Requests and Challenges presented by the Customer
During our visit, the customer presented us with four critical issues that needed to be resolved:
- Technology not compatible with PVC compound. The new molding machines purchased by the company had a hot runner technology that was not compatible with the processing of the PVC compound usually purchased. This factor caused delays in production and in the payback of the investment.
- Significant drop in production efficiency. There were losses of working hours and material to adapt the PVC compound in stock to the new machines by trying to change the processing set up (temperature and pressure). Initially, the company did not obtain results and the material continued to burn.
- Increase in costs. In trying to use the PVC compound in stock, the cycle times were longer and, consequently, the production costs increased. All this nullified the potential advantages of the new machines.
- Compliance with Regulation 745/2017/EU. The material had to adapt to the new European medical regulation, because while they were installing the new machines, changes had been announced regarding the plastic raw materials intended for the production of medical devices.
The TPV Compound Solution
TPV Compound was contacted by the company because it is recognized as a market leader for medical PVC compounds.
Our constant commitment to adapting products to the new European medical regulation is well known, replacing the substances that have always been used in this business (recently reclassified as SVHC according to the Reach Regulation) with alternatives without hazard classifications and which therefore guarantee full compliance with the Medical Device Regulation of the articles made with these compounds.
The final product was then customized to the new needs of the customer’s hot runner molds, adapting their rheological and thermal characteristics.
Benefits obtained by the Customer
The solution we created allowed the customer to obtain the following benefits:
- 30% reduction in sprues to be discarded. Historical problem arising from the fact that, producing medical devices, they could not recycle them in the compound. Result obtained thanks to the possibility of effectively using hot runner molding.
- 20% increase in production. With the new material, it reduced cycle times and, consequently, optimized production processes.
- No interruption in production. The company continued to supply medical devices with the new formulation compliant with the requirements of Regulation 745/2017/EU.
Summary
The TPV Compound solution allowed the customer to enhance the investment made in the new machines.
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