Click to Expand A medical tray serves a variety of purposes in healthcare settings, primarily in holding sterilized parts and equipment. It is also used for organizing and transporting medical instruments or facilitating efficient workflows during medical procedures. A medical tray plastic is a specialized material used to manufacture these trays. This blog discusses the types of plastic used for manufacturing medical trays, focusing on specific properties that make each ideal for this application. Common Types of Plastics for Medical Trays Plastics are preferred for manufacturing medical trays due to the specific requirements of the healthcare environment. Some common types include: Polyethylene Terephthalate Glycol (PETG): This lightweight and versatile plastic is used in medical trays for its ease of molding and resistance to chemicals. It is commonly employed in single-use or disposable trays. Polypropylene (PP): Known for its excellent chemical resistance, polypropylene is a popular choice for medical trays. It can withstand repeated sterilization processes without compromising its structural integrity, making it suitable for various medical applications. Polycarbonate (PC): Polycarbonate is valued for its transparency, impact resistance, and biocompatibility. It is often used in medical trays, especially when visibility of the contents is important. Polyetherimide (PEI): Recognized for its high-temperature resistance, PEI is suitable for components that undergo autoclaving and other sterilization processes. Polyphenylsulfone (PPSU): Similar to PEI, PPSU is known for its ability to withstand high temperatures and maintain its mechanical properties. It is often chosen for medical trays requiring repeated sterilization. Key Properties To Consider When Choosing a Medical Tray Plastic The ideal plastics for medical trays exhibit characteristics that address the specific needs of the healthcare environment, including: Biocompatibility When it comes to medical trays, biocompatibility should be prioritized. This means it should not cause adverse reactions when in contact with living tissues. This is particularly important for trays that come into direct contact with medical instruments and devices during procedures. Chemical Resistance Medical trays often come into contact with various chemicals, including cleaning agents and disinfectants. The plastic used should resist corrosion and degradation when exposed to these substances to maintain its structural integrity. This ensures that the trays remain durable and reliable over time. High-Temperature Resilience Sterilization is a routine practice in healthcare, demanding materials that can withstand high temperatures without degradation. A good medical tray plastic must be able to endure autoclaving and other sterilization processes. This ensures that the trays can be effectively cleaned and sterilized without compromising their structure. Compliance With Medical Standards The healthcare industry adheres to stringent standards to ensure the highest quality of patient care. Medical tray plastics must align with these standards to guarantee their suitability for medical use. Generally, materials that comply with ISO 10993 biocompatibility standards are often preferred, guaranteeing that the materials have undergone rigorous testing for biological safety. Jamestown Plastics: Your #1 Source for Superior Custom Plastics Jamestown Plastics is one of the most highly diversified custom plastic companies globally! We provide a wide range of products for the healthcare industry, including light-gauge and heavy-gauge device trays and tray systems. With our Quality Assurance Program backed by cutting-edge equipment and seasoned personnel we guarantee the highest standards from concept to delivery. Our in-house design and tooling work also helps maintain strict project control, reducing lead times for client orders. Contact us today to get quality plastic products!
Heavy Gauge vs. Light Gauge Thermoforming Thermoforming is a versatile and cost-effective manufacturing method to create plastic parts and products. One key consideration in the process is choosing between heavy gauge and light gauge materials, which refer to the plastic sheet’s thickness. Both options have distinct benefits, contingent upon the specific project application and requirements. In this blog article, we will examine [...]
Clamshells vs. Blisters Packaging is often the first point of contact between a customer and a product. As such, it can impact consumer perceptions. Therefore, choosing the most suitable type of packaging that protects the product and conveys the brand’s message effectively is essential. Clamshells and blisters are two popular packaging types that can provide various benefits, from [...]
Medical Thermoforming Applications Thermoforming is a versatile manufacturing process that entails heating plastic sheets to a malleable state and then forming it with molds. Its significance in the medical field stems from its ability to produce cost-effective, lightweight, and disposable products that meet stringent quality requirements. Moreover, its accessibility, dependability, and efficacy make it indispensable for delivering safe [...]
Reshoring and Nearshoring In recent years, global supply chains have encountered challenges such as trade conflicts, political volatility, natural calamities, and the COVID-19 pandemic. Consequently, numerous companies in the United States have had to reconsider their supply chain approaches. For instance, some are halting decades of outsourcing and offshoring by bringing their production back home or closer to [...]
