GE's Performance-Based Silicones Portfolio Offers the Pharmaceutical Industry Innovative Solutions to Address Current & Future Trends
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WILTON, CONN. - Mar. 20, 2006 - The pharmaceuticals industry is marked by regulatory requirements, changes in the medical industry, and competitive pressures. GE - Advanced Materials, Silicones addresses these issues by offering an expansive portfolio of high-performance silicone elastomer materials. GE's silicones portfolio targeted for use in pharmaceutical industry applications includes both high consistency and liquid elastomers that have been tested to USP Class VI biocompatibility1 standards. GE will be showcasing its offering at the INTERPHEX Show in New York in booth #1809.
"To succeed in a marketplace focused on quality, regulatory compliance, and safety, the pharma industry needs a strong, global partner with the resources and expertise to develop and customize high-performance materials," said Eric Luftig, GE global healthcare marketing manager. "Not only does GE offer an exceptionally broad selection of silicones, but our customization centers are second to none in quickly producing specialized grades."
GE's silicone elastomers exhibit exceptional stability over a wide range of temperatures. They can be found in many lab-scale as well as, pharmaceutical production equipment applications including transfer hose and tubing (including reinforced tubing for high pressure applications), stoppers, sealing systems, and well plates. Additionally, GE has a line of pharmaceutical-suitable antifoams: SAG* 471 and SAG 5693 to enable excellent foam control in a variety of applications including aerobic fermentation processes.
GE's materials respond to a growing list of trends in the industry:
o The need for portable, disposable, and flexible designs - GE's silicone materials can be easily extruded into a variety of hose and tubing configurations;
o Sterilization - The high thermal stability of silicones makes it an excellent candidate for applications requiring repeat sterilization;
o Regulatory compliance - GE offers several material solutions which have been tested to USP Class VI, ISO 10993, and/or EP2 test methods;
o Plant uptime and longer service life - GE's silicone solutions may offer increased productivity and reduction of maintenance costs through extended pump hose/tubing performance;
o Improved accuracy in measurement/dosage/flow control - GE offers low hysteresis material options available in both peroxide cure (SE4524U) and platinum (addition) cure (Tufel* III) ; and
o The need for speed combined with processing specifications - GE offers customized material solutions on a global basis in addition to its broad solutions portfolio.
GE recently introduced two new series of platinum-cure, heat-cured elastomers (HCEs) that are excellent candidates for applications such as hose and transfer tubing used in pharmaceutical manufacturing operations. Tufel I, a one-component, low volatile, platinum curable elastomer is based on the patented Addisil* catalyst technology. Tufel III, a two-component, platinum-cure, silicone elastomer provides high resilience and elastic memory as well as low hysteresis, helping to lengthen the service life in highly mechanical applications. The Tufel family of products offers regulatory compliance, enhanced mechanical performance, high clarity, improved storage flexibility, a broad range of durometers, and catalysts optimized for extrusion and molding operations.
Whatever the requirement, GE's full-service facility in Garrett, Ind., offers customers a new application development laboratory along with manufacturing and technology capabilities. The facility was recently expanded to help customers achieve a competitive advantage through rapid development of products featuring versatile GE heat-cured elastomers, liquid silicone rubbers, and room-temperature vulcanizing (RTV) materials.
About GE - Advanced Materials
The Advanced Materials business of General Electric Company is part of the Industrial business group and is headquartered in Wilton, Conn. Comprised of Silicones and Quartz, GE - Advanced Materials is a global leader in providing a range of high-technology materials solutions. The GE - Advanced Materials, Silicones' portfolio includes silicone-based products and technology platforms, silanes, sealants and adhesives. The Quartz portfolio includes high-purity fused quartz and ceramics materials. These materials solutions are used as springboards for innovation in hundreds of consumer and industrial applications ranging from car engines and integrated circuits to biomedical devices and cosmetics. Industries served include aerospace, agriculture, appliances, automotive, construction, electronics, furniture and furnishings, healthcare, home care, industrial, lighting, packaging, personal care, plastics, semiconductor, telecommunications, tire, transportation, and water purification. As a Worldwide Partner of the Olympic Games, GE is the exclusive provider of a wide range of innovative products and services that are integral to a successful Games. Experience more at http://www.ge.com/advancedmaterials.
* Tufel and SAG are trademarks of General Electric Company.
* Addisil is a trademark of GE Bayer Silicones, GmbH
1 USP Class VI equivalent test were tested according to USP Class VI methods: Intramuscular implantation, intracutaneous injection, and systemic injection. ISO 10993 for <29 days contact duration only - products tested for: Systemic Injection, Intracutaneous Injection, Intramuscular Implantation, Hemolysis - Rabbit Blood, Kligman Maximization, Ames Test, L929 MEM Elution & Agar Diffusion.
2 EP is European Pharmacopeia (as we have tested some of our products to EP 3.1.9)
GE's Tufel* family of products offers regulatory compliance, enhanced mechanical performance, high clarity, improved storage flexibility, a broad range of durometers, and catalysts optimized for extrusion and molding operations in the pharmaceutical industry. Typical applications include pharmaceutical tubing, fluid transfer tubing, gaskets, and seals.
Contacts
The Americas
Amelia Burkhart
GE - Advanced Materials, Silicones,
Wilton, Conn.
Tel: +1-203-761-1934
E-Mail: amelia.burkhart@ge.com
Europe
Robert Scheib
GE Bayer Silicones, Leverkusen, Germany
Tel: +49 2143040532
E-Mail: Robert.Scheib@ge.com
Asia
Junko Tsuda
GE Toshiba Silicones, Tokyo, Japan
Tel: +81 3 5772 5345
E-Mail: junko.tsuda@ge.com
Agency Contacts
The Americas
Jim Allison
AH&M Marketing Communications,
Pittsfield, Mass.
Tel: +1-413-448-2260, Ext. 25
E-Mail: jallison@ahminc.com
Japan
Mitsu Sugino
Tokyo PR Inc., Tokyo, Japan
Tel: +81 3-3273-2731
E-Mail: sugino@tokyopr.co.jp
