InterviewPlastics use in health care to grow – SABIC IP

25 August 2009 18:27  [Source: ICIS news]

NEW YORK (ICIS news)--The use of plastics in the health care sector is expected to continue growing for the foreseeable future, a SABIC Innovative Plastics (IP) executive said on Tuesday.

“We see plastics starting to replace metal more and more in a variety of [health care] applications, primarily due to the weight reduction achieved by using plastic,” said Tom O’Brien, a health care product marketing manager for SABIC IP.

The plastics market for health care and medical applications continues to grow at a rate of about 5-6%/year, primarily due to the need for more sophisticated health care options, he added.

Market growth is expected to remain strong as more consumers pursue home health care options, said O’Brien.

“With more [taking part in] home health care, there is a need for smaller, lightweight devices that must look good while still performing well,” he said.

Another key trend is the increased desire for applications that are safer to both the patient and the caregiver, said O’Brien.

“These could be devices that are easier to use, or [relate to] replacing glass to help eliminate the biohazard risk,” he said.

SABIC IP is the plastics subsidiary of Saudi Arabia-based SABIC. The company said it has targeted several segments within the health care market, including fluid/drug delivery, surgical instruments, and cardiovascular and blood care, as well as the orthopaedic, respiratory and powered medical segments.

“Customers are looking for suppliers that are committed to the market and can supply quality materials and meet the ever increasing demands of this market,” said O’Brien.

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By: Ivan Lerner
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