The Ultimate Guide to Plastic ManufacturingIn the plastics industry, each polymer option presents unique mechanical characteristics. As a result, it is possible to fabricate almost anything with every material, and most plastic manufacturing processes cover a vast array of product development requirements. In […]
Why Plastic Medical Trays Are Essential for Safe and Sterile Procedures Click to Expand Plastic medical trays are often used in healthcare settings to assist in keeping those areas contamination-free. These trays can also be used for organizing and sterilizing healthcare instruments and equipment, transporting medications and supplies, for specimen collection (providing a clean and secure environment for handling biological samples), or found within labs. Plastic medical [...]
Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle: How to Incorporate the 3R’s Into Any Business That Deals With Plastics There is a lot of plastic in the world, with 31.9 million metric tons of plastic waste being improperly disposed of globally. Luckily, green packaging is making an indent in our society, but until it’s fully implemented, it is important to do the most we can, at both a manufacturer and consumer level, to reduce [...]
Electronics Thermoforming Applications While the origin of thermoforming can be traced back to the 19th Century, it was the mid-20th century when it was first introduced to the electronics sector. The process entails heating plastic sheet and shaping it into a specific form to manufacture various electronic products or packaging for those products. This approach has revolutionized the [...]
Unlocking the Future of Design With Plastic Thermoforming Techniques Thermoforming is a manufacturing process employed to shape thermoplastic sheet into specific designs. This method involves heating plastic sheet until it becomes pliable, then forming it over or into a mold to achieve the desired shape. Its versatility and efficiency make it a preferred choice for creating products ranging from disposable containers to intricate parts [...]
Understanding the Plastic Manufacturing Process Click to Expand Plastic is a versatile material that can be molded into a wide range of shapes and sizes, making it ideal for various applications. From food packaging and containers to medical equipment and car parts, plastic manufacturing plays a crucial role in the production of items. The process begins with the selection of raw [...]
Choosing the Right Plastic Products Manufacturing Partner Click to ExpandPlastic is one of the most preferred manufacturing materials due to its durability and ductility, with different components used in the medical, automotive, electrical, aerospace, marine, and construction industries. In particular, the plastic thermoforming process has upsides over other plastic, metal, and FRP manufacturing techniques, including low tooling costs and faster product development. Establishing [...]
Why Thermoforming Could Be The Best Choice For Manufacturing Your Product Click to ExpandThis blog will cover the basics of thermoforming and how it helps different industries stay on top of the market with its practical and financial benefits. What Is Thermoforming? Thermoforming transforms plastic sheet into a 3-dimensional shape using heat, vacuum, and pressure. In this process, plastic is heated to its softening point and then [...]
Buffalo Business First: Clamtainer® revolutionizes packaging industry Buffalo Business First: It’s an exciting time at Jamestown Plastics, thanks to a brand-new product line with a catchy name and an innovative design that continues this company’s reputation for excellence. Clamtainer is a game changer in the field of transparent “clamshell” packaging and a vast improvement over flimsy traditional methodologies. Retailers and consumers alike are [...]
What Is Thermoforming? Thermoforming transforms thermoplastics through a series of processes, including heat, vacuum, and pressure, applied to a plastic sheet material. It utilizes a variety of machines to produce plastic products, including high-speed in-line thermoforming lines with robotic automation, light-gauge roll-fed machines, and larger sheet-fed machines for heavy-gauge products. This process allows parts to be produced with lower [...]
Automotive Thermoforming Applications As the automotive industry continues to evolve, the need for fuel-efficient and lightweight vehicles has grown exponentially. This has led to a renewed interest in thermoforming, a technique that has existed since the 1940s. It is the process of producing parts by heating thermoplastic sheet material until it becomes pliable, then forming it into a [...]
Dunnage Trays: Protecting Products Every Step of the Way Click to Expand Dunnage or packaging trays are specialized containers used in the manufacturing and logistics industries to securely hold and transport products or components. They are made from materials like plastic or metal and are designed to protect items from damage during storage or transit. Moreover, their configuration often matches the form of the things [...]
Industries Leveraging Custom Plastic Thermoforming Plastic thermoforming has become increasingly popular as a top manufacturing process in various industries. Using heat and pressure to shape plastic sheet into proper forms provides an efficient and cost-effective solution for product manufacturing. Moreover, it presents numerous benefits over alternative manufacturing methods, including decreased tooling costs and improved material efficiency. Here are some of the [...]
Thermoforming 101: The Process That’s Revolutionizing Product DesignThermoforming is a manufacturing process that shapes plastic sheet into specific forms using heat and pressure. It is commonly employed to produce various products, such as packaging, trays, containers, and automotive components. This method offers cost-effectiveness, rapid production cycles, and the ability to easily create complex shapes. What is thermoforming? In this article, we will answer [...]
