Aiming at exploring new opportunities for medical plastics and rubber in the era of “Big Health”, the 6th Edition CPRJ Medical Plastics and Rubber Conference and Showcase grandly kicked off today (12 September) in Suzhou, China.

Hundreds of industry professionals participated in the conference in which about 25 thematic presentations were delivered. Besides, more than 50 leading suppliers showcased their latest technologies and solutions on site.

The conference was hosted by Adsale Group and Medical Polymer Products Branch of China Association for Medical Devices Industry. It was organized by China Plastic & Rubber Journal (CPRJ) and Adsale Plastics Network (AdsaleCPRJ.com) and co-organized by FC-SCMP Club.

Video: CPRJ Medical Plastics Conference in town  

Key takeaways from inspirational presentations

Chinese medical device exports moving to high-end development

According to Yunzhang Cheng, Dean of Medical Device Institute, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, based on the data disclosed by Chinese listed medical device companies, overseas revenues accounted for 28.32% in 2023 and shows a downward trend.

Under the Belt and Road Initiative, the main exporting countries for Chinese medical devices are Thailand, South Korea, Malaysia, among others. Meanwhile, Russia accounts for the highest export trade volume, and South Korea is the country with the highest import volume.

Yunzhang Cheng, Dean of Medical Device Institute, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology

Feifei Ren, Deputy Secretary General, Medical Polymer Products Branch of China Association for Medical Devices Industry, pointed out that China has indicated clear requirements for the high-quality development of medical devices. 

They accelerate the R&D of key core technologies, solve technological equipment bottlenecks, and achieve independent and controllable high-end medical equipment.

Feifei Ren, Deputy Secretary General, Medical Polymer Products Branch of China Association for Medical Devices Industry

In her presentation, Sophie Liu, Director of Microbial Quality and Sterility Assurance in Asia Pacific, Johnson & Johnson Medical (Suzhou) Limited, shared the factors that influence the release of final sterilization parameters of medical and health care products.

The factors include expected product functions, qualified product raw materials, product packaging, production processes, and sterilization technology. Sophie Liu explained that adopting parameters for sterilization can ensure the prevention of infection when doctors and nurses use healthcare products (such as devices) for diagnosis and treatment. It can also ensure the prevention of infection in patients who use healthcare products.

Sophie Liu, Director of Microbial Quality and Sterility Assurance in Asia Pacific, Johnson & Johnson Medical (Suzhou) Limited

Silicone is widely used in medical devices. Bao Sun, Chairman of Henan Tuoren Medical Device Co., Ltd., talked about the application of silicone in anesthesia products, such as endotracheal intubation in artificial airways, laryngeal masks, anesthesia masks, breathing tubes, mechanical pump reservoirs in precise infusion, etc.

Among these, the low-injury, inflatable laryngeal mask combines the features of Classic laryngeal mask with soft wall, Proseal laryngeal mask for esophageal drainage, Supreme laryngeal mask with ergonomic shaping, and Naruto laryngeal mask for guiding difficult airway intubation.

Bao Sun, Chairman of Henan Tuoren Medical Device Co., Ltd. and President of Tuoren Holding Group- Perioperative and Critical Illness

Yifei Dai, Managing Director of IDC China, Industrial Design Consultancy, pointed out that the competitiveness of medical devices can be improved through usability designs. Clinical observation and research, clinical needs analysis, and design opportunity conception can provide in-depth analysis and understanding of user requirements.

For example, the patented fixed-dose injection pen developed by Industrial Design Consultancy is suitable for different treatment methods and is highly safe.

Yifei Dai, Managing Director of IDC China, Industrial Design Consultancy

In his presentation, Tony Pei, Head of Quality, Yuwell Group, discussed the market situation and development of medical devices of the Chinese and international markets. According to him, China's export value of medical consumables has seen the most significant growth, with a year-on-year increase of 8.55%.

In China, high-end medical devices are still highly dependent on imports. In the first half of 2024, China's imported medical devices mainly included testing reagents, high-value consumables, high-end medical equipment and key components.

