Plastics compounder and distributor Albis Plastic (Hamburg / Germany; www.albis.com) said it was expanding its healthcare product portfolio by offering new materials used in medical devices, laboratory and diagnostic applications as well as pharmaceutical packaging. The company also covers service packages, such as notification of change, regulatory testing and support as well as provisions to ensure a security of supply.

The products include Covestro’s (Leverkusen / Germany; www.covestro.com) "Makroblend M 525" (PC/PBT blend) and "Bayblend M 750" (PC/ABS blend), both used as medical device housing materials, and Eastman Chemical’s (Kingsport, Tennessee / USA; www.eastman.com) "Tritan MXF 121" (copolyester), which can be used in hand-held medical device housing and diagnostic equipment and is available in several colours.

Albis said "Novodur HD M 203 FC G3", from Ineos Styrolution (Frankfurt / Germany; www.ineos-styrolution.com), has a glass fibre-reinforced material developed for transfer spikes in infusions systems. Another offering is Ineos' "Styrolux 4G60" (styrene-ethylene-butadiene-styrene, SEBS), which is applicable for drip chambers in intravenous (IV) infusion sets and for common sterilisation methods, such as by gamma or electron beam (E-beam) radiation and ethylene oxide (EtO) processing.

In March, Albis announced a licensing deal with LyondellBasell (LBI, Houston, Texas / USA; www.lyondellbasell.com) for “Purell” products – see Plasteurope.com of 04.04.2017 – and said Purell KT MR 07 (polybutene-1) also opens up many opportunities for replacing PVC or SEBS in medical tubes, IV bags, caps and closures as well as seals. Albis said Purell RP 320 M (PP) is suitable for a wide range of applications, including caps and closures, disposable labware and flexible packaging for medical devices and drugs.