How LSR stacks up

The healthcare plastic device market already represents over $4 billion in sales in North America. Demand for healthcare devices continues to grow as the population ages. In the U.S., nearly 13,000 individuals are expected to turn 60 each day over the next 20 years. This trend bodes well for LSR, a material that helps healthcare product designers meet increasing demands for devices with greater complexity and precision at lower costs. In fact, sales of LSR for medical application in North America alone are expected to increase 50% by 2015.

As more rubber and plastics molders enter the LSR processing arena, it’s increasingly important to provide specialized tooling to meet customers’ complex business requirements. The benefits of using LSR are numerous, but are only realized when done correctly and through partners and suppliers that provide off-the-shelf options as well as the technical know-how and support necessary to get up-and-running.

Manufacturers that incorporate LSR into their products should work with molding suppliers that invest in new technology, standardize and automate their manufacturing processes, and provide value-added services for moving medical products to market quickly. DME is one of several industry partners helping companies accomplish these goals.