DSM Dyneema invests in greater capacity to support medical device applications

To help medical device companies develop new clinical approaches that improve patient outcomes, DSM Dyneema, the producer of high performance polymer, announced last Thursday (Oct 2) a major milestone in its strategic plan to increase commitment by increasing manufacturing capacity and capabilities dedicated to Dyneema Purity, a specially developed proprietary medical-grade ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene fiber for use in medical applications where maximum strength and minimum weight are required.

The company will create its first line for manufacturing Dyneema Purity fiber at its Greenville, North Carolina, the US facility. The line will produce the latest grades, including Dyneema Purity TG dtex 25 TS180, which offers the same high specific strength as existing grades at thinner diameters, and Dyneema Purity UG, developed specifically to allow the development of strong, stable orthopedic implants that provide consistent performance over a longer term.

The planned Dyneema Purity production line will offer device manufacturers important advantages, including the ability to rapidly develop customized grades for specialized requirements, and faster time to market due to optimized production. The line will be operated and validated under ISO 13485, the specific requirements for the medical industry. The line will be operational in the middle of 2010.