Medical Packaging Materials

Which medical packaging material is the right fit for your project?

Choosing the right material for your packaging needs is critical, and the selection process is usually dependent on the type of device being stored. One key factor is the sterilization method that’s required, as well as the shape of a device or product being stored. For example, high gauge materials may be needed for a medical device with delicate or heavy features.

Lead time can also be a factor in determining which medical packaging material to use, as some approaches require longer design and engineering processes or may take longer to secure.

How to choose the right medical packaging materials

Because of the wide range of factors that can affect material selection and needs, Janco works with several unique materials, all of which are durable, secure, and easily customizable. These include closed-cell polyethylene foams, such as Volara and Zote, which are ideal materials for several compression-molded and thermoforming projects.

Here’s a quick breakdown of our most commonly used medical packaging materials:

Plastics

Plastics are often favored for both durability and versatility, among other benefits, making them a top option for medical devices and pharmaceutical packaging. Through thermoforming our team can manufacture a wide range of customizable shapes and colors depending on your needs.

Janco works with the following plastics for custom packaging projects:

• PET, PETG, PETE (polyethylene terephthalate)
• HIPS (high impact polystyrene)
• Acrylic
• PVC (polyvinyl chloride)
• Kydex®, a trademarked acrylic/PVC alloy
• ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene)
• PC (polycarbonate)
• PP (polypropylene)
• PS (polystyrene)
• HDPE (high-density polyethylene)
• TPU (thermoplastic polyurethanes)

Foam
The benefits of working with foams, such as polyethylene, are seemingly endless. Polyethylene foam is cost-effective and usually widely available, making it a good choice for projects with a tight timeline and budget.

Foams are also highly customizable to fit unique project needs, and our team utilizes thermoforming and compression molding processes that allow for a broad range of shapes and sizes to be manufactured. Foam is also ideal for water-resistant packaging needs, protecting contained products from moisture.

Janco works with the following foams for custom packaging projects:

• Closed-Cell polyethylene foam
• TPO Foams (thermoplastic olefins)

In addition to working with the materials listed above, we can also purchase already-manufactured pouches from our trusted vendors and seal them in our cleanrooms using rigorous industry standards for cleanliness.

Need Medical Packaging Material Consulting?

Sometimes, settling on the right material for your medical packaging can come down to trusting an expert to provide some guidance.

Our team works with the highest-quality medical-grade materials necessary to endure repeated EO, Gamma, E-Beam, Peroxide, Dry Heat, Autoclave, or other sterilization methods. We’ll walk you through every step of the process, getting our designers and engineers to offer their expert insight to guarantee you get the right fit.

Whether you know what you need or want a little guidance figuring it out, we’re happy to help bring your project to life.