In the medical industry, where precision and safety are paramount, protective packaging plays a critical role in ensuring the integrity and functionality of medical devices. H-O Products, a specialized manufacturer of custom medical packaging foam, is dedicated to providing innovative and reliable solutions that safeguard these valuable products throughout the supply chain.
Medical Packaging Foam Development Processes for an Insulin Pump
When searching for a reliable medical packaging foam manufacturer, a med-device OEM approached H-O Products to develop a comprehensive packaging solution for their new ambulatory pump, as well as foam gaskets for the pump itself. The goal was to reshore production from China to the United States, ensuring greater control over quality and supply chain.
The ambulatory pump packaging needed to provide reliable protection against external impact, vibration, moisture, and contaminants, requiring an overall design that precisely fit the pump’s unique dimensions and shape. Additionally, it was important to maintain the cleanliness of the device and prevent contamination.
H-O Products, with its understanding of medical packaging requirements and a proven track record in delivering high-quality solutions, was well positioned to address the OEM’s needs. Understanding the specific requirements for the ambulatory pump packaging, the expert team began a comprehensive development process, including:
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• Material Selection: Careful consideration was given to the properties of various foam materials to ensure they met the necessary criteria for protection, and durability. Initially, the OEM considered using a more expensive, static-proof foam material for the packaging. However, H-O Products’ expertise allowed them to determine that a standard 1.7 lb. PE foam was a more cost-effective and suitable option for this application. By leveraging their knowledge of foam materials and the specific requirements of the insulin pump, the team was able to recommend a solution that balanced performance and cost.
• Design and Prototyping: As part of the packaging reshoring process, H-O Products successfully navigated the challenges of working with Chinese language prints and drawings. By interpreting and translating the technical specifications, they were able to accurately understand the requirements for the packaging. H-O Products’ engineers worked with the customer to refine the packaging design, developing custom foam inserts and an outer housing to precisely accommodate the ambulatory pump. Prototypes were created and tested to validate the design and functionality.
• Custom Tooling Development: To ensure efficient and consistent production, H-O Products developed specialized tooling for cutting and shaping the foam materials. The foam container was precisely cut using waterjet technology, achieving tight tolerances of +/- 0.1 inches, ensuring a snug fit and optimal protection for the pump and its parts.
• Manufacturing and Quality Control: H-O Products is committed to delivering the highest quality medical packaging foam solutions. In this project, every part produced passed a thorough inspection process to verify conformance to specifications and detect any defects. To provide added assurance, the customer also inspects the parts upon receipt and again after assembly into the final product. This triple-checking ensures that the packaging components fulfill their requirements and contributes to the overall performance of the insulin pump.
The OEM was highly satisfied with the medical foam packaging solution, which exceeded their expectations in terms of quality, reliability, and performance.
Leverage Our Medical Packaging Foam Expertise
Foams come in a wide variety of types, each with unique properties such as density, chemical resistance, and temperature tolerances. Selecting the wrong foam can lead to costly issues like crumbling, fluid leaks or performance failures. Read more about the common types of foam for industrial applications and learn about our expertise ranging from polyurethane and silicone, to reticulated and acrylic.
As a leading foam product manufacturer, H-O Products offers expert guidance to help you choose the ideal foam for your specific applications. Our team’s deep understanding of foam types and functionalities will help ensure you make the best decision to support your project needs. If you have questions regarding medical packaging foam or custom engineered tape, pad and gasket solutions, contact us or fill out the form below and a member of our team will be in touch shortly.
About H-O Products
Our engineered products – including foam, rubber, polymeric and composite tapes, pads and gaskets – offer reliable sealing, cushioning, mounting and assembly in harsh environments, while minimizing downtime and maintenance costs. From prototype through final product, our customers can be confident in performance, reliability, and the continued support of our expert team. Learn more about H-O Products and how we can give your company a competitive edge in today’s global marketplace.