This post provides an overview of industrial laminating services and what you need to know before talking to a contract manufacturer.

What is industrial laminating?

Laminating is an industrial process where you create a new composite material by combining two or more materials. This could include combining foam and fabric for a stronger material, an adhesive film onto foam, or any other combination of foam, plastic film and fabric. It is used in a variety of industry needs, from medical devices to athletic equipment, to protect and strengthen components that are exposed to wear and tear or high temperatures.

During the laminating process, these materials are bonded, using two or more layers of material. The materials are bonded using heat, pressure, or an adhesive. At Janco, we use flame lamination and adhesive lamination processes.

Our industrial laminating capabilities are used to create wide range of products within many industries, including:

• Athletic protective padding
• Automotive
• Electronics
• Footwear
• Home furnishings

Laminating film vs. laminating fabric vs. laminating foam

Laminating two different materials can be done in a variety of combinations based on need. Simply put, the material dictates what kind of laminating process you use. Certain foams require an intermediary film for successful lamination to other materials, while other foams can bond together to other materials without the use of film.

The type of material also dictates the process used, such as heat or adhesive. At Janco, we offer laminating for both industrial and medical applications, however, there is a wide range of applications for industrial products and is more common for these types of products.

Post-processing services

When the laminating process is done, that’s not the end of the full manufacturing process. This newly created material commonly goes on to further processing, including:

• Die cutting
• Adding Velcro
• Stitching
• Adding graphics via heat stamping

These important steps are what transform the laminated materials into your product. Janco has the capabilities of doing this work in-house, which has been a benefit to customers looking to streamline their contract manufacturing services.

Full-service industrial laminating

When looking to create the right material for your products, laminating services could be the answer. Janco has 60 years of experience and our skilled team is here to offer you expertise on finding the right laminating services and materials.

The post Industrial Laminating Service: Choosing Your Materials appeared first on Janco Inc.

It’s also how Janco became a valuable customer resource for medical packaging expertise. We’ve helped customers select the right materials, source materials, create designs and prototypes and have provided advice on FDA regulations.

In this post, we’ll share our 60 years of experience in choosing foam materials for medical packaging, including Volara and Zote foam sheets, our foam brands of choice.

What is medical grade foam?

The term “medical grade foam” is not a technical term, but refers to a large category of foams used in the manufacturing of medical devices and packaging. Generally speaking, foams approved for medical applications must have at least one of the following:

• ISO 10993 biocompatibility standards certification
• FDA approval
• USP classification

At Janco, we use polyethylene closed-cell foams for our medical packaging and manufacturing applications. We rely on this type of foam because it is:

• High quality, durable and will not tear, yet is still light, which is great for packaging.
• Easy to process and good for applications that require converting, such as thermoforming, and die cutting.
• Approved for certain modes of sterilization.
• Non-particulating, meaning it won’t shed tiny particles that could contaminate a clean room environment.

We typically source polyethylene closed-cell foams from Volara and Zote because they provide the highest quality products and meet the standards our customers need to adhere to FDA requirements.

About Volara foam

Volara foam sheets are manufactured by Sekisui Voltek, a company based in Coldwater, Michigan that’s been producing high-quality cross-linked, closed-cell polyolefin foams for 50 years.

Volara’s characteristics include:

• Smooth surface
• Consistent density
• Resistant to most chemicals
• Low water absorption
• Low vapor transmission rate
• Can be used in medical applications as well as industrial, such as automotive and athletic equipment industries.

Janco is a supplier of Volara foam sheets, which means it has it on hand for your next project. Supply chain issues have caused problems for companies in recent years, so our position gives the companies we work with a unique advantage when it comes to how we source, supply materials for both high-volume and low-volume production.

About Zotefoams

Zotefoam sheets are produced by Zotefoams, the world’s largest manufacturer of lightweight crosslinked polyolefin block foams for a wide range of industries, including the biotech, pharmaceutical and medical industries.

Zotefoams are known for:

• Resistance to fire and high-temperature environments
• Insulation and vibration dampening capabilities
• Resistance to chemicals
• Durability
• Effective cushioning
• Easy to process and good for applications that require converting, such as medical packaging.

These attributes make it especially well-suited for medical packaging. They are light, durable and protect sensitive devices from both contaminants and breaking. Janco is also a Zotefoams supplier and has it available for packaging projects.

