TPT January 2018

I NDUS T RY

Asahi/America welcomes new business development manager

systems, individualised to meet customer needs. It manufactures corrosion- resistant thermoplastic fluid handling products, including valves, actuators, pipe and fittings. Asahi/America, Inc – USA Email: asahi@asahi-america.com Website: www.asahi-america.com

to Asahi/America, where he will work with the company’s western sales team on sales efforts and engineering specifications. His extensive background also includes experience with sales management, product development and marketing, and he holds a degree in business administration. Asahi/America provides solutions for fluid handling

THERMOPLASTIC fluid flow technology specialist Asahi/America, Inc has announced the addition of David Stiles to its business development team. Mr Stiles joined the company last year as business development manager for high purity piping systems in the western region. He brings 20 years of semiconductor industry experience

Korea Institute of Industrial Technology spearheads medical device R&D with Davis-Standard system

test (FAT) and site acceptance test (SAT) process. This made the entire process much easier.” Davis-Standard collaborated with KITECH at the company’s headquarters in Pawcatuck, Connecticut, USA, during the FAT process to address various resin properties and develop favourable process conditions for desired tube specifications. Dr Kim said the added support was essential due to the learning curve involved with addressing new medical extrusion processes. When the system was installed, the SAT process reinforced what was learned earlier, enabling KITECH to successfully develop prototypes and begin R&D initiatives. Davis-Standard supplied all line components, including direct- drive MEDD extruders with tooling and downstream equipment. “Working with KITECH to growmedical device manufacturing opportunities in Korea has been exciting,” said Sekaran Murugaiah, Davis-Standard vice president of business development, Asia. “We equipped the system to take on additional extruders and equipment, which will allow KITECH to run other products in the future. We look forward to building on the relationship and being a trusted supplier in this endeavour.”

industrial ecosystem of the consumable medical device field in Korea.” KITECH is a government-funded institute committed to growing Korea’s manufacturing industry through development, application and commercialisation of technologies as well as support for small and medium- sized enterprises (SMEs). Dr Kim and his team are currently using the new Davis-Standard system to develop catheters used in cardiovascular, endoscopic and epidural applications. They are also collaborating with several Korean companies on proprietary R&D projects. KITECH has been impressed with the feedscrew efficiency, die design and overall operation of the Davis-Standard system, which allows for resin versatility and processing of medical tubing with up to four lumens. Dr Kim added: “When we started researching equipment for purchase, there were few extruders capable of extruding multi-lumen tubes in South Korea. We heard about Davis- Standard’s reputation through medical exhibitions such as MD&M West and through online research. From the beginning, Davis-Standard put forth a great deal of effort to make sure both the purchase contract and equipment technology met our needs. We were especially impressed with Davis- Standard’s systematic first acceptance

IN response to South Korea’s emerging medical device manufacturing market- place, the Korea Institute of Industrial Technology (KITECH) has installed a Davis-Standard medical tubing system at its Biomedical Technology Center (BMT). The new system is groundbreaking in terms of South Korea’s medical tubing R&D capabilities, future innovation and economic development. According to Dr Woojin Kim, senior researcher, technology convergence R&BD Group at KITECH, the Davis-Standard system is significant in terms of both government and private industry initiatives. “The government of South Korea is interested in developing the disposable medical device field and several domestic companies are looking at the possibility of medical tubing extrusion,” said Dr Kim. “This system showcases multiple medical tubing possibilities, offers opportunities for R&D, and creates an atmosphere to enlarge the

Davis-Standard, LLC – USA Website: www.davis-standard.com

14

www.read-tpt.com

JANUARY 2018