Tony Pei expects that medical devices will be more intelligent, personalized, and efficient in the future. At the same time, as the demand for medical care increases and the aging of the population intensifies, the market of medical devices will continue to grow.

Tony Pei, Head of Quality, Yuwell Group

Chunjiang Yao, Head of Experience Innovation, Shanghai United Imaging Healthcare Co.,Ltd., introduced the company's R&D system. It includes product R&D department, software and hardware R&D platform, Central Research Institute, and Design Innovation Institute. 

They focus on product definition and technology, general software, hardware and technology platforms, basic & core technologies, and design and experience innovation. He believes that experiential innovation should be user-oriented.

Chunjiang Yao, Head of Experience Innovation, Shanghai United Imaging Healthcare Co.,Ltd.

Haijun Cao, R&D Director, Jiangyin Hongmeng Rubber Plastic Product Co.,Ltd., believes that the development trend of drug device combination products will move towards technological innovation, personalized medicine, interdisciplinary integration, market demand, and other directions.

Technological innovation includes intelligence, miniaturization, wearable technology, etc. For example, intelligent drug delivery equipment can monitor patients' physiological parameters and adjust drug delivery rates based on data, achieving personalized treatment.

Haijun Cao, R&D Director, Jiangyin Hongmeng Rubber Plastic Product Co.,Ltd.

From the perspectives of production, sales and supply, Shidan Tian, Branch Office Manager, Shandong Weigao Group Medical Polymer Company Limited, analyzed the improvement plans for managing pain points.

He highlighted the following:

- Laying the foundation for supply chain big data management through the creation of digital workshops

- Cost refinement of single product provides accurate data support for pricing

- Set standard values for compliant production and have the system automatically reads and verifies to ensure consistency

- Collaboration between departments as well as process optimization and centralization of the supply chain are important to increase efficiency

Shidan Tian, Branch Office Manager, Shandong Weigao Group Medical Polymer Company Limited

In her presentation, Peipei Fan, Manager of Regulatory Affairs Department, Tacro Technology Co., Ltd. recommended to use raw materials with relevant human clinical application history as much as possible, and compare them with the raw materials of similar products on the market.

For new materials used in medical devices for the first time, relevant research information such as safety evaluation and application history corresponding to the type and time of contact between the material and human tissue must be provided.

Peipei Fan, Manager of Regulatory Affairs Department, Tacro Technology Co., Ltd.

Precision multi-cavity and rapid prototyping for efficiency increase

Gomas Cheng, Sales Director - Molding Solutions China, Barnes Molding Solutions (Jiangsu) Co. Ltd., introduced the company's advanced injection molding solutions, including hot runners, control technologies (temperature control, motion control, flow control, processing control, etc.), as well as single-sided molds, stacked molds, multi-component and cubic molds used in multi-cavity fields. These solutions are widely used in medical, automotive and home appliance industries.

Gomas Cheng, Sales Director - Molding Solutions China, Barnes Molding Solutions (Jiangsu) Co. Ltd.

Qiongyao Cui, TK Precision Mold Technology Expert, TK MOLD (SHENZHEN) LIMITED, shared how the company’s medical molds can bring efficiency improvement to customers.  

TK MOLD offers avariety of precision multi-cavity medical mold technologies: slender core mold technology, hot runner and mold technologies for micro products, multi-component mold technology, ultra-high cavity mold technology (96-384 cavities), stacked mold technology, etc.

Qiongyao Cui, TK Precision Mold Technology Expert, TK MOLD (SHENZHEN) LIMITED

Lei Jiang, Senior Project Manager, Changsha Mobest Hot Runner Technology Co., Ltd., introduced the application of multi-cavity side injection system and multi-head and valve system. Among them, the characteristics of the multi-cavity side injection system effectively save raw materials, shorten the molding cycle, improve appearance quality, and allow more convenient maintenance.