Janco medical foam capabilities and uses

At Janco, our decades of experience working with medical and industrial foams has taught us a thing or two. Not only do we provide extensive expertise, but we also offer a range of capabilities, including:

• Compression molding
• Thermoforming
• Die cutting
• Laminating
• RF Sealing

We use these processes to create medical trays and packaging for a variety of medical devices. It’s especially common for packaging of delicate instruments because of the foam’s insulation and vibration dampening characteristics.

Contact us today about your packaging needs.

Whatever your need, Janco is here to help you select the right foam and medical packaging design for your product. Over the past 60 years, we’ve developed long-lasting partnerships with leading foam manufacturers to ensure our customers always have access to the best materials on the market.

Want to know more about Janco’s capabilities and how we can meet your packaging needs? Reach out today.

The post Types of Medical Foam and Why Janco Uses Zote and Volara Foams appeared first on Janco Inc.

While the supply chain crunch has eased since the peak of the Covid pandemic, some issues still remain, including the supply of medical grade foam.

In many cases, finding a replacement for the preferred type of foam requires approval, documentation and a lot of time and money. Your company needs assurance that the materials you need are available when you need them.

Every company should be making materials availability a primary topic of discussion with their suppliers. Before contracting with any new manufacturer, ask them about their medical foam supplies, lead times and how they plan to manage supply issues.

In this post we’ll provide an update on the medical foam supply chain issues and what to do if this is impacting your company.

Medical Foam Supply Chain

During 2020, many medical grade foam suppliers had interruptions in operations or a major slow-down in production. This caused pent-up demand for medical foam, which strained the supply chain, even when the world was largely back to normal.

Today, lead time for medical grade foam is down, yet may not be at the place that your company needs to keep up with demand. To fully understand why this issue still remains in some cases, it helps to look at the reasons for the disruption.

Reasons for the Disruption

In early 2022, we wrote a post about the availability of medical foam and supply chain issues. At that time, there was a lack of availability in the raw materials needed to manufacture the foam. There were also worker shortages at manufacturing facilities contributing to production slowdown. Tightening border controls and a truck driver shortage were also contributing factors.

Today, the supply chain issue is rooted in a lack of workforce. Personnel shortages are affecting many industries around the globe. The availability of plastic resin used in the manufacturing of foam was also impacted by a large fire in July at a plant in Mexico. These problems are likely going to take time to resolve and to get the industry back to pre-pandemic workforce levels.

In response, Janco has opted to become proactive, increasing our inventory of medical foam to keep the materials our customers need available.

What to Ask Medical Grade Foam Suppliers

For many years, price and quality were the two topics manufacturers wanted to ask their suppliers. Company reputation and cost are still important, yet supply chain issues have shifted the priorities of manufacturers.

When talking to suppliers and companies like yours, the first question companies like yours ask is often about materials lead time. At Janco, we work with Volara and Zote for medical grade foam. Depending on which foam supplier we are using for a project, it may mean a difference in lead times. Ask your medical grade foam supplier for the lead time details depending on the supplier used as well.

After lead time comes inventory. Does your supplier keep inventory on hand or do they take a just-in-time approach? Because of the unpredictable nature of medical foam supplies and lead time, it’s essential to get the full picture of how your manufacturing partner manages their inventory.

Janco’s Inventory Approach

As a customer-focused company, we are dedicated to ensuring our customers always have access to the best materials on the market. Janco has strategically positioned our team as a distributor of high-performance plastic and foams, including Volara and Zote medical foams. Janco stocks 35 different grades and thicknesses of Volara, which we keep in stock for our customers’ needs.

Our approach to inventory gives companies a unique advantage over competitors when it comes to sourcing, supply, and meeting high-volume, mid-volume, or low-volume needs.

Customizable medical packaging to meet your needs

Learn about our medical packaging capabilities, from compression molding to thermoforming. Talk to us today.

The post Medical Foam Supply Chain 2023 Outlook appeared first on Janco Inc.

Different foams have wide variations in density, durability, firmness and overall performance. In the medical industry, you need materials that are medical grade, biocompatible and FDA compliant.

When it comes to medical packaging, closed-cell polyethylene foam is a great option.

At Janco Inc, we’re experienced in using closed cell polyethylene foam and can help you choose the right material and application for your medical packaging. Here’s what you need to know about closed cell polyethylene foam for your next project:

What is closed cell polyethylene foam?

