Plastic Extrusions for Medical Applications

Condale Plastics manufactures precision plastic extrusions for a wide range of medical applications, supplying high-quality tubing, protective components and hospital infrastructure products.

From multi-lumen medical tubing to needle sheaths, wall protection and equipment cable management, our bespoke extrusions are designed to meet the demanding performance, quality and cleanliness standards of the healthcare sector.

Medical Tubing

• Precision-extruded medical tubing for healthcare applications
• Single, dual and triple lumen tubing
• Intravenous tubing and catheter components
• Cannula tubing and bubble tubes
• Radiopaque striping options
• Supplied cut-to-length or in reel form
• Manufactured in a dedicated clean production facility

Protective Medical Components

• Needle sheaths and protective covers
• Profiles for scalpels and surgical blades
• Bespoke extrusions for medical device protection
• Flexible and rigid material options
• Designed for safe, reliable performance
• Manufactured to customer specifications

Engineered for demanding medical environments

• Wall protection profiles for healthcare environments
• Bump stops, wall plates and corner guards
• Bed head guards and equipment protection profiles
• Cable management solutions for medical beds, trolleys and carts
• Durable, easy-to-clean materials suitable for demanding healthcare settings

We manufacture medical extrusions in a wide range of flexible and rigid polymers, including PVC, TPU, TPE (SEBS), TPV, polycarbonate and HDPE. Materials can be selected to suit specific application requirements, including compatibility with gamma or ethylene oxide (EtO) sterilisation and the incorporation of specialist additives where required.

We work closely with medical device manufacturers and OEMs to solve complex product design challenges, supporting every project from concept through to tooling and production. We’re with you every step of the way.

We’re certified to ISO 9001 for Quality Management and ISO 14001 for Environmental Management. Every extrusion is manufactured for quality, consistency and performance, helping customers develop safe, reliable and effective medical products.

Speak with our Medical Technical Sales Engineer, Daniel Foster, to explore design options or discuss your medical extrusion needs:

Email:
DFoster@condaleplastics.com

Tel:
(+44) 1342 580278

Mobile:
07525 770341

Frequently Asked Questions

What are medical tubes?

Plastic medical tubes can be used as part of devices to deliver fluids to and from the body. They can be used for catheters and IVs as well as for respiratory equipment such as ventilators. Some medical tubing needs to be custom produced with different chambers or cores for delivering medication to the body. Medical grade plastic will be produced separately to commercial plastic extrusion production to ensure optimum hygiene and safety.

What plastic is used for a medical tube?

PVC is one of the most common choice of plastic for medical tubing. This is because it’s adaptable and can be sterilized. Other types of plastic used in medical grade tubing include more flexible materials such as polyurethane (TPU), Thermoplastic Elastomers (TPE), Silicone and Thermoplastic Vulcanisate (TPV). Plastic medical tubes can come in a variety of hardness’ specific to their usage.

Sterilization and antibacterial properties of medical tubing

While in everyday life, single use plastic is frowned upon, in the medical profession it can help prevent the spread of viruses and diseases. This is because it’s more hygienic to dispose of items used to treat those with highly contagious viruses rather than to try and sterilise and re-use products.

Where medical equipment is safe to be sterilized and cleaned, there are medical grade plastics that can withstand high temperatures and corrosion for optimum cleaning. Gamma or ETO (ethylene oxide) cleaning methods will require specific plastics suitable for use with these processes. Some medical grade plastics can be fitted with anti-bacterial protection to help prevent the spread of contagious illnesses in hospitals and healthcare environments.

How are medical grade plastics created?

Medical tubing is created via a plastic extrusion process. Plastic tubes can be produced from a single material but also can be co-extruded. Co-extrusion allows for multiple materials to be pushed through the same die and former. The result is one single extrusion which can have multiple cores, apertures or colours in one product.

How is the quality of medical grade plastic ensured?

Medical grade plastic in the EU should meet the requirements outlined in the EU Regulation 2017/745 (MDR). This helps to ensure plastic is fit for purpose and safe to use.  Reputable manufacturers should also possess an ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management System certificate.