Lei Jiang, Senior Project Manager, Changsha Mobest Hot Runner Technology Co., Ltd.

Emily Zhang, Marketing Director, DONGGUAN SHENG AN PLASTICS MACHINERY CO., LTD., introduced that the extrusion process of fluoroplastics involves multiple key steps:

- Dry the fluoroplastic raw materials to remove moisture and other volatile substances

- Adjust the temperature setting of the extruder according to the characteristics of fluoroplastics

- Set reasonable screw speed and feeding speed

- Adjust the water flow rate and temperature of the cooling system

- Cut or roll the end-product

Emily Zhang, Marketing Director, DONGGUAN SHENG AN PLASTICS MACHINERY CO., LTD.

Junjie Wu, Sr. Sales Engineer, Motan Taicang Co., Ltd., introduced Motan's product series in storing, drying, transporting, metering/mixing, and control. In the field of medical rubber processing, it covers multiple areas such as injection molding, extrusion, blow molding, etc.

He believes that future processing equipment will develop around digitalization, visualization, interaction, energy conservation, artificial intelligence, and other directions.

Junjie Wu, Sr. Sales Engineer, Motan Taicang Co., Ltd.

Optimize material selection and packaging design to control cost

Qing Yu, Registration Department Manager, Baxter Medical Equipment (Shanghai) Co., Ltd., stated that different sterilization methods (steam sterilization, ethylene oxide sterilization, radiation sterilization, etc.) and packaging methods will have different impacts on the product's shelf life.

In addition to evaluating their impact on the product, it is also important to consider their effective sterilization period. Technical barriers to material performance in the aseptic packaging industry include sustainability, stability, adaptability to sterilization methods, microbial barrier properties, biocompatibility, and sealing effectiveness.

Qing Yu, Registration Department Manager, Baxter Medical Equipment (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.

Brady Tong, Asia Pacific General Manager, Oliver Healthcare Packaging (Suzhou) Co., Ltd., talked about the popular formats of medical device packaging, such as sterilization bags, blister boxes and cover materials, support cards and sterilization bags, automatic blister packaging, etc.

He also explained that the cost optimization factors of sterilization bags include materials, design, automation solutions, etc. Besides, the use of HDPE support cards and sterilization bags can reduce the volume and make them more convenient to use.

Brady Tong, Asia Pacific General Manager, Oliver Healthcare Packaging (Suzhou) Co., Ltd.

Enrique Zhang, Sr. Product & Project Manager (APAC), TekniPlex Healthcare, introduced that the medical grade PVC and TPE series. Through innovative design, they can be applied to various products such as micro medical pipelines, multi row medical pipelines, medical silicone components, etc. These are suitable for extrusion, injection molding, and blow molding processes.

Enrique Zhang, Sr. Product & Project Manager (APAC), TekniPlex Healthcare

Tony Wang, Segment Manager, China, Trelleborg Sealing Solutions (China) Co., Ltd., introduced that Trelleborg’s diverse range of solutions, including engineering molded parts, drug washout and combined formulations, extruded products, micro parts, integrated solutions, secondary processing, immersion and coating, precision tools and machined parts, silicone sheets and films, finished medical devices, etc.

Tony Wang, Segment Manager, China, Trelleborg Sealing Solutions (China) Co., Ltd.

Yipeng Yang, Division Manager, Shenzhen Mindray Bio-Medical Electronics Co.,Ltd. analyzed the design of medical product packaging from the perspective of DFL (degree of financial leverage). 

From an environmental perspective, factors to be considered include lightweight, plastic removal, miniaturization, transportation methods, turnover packaging, etc. From a cost perspective, packaging material costs, warehousing costs, logistics costs and others, need to be taken into account.

Yipeng Yang, Division Manager, Shenzhen Mindray Bio-Medical Electronics Co.,Ltd.

