Clariant offers color and surface engineering solutions to regulatory challenges at Medtec Shanghai

Shanghai China, August 31, 2011 – New productivity-boosting additives and advanced anti-microbial technology supported by regulatory compliance and product consistency, will feature among Clariant’s dedicated MEVOPUR® color and performance masterbatches and compounds for medical devices and pharmaceutical packaging at Medtec Shanghai, from September 7-8, 2011

Visitors to Booth 828 will experience first-hand the active commitment by Clariant, one of the leading producers of color and additive concentrates worldwide, to offer Controlled, Consistent and Compliant innovations that also enable manufacturers to pursue advanced functionality and design creativity goals, and increase their efficiency.

Highlights for the Device & Packaging designers and manufacturers at Medtec Shanghai will include:

- Clariant’s new range of MEVOPUR nucleants for pharmaceutical packaging help reduce cycle times and create a potential increase in production rates of up to 12%, as shown in tests using injection and injection/compression molded caps compared to non-nucleated PP-H and conventional (benzoate-based) nucleants. By improving crystallization in polyolefin polymers using these nucleants, the materials become more rigid. This enables converters to have the potential to achieve thinner-walled part sections and generate raw material savings.

- MedX anti-microbial agents from SANITIZED® AG are incorporated into MEVOPUR masterbatches manufactured under the controlled protocols (ISO13485) to support the development of devices with surfaces that are active against bacteria. Independent testing of the active ingredients by Sanitized has shown them to be effective against antibiotic resistant strains. However there are a number of factors that influence performance in the final article so the medical device producer therefore needs to evaluate, and determine the level that meets the requirements.

- Laser marking and radiopaque additives that improve visualization will be presented alongside lubricants that are not based on fluorine chemistry. These are integrated into catheter polymer materials to offer a range of options for catheter design whilst supporting the requirements for biologically evaluated materials.

- Colorants for safe identification and aesthetic appeal of devices and packaging, based on biologically evaluated ingredients using the test protocols of USP part 87, 88 for Class VI devices or ISO10993 parts 4, 5, 10, 11 and 18.

MEVOPUR masterbatches and compounds are manufactured at Clariant’s three ISO 13485 certified dedicated medical and pharmaceutical centers of competence based in the USA, Europe and Asia.

“Concerns within the medical and pharmaceutical sector about ingredient changes in the plastic compounding world, combined with an increasingly-complex regulatory situation, make it more important than ever for material suppliers like Clariant to support the sector in achieving product consistency and compliancy, and proof of a controlled manufacturing environment,” comments Steve Duckworth, Clariant’s Head of Global Segment Medical & Pharmaceutical.

“At Medtec Shanghai we will aim to convey how colorants and functional additives can be Controlled, Consistent and Compliant at the same time as offering the creativity of product differentiation and design appeal. We will also explain our continued investment in this segment in Asia Pacific with additions to our team.”

Steve Duckworth will present “Risks and Solutions in Coloration and Surface Engineering in Medical Device and Pharmaceutical Packaging” at the Medtec Shanghai conference during the afternoon of Wednesday September 7, 2011.

ENDS

MEVOPUR is a registered trademark of Clariant.

SANITIZED is a registered trademark of Sanitized AG.

Reader enquiries

Clariant
Rothausstrasse 61
4132 Muttenz 1
Switzerland
+41 61 469 6742
www.clariant.com

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Notes for editors

About Clariant

Clariant is a global leader in the field of specialty chemicals. Strong business relationships, commitment to outstanding service and wide-ranging application know-how make Clariant a preferred partner for its customers.

Clariant, which is represented on five continents with over 100 group companies, employs around 16,200 people as of year-end 2010. Head-quartered in Muttenz near Basel, Switzerland, it generated sales of CHF 7.1 billion in 2010. Clariant is organized into 12 Business Units: Additives; Catalysis & Energy; Detergents & Intermediates; Emulsions; Functional Materials; Industrial & Consumer Specialties; Leather Services; Masterbatches; Oil & Mining Services; Paper Specialties; Pigments; and Textile Chemicals.

Clariant is committed to sustainable growth, which is derived from its own innovative strength. Clariant’s world-class products and services play a key role in its customers’ manufacturing processes and add value to their end products. The company’s success is based on the know-how of its people and their ability to identify new customer needs at an early stage and to work together with customers to develop innovative, efficient solutions.

www.clariant.com

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