Formacoat
One-Stop-Shop for Biomedical Coating Needs

Medical device coating is vital not only to protect various devices but also to strengthen their capabilities and enhance performance. In their quest to deliver high quality products with the perfect finish, medical OEMs have to typically approach numerous coating solution providers to find the optimal coating. This proves to be a cumbersome process because, amidst the competing vendors, they have to get an NDA signed with every coating vendor, explain their device, and present drawings to get the initial sample and carry out individual testing. In addition to being a time and resource-intensive process, often the customers do not have the necessary testing equipment for cohesion testing or comparison friction testing of coating formulations. Yet, all these and more are possible at Formacoat.

Drawing on its extensive coating and device experience, the Minnesota-based Formacoat—an innovative biomedical, contract manufacturing company—offers an array of different coating technologies and collaborates with over 40 coating vendors to offer the OEMs the best-fit coating solution under one roof. “As opposed to getting the services from individual coating manufacturers that may only have one or two choices, customers can evaluate the best option fitting their criteria from the several different coatings options that we offer,” explains Mark Gross, Founder and CEO of Formacoat. “Our team of expert chemists and engineers can also help them make an informed decision on the ultimate coating solution for their product.” For OEMs, the company’s services translate to huge savings in time and money and moving into production quickly as all their coating requirements are fulfilled in one place.

According to Gross, Formacoat started with just one vendor providing a hydrophilic coating, which was a great coating, but not suitable for all devices. Subsequently, the company expanded the number of vendors because each vendor has a different take on the chemistry of coating. “What makes the coatings different is the way they behave on different substrates or in certain applications,” points out Todd Paulsen, Sales Manager at Formacoat.

Our team of expert chemists and engineers can help clients make an informed decision on the ultimate coating solution for their product

Over the years, the company expanded the number of vendors and currently offers various types of coatings, which include hydrophilic, hydrophobic, Surface-blocking/Anti-fouling, Anti-Microbial, Heparin, Collagen and PSA/Adhesive coatings with thermal, UV cure and covalently grafted coatings among others. With a catalog of over 80 different coatings from 40 different vendors, Formacoat offers a multitude of coating solutions with coating methods including dip, spray and roll for regular medical devices like catheters, micro-catheters, tubing, guidewires, and film. Formacoat can even tackle odd geometric shapes and configurations. Additionally their new facility has dedicated a 700 square foot cleanroom entirely to drug coating on stents and balloons.

Formacoat can take customers entirely from concept to cash flow quickly and efficiently. At the outset, the Formacoat team understands the precise requirements of the customer through a comprehensive survey. The company’s vast R & D resources and experience help customers zero in on the most appropriate coating solution. In the next step, the production team sets up the necessary equipment to achieve the perfect finish, allowing customers to generate sales and expedite revenue growth.

Gross recalls a particular success story where Formacoat helped a manufacturer of implants rapidly scale up to larger volumes. The Formacoat team tested seven different coatings for four weeks and monitored the dramatic differences exhibited on their device. The most suitable coating was clear from the survey data, and with their equipment capability and volume availabilty, the client could quickly reach the commercial scale. Formacoat leverages its extensive laboratory facilities and R & D experience to perform testing and provide data and documentation that swiftly helps clients reach the finish line.

The company has tripled its coating capacity with its new 38,000 square foot facility, which has 8,400 square feet of ISO Class 7 cleanrooms. “We love to find the latest, cutting edge options for our customers and are adding new technologies all the time,” concludes Gross.