Dow Corning extends healthcare application center in Belgium

Because it is biocompatible and exhibits a number of other desirable properties, liquid silicone rubber (LSR) is a popular material choice for medical device manufacturers producing catheters, tubing, seals, and related products. However, it is not a simple material to process. Now, European companies exploring the use of LSR and other silicones in medical applications have a new resource at their disposal: an expanded healthcare application center at Dow Corning’s EU headquarters in Seneffe, Belgium.

The facility combines Dow Corning’s expertise in silicone materials with state-of-the-art equipment to support advances in medical, pharmaceutical and healthcare technologies, the company said in a press release. In addition to providing training, the center offers an array of prototyping services, technical assistance, materials characterization and testing, and molding support for customers designing healthcare products with the company’s medical-grade silicone-based technologies.

“Europe is one of the healthcare industry’s fastest growing geographic markets, and we are projecting significant demand across the region for LSR and high-consistency rubber product lines, as well as other healthcare materials, over the next several years,” said Jean-Pierre Latere, Application Engineer and Technical Service Manager for Healthcare, in a prepared statement.

The expansion of the application center earlier this month coincides with the 50th anniversary of Dow Corning’s Healthcare Industries Materials Site (HIMS) in Hemlock, MI. HIMS is dedicated solely to manufacturing materials for medical, pharmaceutical, and healthcare applications, and is registered and audited by FDA.

Both sites are part of Dow Corning’s Global Registration to ISO 9001.