Lubrizol Strengthens Position in Medical Market

The Lubrizol Corporation has expanded its focus on the medical and healthcare market, offering one of the industry’s broadest product portfolios of thermoplastic polyurethanes (TPUs) for the production of medical device and tubing products. The company made acquisitions to extend its product line and has also increased capacity and added new support personnel in sales, marketing and manufacturing.

“We have firmly positioned ourselves as a strategic supplier to the medical and healthcare industry and our continuous investments reflect our commitment to our current and potential customers,” says Deb Langer, business director for Lubrizol’s medical and healthcare group.” We are leveraging our own extensive expertise in polymer knowledge and manufacturing by adding substantial new product technology that will give our customers a competitive edge in meeting their end-use requirements.”

The portfolio additions of Isoplast® and Pellethane® TPU products led to a major expansion of the company’s medical business. This acquisition from Dow Chemical compliments our current Thermedics™ Polymers, which includes production of TPU resins and extruded medical tubing. Lubrizol continues to extend its reach to new markets such as wound dressings and tapes, medical bags and orthodontics, to name a few. As a result, the company has formed the new Medical and HealthCare Group to oversee and manage business activities.

Lubrizol expanded its portfolio to include wide-ranging performance options from soft rubber-like materials to hard products that rival steel. The Isoplast line includes rigid TPUs, which provide light weight, chemical resistance and strength for applications such as medical instruments and luer locks. In addition, Lubrizol acquired a unique line of soft TPUs, which form a basis for developing novel products for neonatal tubing and catheter systems.

The acquired TPU lines complement Lubrizol’s legacy medical products, which include a range of materials under the Tecothane, Tecoflex, Tecoplast, Carbothane, and Tecophilic brand names. Theses materials are specially formulated to provide good biocompatibility, flexural endurance, high strength, chemical resistance and optimum processing. Lubrizol is also exploring polymer technology outside of the TPU range in an effort to add new and unique material options for medical OEMs and processors.

Lubrizol operates a complete TPU resin and tubing production facility in Wilmington, Mass. As a manufacturer, it is our job to understand the needs of the end-use customer and offer real-world solutions.

For more information about Lubrizol’s medical and healthcare group or to review a complete array of Lubrizol’s innovative technologies, contact us at 888-234-2436. Or visit us on the Web at www.lubrizol.com/medical.

About The Lubrizol Corporation

The Lubrizol Corporation (NYSE: LZ) is an innovative specialty chemical company that produces and supplies technologies to customers in the global transportation, industrial and consumer markets. These technologies include lubricant additives for engine oils, other transportation-related fluids and industrial lubricants, as well as fuel additives for gasoline and diesel fuel. In addition, Lubrizol makes ingredients and additives for personal care products and pharmaceuticals; specialty materials, including plastics technology and performance coatings in the form of specialty resins and additives. Lubrizol’s industry-leading technologies in additives, ingredients and compounds enhance the quality, performance and value of customers’ products, while reducing their environmental impact.