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When you want to show off your molding acumen, medical applications are a good way to go. At Fakuma this week, injection mold machine makers Arburg and Engel demonstrated their expertise, the former producing a lab-on-chip component and the latter, pipette tips.

The lab-on-chip part shown above is being produced on an Allrounder More 1600 press in a 2+2 cavity mold. It’s the first time this machine has been displayed at a trade show, said Arburg. Covestro supplied the material — Makrolon 2805 and 2405 polycarbonate. Shot and part weights, respectively, are 27 and 16 grams. It’s not surprising given the intricate design and precision requirements of the microfluidic chip that the cycle time spans 45 seconds. Check it out: There’s no chip shortage at the Arburg booth (A3/3101), and you’re welcome to grab a sample.

Meanwhile, Engel is putting an e-mac 180 through its paces at booth 5204 in hall A5. The machine with an 1,800-ton clamping force is molding pipette tips out of Borealis Boremed polypropylene. Part weight is 19.5 grams. The system includes a 64-cavity mold from Tanner and Engel's own viper 12 robot. Cycle time is 6 seconds.

On the material side, Actega is featuring its PVC-free compounds for medical products at booth 5002 in hall B5. The ProvaMed TPE D1341, D1345, and D1349 compounds are specially designed for the manufacture of drip chambers. The plasticizer-free materials enable complex constructions in elastic and transparent products. Plasticizers such as DEHP have been linked to health concerns, notes Actega. Also, the company adds, some active ingredients are not compatible with PVC.

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