Specialist Conference "Plastics Meet Medical Technology"

(Image credit: © iStock.com/megaflopp; © iStock.com/yoh4nn)

Medical technology is a high-tech industry that delivers services at the highest level for users and patients. More than half of the medical devices manufactured worldwide now consist of plastics. In medical technology, the requirements and expectations along the value chain are very high: those of patients for the product, those of manufacturers for their processors, and those of processors for their raw material suppliers. The Plastics Center in Leipzig (KUZ) takes this as an opportunity to support dialogue between companies from the medical technology and plastics technology sectors during the conference "Plastics Meet Medical Technology" from January 31 to February 1, 2018. The aim of the event is to discuss opportunities and perspectives, as well as challenges and risks faced by the industries.

From the perspective of plastic processors, a focus topic is the materials to be processed. Bioresorbable plastics are considered alongside polyurethanes, high-performance plastics, and silicones. Challenges in manufacturing small, micro-structured precision components for medical applications are also addressed in several presentations. In this context, there is an opportunity to visit the Application Center for Microplastic Technologies (MiKA) at the Plastics Center in Leipzig and the Biotechnological-Biomedical Center (BBZ). From the perspective of pharmaceutical companies, requirements are outlined that are imposed on machinery from a regulatory standpoint. These range from specialized tooling and automation solutions to production in cleanrooms.

Event partners of KUZ include the Biotechnological-Biomedical Center at the University of Leipzig (BBZ) and the biosaxony e.V. network.
The conclusion of the second day of the event is a workshop organized by the Saxon Economic Development Agency, which will present participants with opportunities to establish collaborations.

Alongside the lecture event, companies will have the opportunity to present themselves in the exhibition areas in the conference room and in the foyer.