European Plastics Distributors Association l P.O. Box 6248 71 Main Street l Milton Keynes MK 10 1XR UK l +44.1296.728.686 l www.epda.com

® International Association of Plastics Distribution

Materials • Acetal (POM)• Polyetheretherketone (PEEK)• Polyetherimide (PEI)• Polyethylene (PE)• Polymethyl Pentene (PMP)• Polysulfone (PSU)• Polycarbonate (PC)• Polypropylene (PP)• Polyester Terephthalate Glycol Modified

(PETG Copolymer)• Polyoxymethylene (POM)• Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC)• PVC/Acrylic Alloy Sheet• Styrene Acrylonitrile Copolymer (SAN)• Thermoplastic Elastomer (TPE)• Ultra-High Molecular Weight Polyethylene (UHMW-PE)

Advantages • Transparent to X-rays• Traceable from raw material to finished product• Stable under most sterilization techniques (steam, dry heat, plasma,

ethylene oxide gas, gamma irradiation)• Withstands a wide temperature range• Dimensionally stable• Resistant to corrosion, chemicals, disinfectants,

solvents, cleaning agents and gamma radiation• Biocompatibility per ISO 10993-5, FDA compliant• High impact strength• Easy to machine• Lightweight• Cost effective• Design flexibility• Availability in numerous colors for color-coding• Pre-certified materials mean faster time to market• Excellent performance• Wears well, even without lubrication• Quieter than metal

Applications• Laboratory equipment — tubing, seals, optics and lenses, high

temperature fluid handling, microorganism fermentation, septa and sensors, bio reactors, films, nozzles, adapters, caps

• Pharmaceutical — tablet production, high purity piping, pharma handling and packaging, hoses, filling and dosing equipment, pro-cess containers, mixing equipment, blister packages

• Dental — instruments, grips, drilling and suction equipment, polish-ing equipment, temporary abutments

• Medical — brachytherapy and radiation therapy components, instruments, trays, kidney dialyzers, blood oxygenators, prosthetic and orthopedic appliances, syringes/syringe stoppers, equipment housings, catheters

• Surgical applications — endoscopic and minimally invasive equip-ment, surgical trays and grips

• Diagnostic equipment — MRI and X-ray machines, ultrasound and radiation equipment, mass spectro-meters, centrifuges, trays

• Safety equipment such as hazmat protective suits, gloves, face shields, eyewear

• Corrosion-resistant workstations and equipment

Did you know? Describing the surgery to implant the first artificial human heart, surgeon William Devries, said the new heart snapped into place “just like closing Tupperware.”

Plastics, Just What the Doctor (and lab) Ordered

Life Sciences

Life sciences applications demand durability, reliability, regulatory compliance, tracability from raw materials and design flexibility. What’s the Rx for life sciences needs? Plastics, of course!