Closed cell polyethylene foam is a durable and lightweight closed-cell material made of millions of tiny bubbles, sealed off from each other. It is a popular choice for medical packaging because it is resistant to moisture and chemicals, and has excellent insulation properties.

Benefits of closed cell polyethylene foam

Closed-cell polyethylene foam is a popular choice for many applications, including medical packaging, because of its many advantages over other materials. Here are some of the benefits:

• Easy to process – Closed cell polyethylene foam is easy to manipulate and fabricate, making it a great choice in manufacturing and packaging. This type of foam is easily die cut and works well with compression molding and thermoforming.
• Cost-effective – Its high load bearing characteristics mean that smaller amounts are needed to protect products, saving manufacturer costs on materials.
• Water impermeability – The closed-cell nature of the material means water does not pass through the foam, making it an effective solution for preventing moisture problems.
• Insulating – This highly-dense material insulates extremely well against heat, noise and vibrations.
• Durable – The material is light yet strong which makes it tear-resistant and long-lasting.
• Non-particulating – This material doesn’t shed small particles that could become contaminants in a clean space, making it a great choice for the medical industry.
• Sterilizable – Unlike many other materials, closed-cell polyethylene foam can undergo the strains of sterilization and still hold up strong.

Types of closed-cell polyethylene foam

This versatile material comes in a variety of forms for a wide range of applications. These types include:

• Polyethylene sheets – Foam sheets that come in various thicknesses and can be used for a wide range of applications, from packaging to insulation of buildings.
• Polyethylene rolls – Foam rolls are used for piping and plumbing purposes, medical supplies and other health care products. You can find it in a variety of shapes and thicknesses, making it a versatile choice. While this is an effective foam in some cases, when it is in a thinner state it is less durable than foams of greater thickness.
• Volara – This flexible foam has a wide range of uses. Beyond its popularity in the medical industry, Volara is ideal because it’s both FDA-compliant and non-toxic, containing no chlorofluorocarbon, hydrochlorofluorocarbon, or hydrocarbon-blowing agents.
• Closed cell cross-linked polyethylene foam – This type of form is air, stain and water resistant, which also makes it mold and mildew resistant. It is used extensively in the packaging of medical products and equipment.
• Zotefoam – The world’s largest manufacturer of lightweight crosslinked polyolefin block foams, which offer effective cushioning and resistance to water and some chemicals.

Closed-cell polyethylene foam and Janco

We frequently work with closed-cell polyethylene foam when creating medical packaging because it’s one of the most effective materials for meeting our customers’ needs.

Here at Janco, we specialize in Volara foam distribution. Volara foam is used in projects across several medical manufacturing capabilities, including compression molding, thermoforming, and die cutting. We also use Zotefoam, another effective foam product for its easy manipulation and resilience.

Regardless of the material used, our medical device and packaging staff is skilled in ensuring products meet all standards, supported by an inspection team that performs thorough validation testing in accordance with ASTM, ISO, or custom standards.

Closed-Cell Polyethylene Foam for Your Medical Packaging Needs

When you need custom packaging services for the medical industry, Janco Inc has the experience, design skills and state-of-the-art equipment you can rely on to get the job done right.

Contact today to discuss our medical packaging capabilities.

The post Closed-Cell Polyethylene Foam for Medical Packaging appeared first on Janco Inc.

Manufacturing projects all come with unique needs, ranging from aesthetics to safety and containment. Our goal is to help you find the material that is most in line with your project needs, finding ways to add value and keep costs low, without sacrificing quality.

Volara is one of our most popular foams for a range of reasons. In this piece, we dive into what sets it apart, how it’s made, what it’s used for, and how our team keeps it stocked. If you don’t see your question answered below, don’t hesitate to reach out to our team directly to learn more or discuss your distinct project needs!

What is Volara foam?

Volara foam is a type of closed-cell, cross-linked polyethylene foam, typically available in either roll or sheet form, depending on project needs.

It has a wide range of unique benefits, both aesthetically and performance-wise, that make it the top choice for several different project types.

What are Volara foam benefits?

There are several benefits to using volara foam for manufacturing projects across a range of different industries. Most notable, volara is chosen for the following key benefits:

• Chemical resistance
• Low water absorption
• Low vapor transmission
• Vibration dampening
• Thermal insulation
• Large selection of available colors

What is Volara foam used for?

Volara is a popular foam when manufacturing medical device packaging, though it has benefits for products across several other industries as well.

