Plastics producers 'must understand' the needs of laboratory equipment manufacturers

Laboratory equipment manufacturers' needs can be better served by plastics producers if they understand the function and purpose of the devices to be made, according to Stephen Knowles, managing director of product development agency Industrial Design Consultancy.

Speaking at Plastics, Design and Moulding (PDM) 2010, he explained that the medical devices industry and the plastics sector can work together to help ensure that modern polymers are used to create products that are useful and cost-effective.

However, laboratory equipment manufacturers' specific needs must be taken into account if the right kinds of plastics are to be selected for each application.

"It is only through an in-depth understanding of polymers in the context of medical classification and regulations that superior-quality products can be designed," he told delegates.

The PDM 2010 exposition was held in Telford on May 18th-20th, with the 2011 event already scheduled to take place at ExCel in London on May 17th and 18th next year.