Yvonne Luo, Marketing Director, Suzhou Virgil Medical Technology Co.,Ltd., stated that sterilization packaging for medical devices helps establish a sterile barrier system & SBS (performance and quality of packaging materials are the primary conditions determining the length of storage time), device protection (protecting medical devices from external environmental influences such as oxidation and moisture, thereby maintaining their effectiveness and service life), ease of transportation and storage (reducing the risk of damage and pollution during transportation), and reducing the risk of paper scraps, dust, and pollution.

Yvonne Luo, Marketing Director, Suzhou Virgil Medical Technology Co.,Ltd.

Zhen Yang, General Manager, Guizhou Chienyeh Pharmaceutical Packaging Co., Ltd., analyzed the current pharmaceutical packaging innovation and development trends from the perspective of green materials, energy-saving and efficient production equipment, advanced processes that guarantee physical/chemical indicators, and target user groups.

Zhen Yang, General Manager, Guizhou Chienyeh Pharmaceutical Packaging Co., Ltd.

Kevin Luo, Business Development Manager of High-Performance Polymer BU, WANHUA CHEMICAL GROUP CO., LTD., emphasized that the company’s innovative medical material solutions empower the thriving development of “big health” industry.

As the medical industry is one of Wanhua Chemical’s strategic development directions, the company has a product portfolio covering engineering plastics, general plastics, elastomers, polyurethane, and other medical materials.

Kevin Luo, Business Development Manager of High-Performance Polymer BU, WANHUA CHEMICAL GROUP CO., LTD.

Christina Tang, APM AP Technical Service Consultant, The Chemours Company, shared with the audience that Chemours has inherited and continued DuPont's more than 80 years of history and experience in the development of fluoroplastics. Its Teflon fluoroplastic product series includes high-performance materials such as PTFE, PFA, FEP, ETFE, and AF, which have good electrical properties, chemical inertness, and heat resistance.

Christina Tang, APM AP Technical Service Consultant, The Chemours Company

Wenjing Zhao, Biocompatibility Manager, Fresenius Medical Care R&D (Shanghai) Co., Ltd., highlighted the importance of material compliance. She expects that there will be more regulations or directives on material compliance, and they will be updated faster than ever. Early product material screening and monitoring can effectively reduce risks.

Wenjing Zhao, Biocompatibility Manager, Fresenius Medical Care R&D (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.

Yang Zhou, General Manager of Supply Chain Center, Some Big Health Industry Company, shared how to build a cost and efficiency priority big health smart supply chain ecosystem platform centered on customers – from dimensions such as procurement cost, production cost, turnover days, total inventory, timely arrival rate of raw materials, and timely arrival rate of packaging materials – including origin supply chain platform, resource interconnection platform, and intelligent manufacturing platform.

Yang Zhou, General Manager of Supply Chain Center, Some Big Health Industry Company

ConnectME - precise business matching service

In order to facilitate one to one business matching across the supply chain, the organizers collected the purchasing requirements of 40+ enterprises and set up a special area for “ConnectME” on site, conducting 60+ online and offline business matching meetings on the spot.

Medical plastics and rubber suppliers on stage

At the conference, a concurrent exhibition was held, with suppliers from the upstream and downstream of medical plastics industry showcasing their innovative solutions, which include chemical raw materials, injection molding, molds and hot runners, extrusion, feeding and drying systems, pharmaceutical packaging, and so on.

Some of the innovative techologies and solutions showcased.

Barnes Molding Solutions (Jiangsu) Co. Ltd.

TK MOLD (SHENZHEN) LIMITED.

Motan Taicang Co., Ltd.

The Chemours Company

WANHUA CHEMICAL GROUP CO., LTD.

Changsha Mobest Hot Runner Technology Co., Ltd.

DONGGUAN SHENG AN PLASTICS MACHINERY CO., LTD.

Zhejiang Sonly Intelligent Equipment Co., Ltd.

The conference participants will be joining a plant visit tomorrow at MEI Medical Technologies Co., Ltd. Besides, two technology information exchange meetings will be organized with IntoCare Medical Technology (Suzhou) Co., Ltd. and Tuoren Group respectively.