ANAHEIM, Calif.—Silcotech Group and Dow Corning Corp. will showcase a step-change in liquid silicone rubber processing made possible, in part, by Dow Corning's LSR technology, at the MD&M West show, set for Feb. 10-12 at the Anaheim Convention Center.
Through a collaboration between the companies, Silcotech said it developed a new multi-shot processing system capable of simultaneously molding nine discrete substrates or shapes that exhibit a broad range of durometers, textures and colors utilizing the Dow Corning QP1 Silicone Elastomer product family.
“In today's fiercely competitive marketplace, medical device manufacturers need to innovate designs with increasingly varied yet closely integrated functionality—while maintaining tight control over production costs,” Roger Hendrick, application engineer, Dow Corning Healthcare, said in a news release.
“Our portfolio of QP1 LSRs gave Silcotech a solid materials foundation on which to build its new processing technology to meet this competitive demand. Our close collaboration has delivered results for high-output molding of intricate medical device designs.”
Silcotech's multi-shot silicone system simultaneously molds nine discrete shapes, Silcotech said, while maintaining costs comparable to a single shot system. The system is capable of leveraging the full range of durometers offered across Dow Corning's QP1 product family within a single application. Additionally, Silcotech said Dow Corning QP1 elastomers help Silcotech's technology further contain processing costs due to their fast-cure and easy processing.
“Radically new processing technologies don't come along every day, but our new process changes the paradigm by allowing medical device manufacturers to design with an entirely new template that adds a whole new dimension of options,” Michael Maloney, president of Silcotech, said in the news release.
“Our customers can now cost-effectively produce finished, highly differentiated components in a single process that integrates materials with different durometers, chemical functional groups, surface textures, colors and other properties. The potential combinations for designers are virtually endless, and introduce a bold new chapter for competitive differentiation and success in today's fast-growing global healthcare sector.”
Both companies are showcasing at MD&M West, with Silcotech producing multi durometer phone covers at its booth (No. 1259), and Dow Corning featuring at its booth (No. 2027) finished samples of Silcotech's covers accompanied by an in-depth technical video of Silcotech's molding process. Dow Corning materials experts will be on hand at its booth to discuss the adaptable capabilities of the company's QP1 portfolio.