisture sensors or (continuous) glucose monitoring are all areas where Henkel’s conductive inks, printed electronics, pressure-sensitive adhesives or low-pressure moulding
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technology have been game changers. Our materials help facilitate mass production to make these devices affordable. Most importantly, Henkel formulations ensure reliable performance while maximising patient comfort. Henkel conductive and dielectric inks are also helping medical device designers advance innovation. For example, coatings containing electrically conductive particles can be printed onto stretchable substrates and flexible surfaces such as medical adhesive patches. These solutions underscore the significant role of printed electronics in remote monitoring wearable technologies.
In addition, we’ve partnered with medtech and hygiene start-ups focused on connected, data-enabled devices. Henkel’s recent investment in Smartz AG, a developer of smart hygiene technology, illustrates our commitment to digital solutions for patient care. With Smartz, Henkel’s printed electronic materials are being used to turn an adult diaper into a healthcare platform to increase patient comfort and ease the burden on caregivers in nursing homes. A joint approach to market this holistic solution as ‘Smart Adult Care’ under the roof of ‘Henkel Qhesive Solutions’ emphasises a strong will to take partnerships to the next level. These are a few examples of how Henkel materials are enablers in remote health, improving the management of chronic conditions.
Can you describe the potential uses of medical wearables? AR: Wearable and sensor technologies are already used in a variety of medical applications. From cardiac and glucose monitoring to moisture detection, patient outcomes are greatly improved through the continuous health management these devices provide. This is just the start, however. Alongside our partners, Henkel
is exploring technologies for real-time and remote monitoring, enabling the collection of the most clinically-relevant patient data. These applications hold potential, though they present challenges to developers and manufacturers. Producing these solutions cost effectively at scale while complying with regulatory standards requires expertise. Through collaboration with our customers and partners in our medical ecosystem, Henkel aims to help satisfy the demands of all stakeholders to accomplish the primary mission: improving the quality of life through prevention and treatment of medical conditions in a sustainable way.
Could you please explain Henkel’s Medical ecosystem approach? AR: We are thinking beyond current technology and looking to the future: Leveraging our knowhow and comprehensive resources, we asked ourselves: what are the most crucial medtech customer and patient needs that Henkel can help address? To evaluate the possibilities, Henkel is building a best-in-class medtech ecosystem to enable co-development and support of next-generation medical solutions. Whether progressing existing devices, advancing the level of care, innovating preventative solutions or developing safer and more sustainable approaches – we believe Henkel’s expertise in material science, chemistry and new digital business models plays a crucial role. Our work has several pillars, including material and technology-driven start-ups and companies, contract manufacturers, academia, R&D organisations, and medical thought leaders. Henkel has an all-in approach, and we look forward to being a key contributor and orchestrator to the future of medical device technology. ●
www.henkel-adhesives.com Medical Device Developments /
www.nsmedicaldevices.com
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