Solvay’s Radel® PPSU resin helped Legacy Medical Solutions optimize a large-format sterilization tray for surgical instruments. Radel® polyphenylsulfone (PPSU) resin’s strength-to-weight ratio and ability to withstand high pH cleaners during repeated sterilization cycles and high-temperature autoclaves were key factors in Legacy Medical Solutions’ decision to utilize the material to improve the design, manufacture, and use of the tray. Solvay is featuring these innovative trays at its booth (#2414) at MD&M West 2019 in Anaheim, Calif.
Legacy Medical Solutions’ unique sterilization tray, measuring 23.5 inches long, 15 inches wide and 5.6 inches high (59.7 x 38.1 x 14.2 cm), is comprised of a thermoformed transparent lid and an opaque base tray made from Radel® PPSU resin that secures with a metal clamping system. The transparent lid provides visibility of the tray’s contents for added convenience. The base tray is up to 50 percent lighter than competitive models fashioned with anodized aluminum, a traditional material of choice, and it features large drilled holes for effective venting during sterilization. Radel® PPSU resin also provides the tray with superior impact strength, flexibility and chemical resistance. Importantly, the material is compatible with all commercial sterilization methods, including repeated autoclaving at 280°F (138°C) for sustained periods of time, demonstrating exceptional toughness and maintaining excellent aesthetics.
“Today’s sterilization trays need to withstand punishing autoclaving protocols with high pH cleaners through hundreds of sterilization cycles,” said Joel S. Hughes, president of Legacy Medical Solutions. “Anodized aluminum trays can fade quickly after just one sterilization cycle if treated with high pH cleaners, but the trays we make with Radel® PPSU retain their fresh appearance thanks to the material’s superior chemical and heat resistance.”
Legacy Medical Solutions also selected Solvay’s Radel® PPSU because the high-performance, medical grade polymer supports the design and manufacture of a customizable platform. Through the addition of an innovative bracket, multiple insert plates can be used, and the number of sterilization validations can be reduced. Radel® PPSU resin further enables product customization due to its availability in a variety of transparent and opaque colors that can support customer corporate branding efforts.
“Solvay’s commitment to innovative product development is demonstrated through its collaboration with and technical support of leaders like Legacy Medical Solutions,” said Dane Waund, global marketing manager for healthcare at Solvay’s Specialty Polymers global business unit. “With this large-format sterilization tray, Solvay’s Radel® PPSU resin is enabling dramatic design improvements, supporting a variety of manufacturing methods, and ensuring superior performance and longer product life.”
Solvay’s Radel® PPSU resin is commercially available worldwide.
® Radel is a registered trademark of Solvay
Legacy Medical Solutions is a medical manufacturing company headquartered in North Andover, MA and focused on serving the sterilization case and tray market. Legacy Medical Solutions is an ISO 9001 and ISO 13485 registered manufacturer and supports the medical and dental industries with engineering design services, sterilization optimization, short-run manufacturing, and prototyping. With short lead times averaging from 2 to 10 weeks, Legacy Medical Solutions is focused on creating strong relationships by actively collaborating with clients and working hard to deliver value. At Legacy Medical Solutions, you will receive outstanding products on-time for a reasonable price. Learn more at
www.legacymedicalsolutions.com.
Solvay is an advanced material and specialty chemicals company, committed to developing the chemistry that addresses key societal challenges. Solvay innovates and partners with customers worldwide in many diverse end markets. Its products are used in planes, cars, batteries, smart and medical devices, as well as in mineral and oil and gas extraction, enhancing efficiency and sustainability. Its lightweighting materials promote cleaner mobility, its formulations optimize the use of resources and its performance chemicals improve air and water quality. Solvay is headquartered in Brussels with around 26,800 employees in 61 countries. Net sales were €10.1 billion in 2017, with 90% from activities where Solvay ranks among the world’s top 3 leaders, resulting in an EBITDA margin of 22%. Solvay SA (SOLB.BE) is listed on Euronext Brussels and Paris (Bloomberg: SOLB.BB – Reuters: SOLB.BR) and in the United States its shares (SOLVY) are traded through a level-1 ADR program. Financial figures take into account the announced divestment of Polyamides.
Solvay Specialty Polymers manufactures over 1500 products across 35 brands of high-performance polymers – fluoropolymers, fluoroelastomers, fluorinated fluids, semi-aromatic polyamides, sulfone polymers, ultra-high performance aromatic polymers, and high-barrier polymers – for use in Aerospace, Alternative Energy, Automotive, Healthcare, Membranes, Oil and Gas, Packaging, Plumbing, Semiconductors, Wire & Cable, and other industries.
Learn more at solvay.com
Media Relations
Enrico Zanini
Solvay Specialty Polymers
+39 02 2909 2127
enrico.zanini@solvay.com
Alan Flower
Industrial Media Relations
+32 474 117 091
alan.flower@indmr.com
Marla Witbrod
Solvay Specialty Polymers
+1 770 772 8451
marla.witbrod@solvay.com
Joe Bennett
AH&M Marketing Communications
+1 413 448 2260 Ext. 470
jbennett@ahminc.com
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