Borealis and Borouge have presented Bormed application and processer benefits at healthcare seminar in Slovenia.Borealis and Borouge, leading providers of chemical and innovative plastic solutions, highlighted the productivity and performance benefits of their Bormed healthcare packaging solutions to Slovenia’s medical and pharmaceutical sector at a seminar hosted with plastics distributor Fist d.o.o. on November 16, 2011.
The invited audience of more than 40 converters was updated on manufacturing and user advantages made possible with the latest additions to Borealis and Borouge’s portfolio of dedicated Bormed polyolefins for healthcare. Discussions focused on topics such as EU Pharmacopeia compliance, in addition to specific material property comparisons particularly for moulding and blow fill seal (BFS) applications.
Key products featured at the event held at the Dvor Jezeršek hotel and conference venue near Slovenia’s capital city Ljubljana, included:
Bormed LE6601-PH for the development of transparent, simple to squeeze ampoules
This low density polyethylene (LDPE) grade enables users of all ages to dispense their eye, ear and nose drop treatments without professional assistance. Bormed LE6601-PH is intended for flexible, disposable ampoules that do not require post-steam sterilisation.
Packaging converters benefit from trouble-free conversion on standard blow moulding and BFS machinery. Wall thickness and ampoule weight are easy to control thanks to Bormed LE6601-PH’s optimised molecular weight distribution that produces material with low swell. This allows difficult shapes to be formed, while ensuring straightforward dosing to simplify production of consistent, high quality ampoules. The easy processing creates less waste and a low energy requirement during extrusion.
The balanced properties of Bormed LE6601-PH make it suitable for use in dip-tubes in pharmaceutical sprays in addition to flexible ampoules. Packaging based on the grade can be sterilised using ethylene oxide (EtO) or gamma radiation up to 50 kGy.
High flow Bormed HE9601-PH for high speed injection moulding with decreased energy use for two-part syringe plungers to caps and closures
This high density polyethylene (HDPE) creates productivity improvements for converters in the healthcare market without compromising the performance of medical devices and pharmaceutical and diagnostic packaging.
With a melt flow rate (MFR) of 31, Bormed HE9601-PH delivers a flow rate improvement of up to 2.5 times that of comparable alternatives. In addition to the resulting potential for faster production and increased throughput, the higher flow allows for operation at decreased pressure and temperature. This lowers both energy and mould maintenance requirements and gives a cost advantage.
Bormed HE9601-PH simplifies the injection moulding process, in particular of components with complex design parameters or long flow lengths. The grade offers all the benefits valued by converters for highly-demanding medical applications, including high stiffness, chemical inertness and chemical resistance, excellent barrier performance and impermeability to water vapour. It can be sterilised using all common techniques.
Both Bormed HE9601-PH and Bormed LE6601-PH comply with European and US Pharmacopeia standards, and are Drug Master File registered. Bormed polyolefins are manufactured under strict quality conditions on dedicated production lines with change control processes installed.
Borealis and Borouge are one of few polymer companies in the world capable of meeting all the stringent requirements of the healthcare industry. The four pillars of Bormed - security of supply, dedicated materials, additional support and innovation – combine to provide Borealis and Borouge’s healthcare sector customers with peace of mind regarding quality, availability, and regulatory compliance for their pharmaceutical and medical applications.
“We consider the conference a great success. By gathering more than 40 invited guests from converters to representatives from pharmaceutical companies, we ensured a well-rounded picture and setting for discussions.
Participants had the unique opportunity to discover the new trends and developments in the healthcare market and discuss the benefits of Bormed for their particular applications with experts from all areas,” commented Jure Kralj, Sales Manager, Fist d.o.o.
“The healthcare market in Slovenia is of growing importance. The success in meeting with this valuable audience face-to-face is measured in great feedback,” said Max Wachholder, Borealis Marketing Manager Healthcare.
