Bormed™ innovations bring manufacturing and user benefits to healthcare sector

Borealis’ focus on advances for the pharmaceutical packaging sector is one of the highlights of the company’s presence at K 2010. With its Bormed range of high performance polyolefins, Borealis, a leading provider of chemical and innovative plastics solutions, is one of the few polymer companies in the world capable of meeting all the stringent requirements of the healthcare industry.

Borealis’ Bormed product offering rests on four pillars: security of supply; dedicated materials; additional support; and innovation. The combination of these focus areas ensures that Borealis’ customers can rely on peace of mind materials which meet the highest quality standards and fulfil all regulatory requirements for pharmaceutical and medical applications.

At K 2010 Borealis highlights two of its latest developments from its range of Bormed dedicated polyolefins for the healthcare segment. Bormed LE6601PH for flexible ampoules and Bormed SC820CF for IV pouches reinforce Borealis’ K 2010 theme of “Creating New Horizons” for its customers.

Bormed LE6601PH was developed to meet the healthcare market’s increasing focus on self-administered medications. Simple to squeeze ampoules based on Bormed LE6601PH allow users of all ages to dispense treatments such as eye, ear and nose drops without professional assistance. The material has been introduced in response to market demand and in line with Borealis’ commitment to broaden its Bormed offering with a special focus on BFS (blow, fill, seal) applications.

Bormed LE6601PH is a low density polyethylene (LDPE) with good transparency that brings assured end-user performance as well as manufacturing benefits to flexible, single-use ampoules for self-administered medications which do not require post steam sterilisation. The ampoules can be sterilised using ethylene oxide (EtO) or gamma radiation up to 50 kGy.

Converters can take advantage of the flexibility offered by Bormed LE6601PH. The grade allows trouble-free conversion on standard blow moulding machines as well as blow, fill and seal (BFS) machines. Wall thickness and ampoule weight are easy to control thanks to its optimised molecular weight distribution that produces material with low swell. The balanced properties of Bormed LE6601PH make it suitable for use in dip-tubes in pharmaceutical sprays in addition to flexible ampoules.

Another Bormed development leading the way in creating new opportunities for improved performance and efficiency in the healthcare market is Bormed SC820CF for primary and secondary medical pouches. This random heterophasic polypropylene copolymer for cast- and blown film applications combines softness with toughness, is steam sterilisable and maintains good optical and mechanical properties after retorting. It is intended as blending component or coextrusion layer for primary pouches, as IV solutions, nutrition and dialysis fluids. Further it is used as part of the solution for secondary wrap films for dust and vapor barrier and protection. This new material is contributing to all PP solutions pouch solutions, which serve as a viable alternative to commonly used glass bottles and PVC pouches.

“Population growth coupled with an increase in the elderly population is putting a strain on traditional healthcare services and creating greater focus by the pharmaceutical and medical device industry on self-administered medications,” comments Wim Roels, Borealis Senior Vice President for Film and Fibre. “As a leading supplier with more than 25 years’ experience in serving this sector, customers see Borealis as a trusted provider of support and material solutions that respond to their latest challenges.”

“Polyolefins offer a distinct combination of advantages that makes them highly-attractive for healthcare applications,” adds Thierry Chevrier, Borealis Vice President of the Moulding Business Unit. “We will continue to come up with innovative solutions that respond to our partners needs along the value chain, creating new horizons together.”