Medical molding conference planned.

Applied Market Information Ltd. (AMI) will host Medical Molding and Extrusion 2007, an international conference on medical device manufacturing, April 24-26 at the Maritim Hotel in Cologne, Germany.

This conference provides a forum for medical device manufacturers and designers, materials suppliers and specialist rubber and plastic processors.

An overview of the issues, including an update on PVC in health care, will be presented by John Svalander of Insam SA, Switzerland. Presentations will include: "Choosing a polymer for medical devices--biocompatibility considerations," David Thaler, Mednet GmbH, Germany; and "Material selection for medical device applications," Rob de Jong, GE Plastics, the Netherlands.

Session 1 on "Materials and molding," will include the following presentations: "Technologies for improved performance of medical devices," Daniel Behrens, Ticona GmbH, Germany; "High performance polymers for medical application," Dirk Heinrich, Degussa AG, Germany; "Medical mold making and molding," Silva Branco, Firstmolds LDA, Portugal; "Containment technology for medical plastics manufacturing," Joost Nieuwlaat, The Netherlands; and "Hot runner systems, production quality and beyond," Thomas Bechtel, Husky Injection Molding Systems, Luxembourg.

Session 2 on "Transparent and translucent polymers," will include the following presentations: "Copolyesters for the medical market," Bart van de Krol, Eastman Chemical, the Netherlands; "Cyclic olefinic copolymer: An innovative, transparent plastic material for applications in medical and diagnostic," Michael Grimm, Topas Advanced Polymers, Germany; and "Silicone elastomers in medical applications," Andre Colas, Dow Coming, Belgium

Session 3 on "Specialty materials," will include the following presentations: "High and ultra high performance polymers for medical devices," Jean-Baptise Bonnadier, Solvay Advanced Polymers, Belgium; "Cutting edge polymers: The metal replacement op-tion for disposable devices," Mike Sullivan, Rosti Technical Plastics, the Netherlands; "Polyetheretherketone biomaterials for use in human implantable medical devices," Mark Dietlin, Invibio Ltd., U.K.; "Medical plastic assembly with UV adhesive," Rich Golebiewski, Dymax, Germany; and "Developing cost-effective laser welding parameters for weldable resins and application to the medical segment," Gareth McGrath, Gentex, U.K.

Session 4 on "Extrusion and elastomers," will include the following presentations: "Tubing and extrusion," Gerhard Folie, Davis-Standard, Germany; "Effects of gamma sterilization on TPEs," Anne Hippert, RTP, France; "Thermoplastic polyurethane films forming protective membranes," Dirk Schultze, Epurex Films, Germany; and "Medical TPE compound: Excellent performance, easy processing," Alex Kattenberg, Wittenburg BV, the Netherlands.

Further information on this medical molding conference is available from Maud Lassara, tel.: [phone] or email [e-mail].