Most often, our team uses volara foam to manufacture:

• Medical device packaging
• Athletic equipment, including:
  • Shin guards
  • Insoles
  • Protective padding

What is closed-cell foam?

Closed-cell foam refers to a type of foam (such as Volara) that consists of cells that are completely closed, leaving not even minuscule gaps. As with all other polyethylene foams, Volara starts as a thermoplastic and is eventually blown into a foam format.

Our team stocks a wide range of closed-cell polyethylene foams, and Volara is one of our most popular thanks to its flexibility and chemical resistance. Volara foam is cross-linked using a unique electron irradiation process that produces a continuous, smooth surface.

Why is Volara used for medical packaging?

Volara is frequently chosen as an ideal option for medical packaging because it’s both FDA-compliant and non-toxic, meaning it contains no chlorofluorocarbon, hydrochlorofluorocarbon, or hydrocarbon-blowing agents.

What capabilities is Volara foam compatible with?

Our facilities boast a wide range of the most innovative and cost-effective manufacturing capabilities in the industry, several of which are compatible with Volara foam.

Most commonly, it’s used in conjunction with:

• Compression molding
• Thermoforming
• Die cutting
• Laminating

How do I know if Volara is right for my project?

Before anything else, our team gets to know your unique project needs. From there, we’ll make specific recommendations to add value through every stage of manufacturing.

Material selection is a key part of that, considering your budget, timeline, and the type of product you’re either manufacturing or packaging. If Volara is the right foam for you, we’ll let you know. If not, we’ll make alternate recommendations.

Do you stock Volara foam?

Because Volara is so highly sought-after, our team often keeps up to 35 different grades and thicknesses stocked in our facilities. Keeping a range of Volara options allows us to accommodate a wide selection of products, even within tight project timelines.

Selection varies, though, so reach out to our team directly to find out what we have in stock or how we can accommodate your project needs.

Need Volara foam for your next manufacturing project?

As your trusted industrial contract manufacturing partner for more than six decades, Janco is committed to helping our clients bring quality products to life using the finest materials available.

Whether you know you need Volara foam, or just want help deciding on the most effective material for your next project, our team of experts is here to help.

The post Frequently Asked Questions: Volara Foam appeared first on Janco Inc.

Volara foam is medical-grade, closed-cell, cross-linked polyethylene foam that is often identified as the best option for projects that require tight sealing or reliable insulation. Understanding its many benefits is a critical part of the selection process when it comes time to plan and design your next manufacturing project.

Throughout this article, we’ve outlined what volara foam is, the most common projects it’s used for, and why so many clients choose volara, as well as other closed-cell polyethylenes, for projects ranging from the medical industry to electronics and packaging.

1. What is Closed-Cell Foam?
2. Volara Foam Uses
3. Volara Foam Benefits
4. Medical Manufacturing Capabilities
5. How Janco Can Help

What is closed-cell foam?

Closed-cell foam describes a type of foam that is made up of cells that are completely closed. All polyethylene foams begin as a thermoplastic, which is then blown into a foam format. Once converted, the foam is known for its high durability and versatility.

Volara is one of our most popular closed-cell polyethylene foams thanks to its range of unique benefits including its flexibility and chemical resistance. Volara foam is cross-linked using a unique electron irradiation process that produces a continuous, smooth surface.

For medical products, Volara is ideal because it’s both FDA-compliant and non-toxic, containing no chlorofluorocarbon, hydrochlorofluorocarbon, or hydrocarbon-blowing agents.

Volara Foam Uses

Volara foam is frequently used for medical device packaging, but it’s also popular through other industries. We start every job, regardless of industry, by helping you decide on the right foam for your unique needs. If volara is the best fit, you have a high degree of input throughout the design process of your product.

All of our projects are custom jobs. This means that whether we’re taking the lead on design or working with ideas or specs that you’ve provided, you have options when it comes to the thickness and color of the foam used.

Our team most often uses volara foam to manufacture:

• Medical device packaging
• A wide range of athletic equipment, including:
  • Shin guards
  • Insoles
  • Protective padding

When clients come to us with a project, our first job is to make recommendations that will add value throughout the process. Our team uses our decades of experience to assess your plans for manufacturability and make suggestions that will ensure the best result.

