How Our Technologies Are Helping the Medical Industry

Here at H&T Presspart, we develop and supply world-class precision-formed components for a wide range of industries in both metal and plastic. We specialise in the manufacturing of metal components, metal pressings and stamped parts.

We serve high-volume markets for many different industrial sectors, including the medical industry. This includes creating the initial design through to the development of the product at high levels of repeatability, and at a low cost. There has never been a more crucial time for high-volume development of products for the medical industry; here’s a closer look at how H&T are helping the medical industry.

Deep Drawn Pressings

We can craft deep drawn pressings with intricate designs without the need for expensive secondary operations; our process uses less material to reduce wastage and create seamless parts that work together perfectly to prevent any leakage of gas or liquids.

All the tooling is designed and made in-house to ensure a high-quality product that can be produced in high volumes. With more than 45 years of experience behind us, we have mastered the design and development process for a range of industries, including medicine.

Developments in the medical industry has meant that equipment and instruments have evolved and become much more complex over time. These advancements and more rigorous regulations have heightened the need for perfectly crafted tools that are precise and, above all, sanitary and suited for medical use. With our accurate and seamless deep drawn stamping technology, we can manufacture medical tools to exact dimensions and requirements.

Our deep drawn pressings can be manufactured in a variety of substrates, including:

• Aluminium
• Stainless steel
• Carbon steel
• Brass
• Nickel-Silver
• Galfan
• Monel

Steel alloys are the preferred material for the medical industry due to sanitation and biocompatibility applications. In the medical sector, deep drawn stamping is often used to manufacture the likes of syringes, pacemakers, insulin delivery devices and surgical devices.

Innovation at H&T

Innovation is the driving force behind everything we do at H&T. We believe innovation is what drives our team to think about existing technologies and search for new solutions to existing issues. It’s how we make changes to our products, processes, and services. These innovative changes result in something that adds real value to our customers.

One example of how our innovative way of thinking has benefitted the medical industry is dose counting. In 2003, the FDA published a document that stipulated products for the US drug market needed to possess a dose-counting feature, which at the time was not regarded as a major issue as pharmaceutical companies were protected by their patents.

However, as certain patents expired and generic companies looked to enter the market, the demand for dose counters grew. This generated interest in H&T as a producer of actuators for dose counters, a relatively expensive part. Demand was created for a lower-cost component, so we decided to address the market as a whole, including emerging markets for generic products.

H&T is one of the largest manufacturers of plastic actuators, covering about one-third of the market. Per FDA specifications, the dose counters need to have a clear end-of-life indicator, informing patients that it is close to being empty. We patented the Quantum end-of-life indicator as a solution, so patients don’t run out of their medication. It is built into the MDI canister features which has no mechanical parts, ensuring the patient has a fail-safe, reliable end-of-life calibration system.

The component counts every stroke to give patients an accurate count of how many doses are left in the canister. These devices require a lot of components, and H&T came up with something cheap enough to attract generic companies thanks to our innovation. We not only brought these product variations to the market but did so at a more affordable price.

Cleaning

We offer a range of processes, including advanced cleaning, an essential component in the medical industry. Components often end up covered in oil and residue when they are produced, which needs to be removed.

When cleaning, we use only the most up-to-date and fully automated wash plant machinery. Our machine ensures optimum cleaning finish for all the components we manufacture; it is suitable for all the different types of metal we work with. Our advanced cleaning process is designed and commissioned by our in-house engineering team to ensure it achieves a bespoke customer solution.

At H&T, our expert engineers can design and produce the exact parts you need for your equipment and machinery. With state-of-the-art technology and equipment at our disposal, we can achieve a precision tool that is cost-effective and innovative. From deep-drawn components to complex piercings, our precision metal engineering can meet all your requirements.

Contact H&T today to find out more about our metal component manufacturing in the medical industry as well as many more industries and sectors.