Industrial Products Used in the Medical Supply Industry

The medical supply industry is a large, growing marketvacuum, which requires vacuum generators and
with a diverse manufacturing portfolio. The industry asejectors, in order to remove solvent fumes. It is then
a whole has yearly revenue of about $78 billion, mainlysterilized and ready for use.
distributed between 60 major companies, but the totalMaterial Handling
industry numbers at about 12,000 companies big andThe manufacturing of disposable medical supplies is
small. The products they produce satisfy the needs ofalways done through mass production. Regardless of
hospitals, surgeons, and doctors across the world.the end product, assembly lines require industrial
Everything from daily disposable instruments likeproducts for the movement of materials down the line.
syringes and catheters to sutures and dressings asMotors, chain link drive systems, and conveyor belts as
well as hospital beds and dental appliances arewell as roller platforms keep production moving
manufactured. Even latex gloves and surgical masksforward. Like in most production facilities, pallet handling,
are produced within the industry.forklifts, packaging, and dock equipment all play a vital
This large assortment of products and needs calls intorole in the distribution of final products.
play many different manufacturing processes; it alsoWood and Fiber Products
demonstrates the need for an entire range industrialThe medical supply industry also produces hospital
products and industrial supplies to support production.beds, gauze, and dressings. These products require an
Metalworkingentirely different line of industrial supplies. Woodworking
Metalworking is an important facet of the medicallathes, sanders, drill presses, and finishing solutions are
supply industry. Syringes and sutures are commonall needed in the manufacture of hospital beds and
metal products that are in high demand. They require afurniture. Wound dressing and gauze are made from
set of industrial supplies in order to draw, roll, and cutfibers that have to be drawn, threaded, and woven.
hot metal. Syringe needles are made by drawingThe material needs of the medical industry are so
molten stainless steel through a secure die block anddiverse that nearly every type of industrial product is
then rolling the metal into a hollow tube and cuttingutilized to service those needs.
each into a syringe. Sutures are made in a similarPrecision Tooling and Diagnostics
manner, but are typically rolled into half or quarterMany of the instruments used in the medical field must
circlers for stitching wounds. The drawing process forconform to extremely stringent tolerances. Quality
both materials is extremely precise, making needle andassurance is maintained with the use of industrial
suture heads as small as 0.02 millimeters. Suchproducts such as electronic calipers, digital
precision requires high quality industrial products for themicrometers, and microscopes. Additionally,
extrusion and cutting processes.workholding industrial supplies of the highest quality are
Moldingused, from tungsten carbide locators to pneumatic
Since many of the instruments used in the medicalvises, to ensure reliable production lines. Leveling
industry are designed to be disposed of after a singledevices and vibration control are achieved with the
application, plastics are heavily used. They typicallyuse of anti-vibration pads and vibration mounts to
require industrial products that can be injection moldedsatisfy material tolerances.
or cast in plastic into the appropriate shape. Using theAlong the same line, diagnostic and treatment tools for
syringe example, the barrel, body, and plunger of thepatients are also manufactured as a part of this
hypodermic are injection molded plastic pieces. Moldindustry. Heart monitors, breathing machines, MMRs,
and die cast plates are constructed out of stainlessand x-ray machines all require complex microchip and
steel to conform to the FDA standards of cleanlinesselectronics fabrication.
for medical usage. In this case, there are no materialThe medical supply industry covers a wide range of
alternatives.products that are used to practice medicine. From
Another huge product demand for medical supplysurgical tools to hospital beds and more, demand has
companies is the latex glove. Ubiquitous in hospitals andcreated a robust manufacturing industry that is spread
doctor offices, they are produced by molding as well.between nearly every type of production process
Latex, rubber, or nitrile is used as the raw material thatfrom metalworking to carpentry to fabric weaving.
is then treated to become a liquid and laid over a castThis diversity requires the same flexibility in available
of varying standard hand sizes. The liquid is allowed toindustrial products and supplies.
cool and then washed, after which it is dried in a