Volara Foam Benefits

Volara polyethylene foam is notable for offering:

• Chemical resistance
• Low water absorption
• Low vapor transmission
• Vibration dampening
• Thermal insulation

Medical Manufacturing Capabilities

All medical manufacturing projects at Janco are completed in our innovative ISO 14644-1 class 7 or 8 cleanrooms. We’ve recently completed work on a new class 8 cleanroom dubbed “The Foam Center of Excellence”, which boasts capabilities to machine complex, custom parts, and products.

Volara foam is used in projects across several medical manufacturing capabilities, including:

• Compression molding
• Thermoforming
• Die cutting

Our team has rigorous quality assurance processes including frequent audits, both internal and independent, as well as from the FDA. Our medical manufacturing division is certified to ISO 13485 and FDA registered.

The medical device and packaging inspection staff in our facilities perform thorough validation testing in accordance with ASTM, ISO, or custom standards, depending on your projects.

Have a project that needs Volara foam?

For over six decades, we’ve helped clients across several industries manufacture high-quality products and packaging.

Janco is here to help however you need us, whether you already have custom design specs ready to go or require guidance from a team of experts.

Our team keeps up to 35 different grades and thicknesses of Volara foam stocked for your projects, allowing us to accommodate a diverse range of products and projects within your tight timelines. Reach out to learn how we can help bring your next project to life.

The post Closed-Cell Polyethylene Foam: Volara Foam Uses and Benefits appeared first on Janco Inc.

While our proficiencies are wide-ranging and encompass several sectors, including auto, industrial, and electronic, medical manufacturing projects require an extra degree of attention and expertise.

The medical industry itself is diverse and includes many unique fields. Our team has experience manufacturing and packaging products for orthopedic surgeons, including knee and hip products that are manufactured in our ISO-certified class 8 cleanrooms.

To help you understand our process and your options, this resource covers:

1. Orthopedic Products
2. Our Manufacturing Process
3. Material for Orthopedic Products
4. Industry Standards and Regulations
5. How Janco Can Help

Orthopedic Products

We work with our customers to customize every project, meaning that we take the time to understand your needs, assess your design specifications, and ensure that your end product is as valuable as possible.

Most commonly, the orthopedic products manufactured by our team include packaging for:

• Knee and hip products
• Hip stem implants
• Knee implants
• Shoulder implants

Our Process

All products are manufactured in one of our class 8 cleanrooms utilizing the highest quality foam fabrication machinery. Die cutting, compression molding, and thermoforming are the most common manufacturing methods used when creating orthopedic products, depending on the exact application.

Our team of experts works directly with you to assess your design ideas for manufacturability and search for ways to add value and ensure precision and quality.

We’ll help you understand your options, including the color and thickness of your foam selection so that you can make informed decisions that guarantee your products are strategic and sustainable without compromising your vision.

Materials for Orthopedic Products

Most often, closed-cell, cross-linked polyethylene foams are used for orthopedic projects.

Cross-linked polyethylene is a high-density foam that is manufactured when a catalyst is added to the thermoplastic resin, which turns it into a thermoset. The catalyst creates covalent bonds that link the molecules together, resulting in them being closed-cell.

Closed-cell foam is defined as being compact and resistant to water. It’s also known for its flexibility and chemical resistance.

Most commonly, we use Zote or Volara foam when choosing from closed-cell materials for medical manufacturing.

Industry Standards and Regulations

Our decades of experience mean that our team has a deep understanding of the unique industry standards that govern how we manufacture medical products and packaging. Product manufacturing is completed in a class 8 cleanroom, while all packaging is done in a class 7 cleanroom.

In addition, products such as hip stem and knee implants often undergo testing to examine:

• Phototoxicity – Phototoxicity testing is used to identify and measure the potential of chemical agents to induce toxicity.
• Bioburden – Bioburden testing measures the microbial contamination levels on or within a product. This type of testing can be conducted from the raw materials used in the manufacturing process or once a product is complete.
• Particulates – Particulate testing includes procedures designed to count and remove particulate contaminants in various medical devices.

The Foam Center of Excellence

Our newest cleanroom is one of our greatest achievements, designed to improve how we service clients and give us the capabilities to machine larger, more complex parts and products.

Our state-of-the-art machinery ​​offers the largest capabilities in the industry, able to manufacture parts as large as 30” by 60”.

Orthopedic Foam Products and Packaging with Janco

Need a partner you can trust for your next orthopedic manufacturing project? From design through to packaging, Janco will provide the guidance, support, and execution you need, adding value at every stage.

Get in touch to tell us about your project and learn how we can help.

The post Orthopedic Foam Products and Packaging Materials appeared first on Janco Inc.

Whether you’re in the medical, athletic, electronic, industrial, or any other sector, the first step in the manufacturing process is material selection. Depending on the unique needs of your application, our team makes recommendations based on a wide range of factors.

Once the right foam is selected, our team brings your project to life – and it often starts by working with polyethylene foam sheets.

Here’s what you need to know:

• Our Process
• Foam Selection
• Polyethylene Foam Advantages
• Medical Manufacturing
• Why Janco?

Our Process

What is polyethylene foam?

Our team has access to a wide variety of materials depending on your needs. Polyethylene foam is popular for several types of projects, often chosen as an ideal packaging material (thanks to its high resistance to impact).

​​Polyethylene foam is both lightweight and durable. It’s a closed-cell foam noted for being long-lasting, resistant to chemicals and moisture damage, and able to shield vibrations.

Most often, foam comes to our facilities from our trusted circle of vendors in the form of a sheet. Typically the foam sheets are about an inch thick and need to be cut down to around ¾” before moving onto the next phase of the manufacturing process.

Sheets are cut to produce foam that can be used for:

• Compression molding
• Thermoforming
• Die-cutting

Skiving Machines

Skiving is used as an alternative to rolling the material into shape. Your material is cut using one of our two skiving machines. These are used to guarantee precision when cutting or shaving foam or plastic into the necessary shape before moving on to the next step of the manufacturing process.

Foam Selection

Closed-cell polyethylene foam comes in a wide range of sizes, colors, thicknesses, and even forms – while we most commonly work with foam sheets, certain foam, such as zote, occasionally come to us in roll or bun form.

Our team starts by getting to know your project needs, including unique product requirements and specific industry regulations. Once we understand your project, we offer expert guidance in helping to design the product and select the right material. Our goal is to add value at every stage, helping you make informed decisions that will result in the best product possible.

Polyethylene Foam Advantages

While different polyethylene foams have unique advantages, most all types share these traits:

• Lightweight
• Shatterproof
• Buoyant
• Resistant to tears
• Chemically cross-linked
• Dampens impact in case a product is dropped
• Protects against mold, mildew, and bacteria
• Protects against grease and other chemicals

All of these traits make polyethylene ideal for packaging delicate products across several industries. Common projects include:

• Packaging for medical devices and trays
• Packaging for machinery
• Packaging for automotive parts
• Padding and shock absorption for electronics

Medical Manufacturing

When foams are being cut for medical projects, they’re stored and cut in a clean environment, separated from the rest of our manufacturing facilities. Subsequent steps in the process are conducted in one of our class 7 or 8 ISO-certified cleanrooms, depending on the specifics of your project requirements.

Why Janco?

For six decades, Janco has been a trusted name in contract manufacturing across several industries.

Our state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities span a variety of capabilities from die-cutting and thermoforming to RF sealing and laminating. But beyond our technology and expertise, our clients have become long-term partners because our team is dedicated to going above and beyond on every project.

We value the relationships we’ve built and work hard to find ways to add value to your project. That includes guidance when it comes to design and material selection, and consulting to help you understand your options when making a decision.

Need a team you can trust for your next contract manufacturing project?

Get in touch with Janco to learn how we can help add value to your next project.

The post Manufacturing with Polyethylene Foam Sheets appeared first on Janco Inc.

Our team has been a distributor of high-quality foam and plastic for decades, working with suppliers to give you a range of options depending on your distinct needs. Whether you’re packaging medical devices, electronics, or anything in-between, there is a wide range of variables that go into material selection.

We put our years of experience to use helping you consider every crucial factor, walking you through your options, and offering recommendations to add value to your product and packaging.

To help you understand what goes into our material selection process, this resource includes:

• What Defines Medical Grade Foam?
• Material Selection Chart
• Material Selection Process
• Frequently Manufactured Products
• Why Choose Janco?

What defines Medical Grade Foam?

When designing and manufacturing packaging for medical devices and related products, there are unique industry regulations that require important standards and practices to be followed. Because of this, selecting the right material is critical.

One of the essential components of medical-grade foam is biocompatibility, which means that the foam or plastic has been cleared for use with a range of medical packaging uses. This is done by testing and certifying the compliance of the materials with the ISO 10993 protocol.

This protocol gives you peace of mind that the material selected won’t produce a toxic or immunological response when exposed to the body or bodily fluids, which is essential when packaging for medical uses.

At Janco, our process for medical-grade foam manufacturing combines cutting-edge equipment used in state-of-the-art cleanrooms. We use only the highest-quality biocompatible materials needed to withstand repeated multiple forms of sterilization methods.

Material Selection Chart

Below, browse the plastic and foams we use most frequently in manufacturing projects to better understand their most common uses and advantages.

Plastics

Foams

If the product or packaging you need isn’t listed above, chances are we can still help. Reach out to our team to find out how we can help get your next manufacturing project started.

Get in touch

Material Selection Process

Using the table above to understand common uses and advantages to each material is essential, but we’ll also work with you on every project to guarantee that you understand your options and make the best foam or plastic selection possible for your needs.

Several factors go into choosing the right material, beyond even just the advantages listed above. Sometimes, your budget and timeline are the most important indicator of which material will be right for your needs. Often, we’re looking at a combination of factors to help you decide.

In addition to the type of material that will best suit your product, it’s also important to consider:

• Lead time
• Design time
• Cost
• Manufacturability

While we often keep a wide range of materials stocked, it can occasionally take some time to get specific foams or plastics, meaning if you’re on a tight deadline, we may have to get creative to choose a material that will fit both your needs and timeline.

Likewise, if you’re working within a set budget, we’ll help you choose a cost-effective material that won’t compromise your product or packaging quality.

Frequently Manufactured Products

While we work across several industries each with unique needs, several products, in particular, are commonly manufactured in our facilities, including:

• Medical trays
• Blister packs
• Medical device packaging
• Electronic device packaging
• Athletic gear

For all of the above, we work with you from start to finish, starting from the design phase through to labeling for sale.

Why choose Janco for contract manufacturing?

For decades, our team has prioritized value-add solutions designed to improve your products and packaging.

From our state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities, including cutting-edge cleanroom capabilities, to the way we assist you from design through to labeling, our goal is always to make your experience as efficient and valuable as possible.

Whether you have a clearly defined idea of your design needs or require the support of our experts to select the right foam or plastic, our team will be by your side every step of the way.

Ready to get started or still have material selection questions?

Get in touch with Janco to discuss your project or find out more about our contract manufacturing capabilities and consulting. We’re happy to help bring your project to life with the customization, precision, and innovation that you need.

The post Foam and Plastic Material Selection for Manufacturing Projects appeared first on Janco Inc.

If you’ve been trying to get your hands on Volara Polyethylene foam for an upcoming project, you’ve probably been frustrated to find that it’s currently in low stock all over the United States. We’ve heard from several sources that Volara is particularly hard to track down right now, and it has been for some time.

Janco Inc. is pleased to let you know that our team is still in possession of several different grades of Volara foam available for purchase.

It’s best to get in contact with us as soon as possible to ensure you have the quantities, colors, and grades you’ll need for your project. Contact us today!

What is Volara foam?

Volara is a flexible, closed-cell, polyethylene foam that is cross-linked using a unique electron irradiation process that produces a continuous, smooth surface.

Volara polyethylene foam is FDA-compliant and perhaps most notable for being chemical resistant and having low water absorption, vapor transmission, and excellent thermal insulation which makes them a dependable, versatile, and aesthetically pleasing solution for both medical and non-medical uses.

On top of its excellent chemical resistance, Volara is also non-toxic and contains no chlorofluorocarbon, hydrochlorofluorocarbon, or hydrocarbon blowing agents.

Our team stocks 35 different grades and thicknesses of Volara to fit a wide range of your needs.

What is Volara foam used for?

Favored for being incredibly flexible, Volara’s uniform surface creates effective padding for a range of products. Most commonly, it’s used in the medical, industrial, and flooring industries.

Volara foam is a preferred foam for fragile goods because of its excellent vibration dampening and insulation properties.

Don’t let the Volara shortage grind your important projects to a halt.

Over six decades of experience in the field, Janco has developed long-lasting partnerships with the world’s leading manufacturers of foam and plastic. As a distributor, we’ve made it our mission to ensure that our customers always have access to the best materials on the market.

Get in touch today.

If you’re in need of Volara polyethylene foam for a specific project or want to discuss our capabilities, don’t hesitate to reach out.

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