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• SBL Series quick connect fittings for small-bore reusable applications in all fluid delivery areas (pg.9)
• SCV Series single check valves, available in anti-siphon or one-way check valve configurations (pg.12)
• XQC Series quick connect fittings add convenience to your repetitive connect-disconnect requirements (pg. 10)
• DCV Series double check valves are designed to enable clean transfer of a fluid from a storage container to a point of use (pg. 14)
• SF Series sanitary fittings (sanitary couplers) mate our 600 series barb to a sanitary end flange (pg.16)

Fort Collins, Colo. – Feb. 10, 2009 – Value Plastics, a premier OEM supplier of precision plastic components, has broken new ground in the quick connect fittings arena with the development of its newest product line – the SBL Series connector system. The plastic small-bore quick connector, which was unveiled at Medical Design & Manufacturing West (MD&M West), Feb. 10-12, 2009 in Anaheim, Calif., is ideal for medical device designers focused on health care fluid application arenas.

Created with the end user top-of-mind, the unique, patent-pending design is intuitive, easy to use, safe, secure, and reliable. The SBL Series quick connect fittings are intended to take the guesswork out of in-hospital and consumer-operated medical equipment.

Product overview:

• Four component options in nylon and a color combination of blue and grey are available from stock.
•  Options include male and female hose barbs in 1/8-inch (3.2 mm) and 3/16-inch (4.8 mm) in a straight-through flow configuration.
•  The male portion includes a Buna-N o-ring, ensuring a secure seal.
•  Users can interconnect the 1/8-inch and 3/16-inch options if their application requires.

To provide engineers additional design freedom, SBL Series products do not interconnect with ISO 594 luer components. In addition, the fittings can be sterilized using either ethylene oxide sterilization (EtO) or gamma techniques.

Jim Pisula, Vice President of marketing for Value Plastics, explained that the company saw a real gap in the marketplace for connectors that support health care fluid applications, particularly in terms of ease of use, safety and reliability. “Connectors should be easy to understand and use whether by professionals or by the consumer at home,” said Pisula. “Every aspect of the SBL Series – from the color selections to the quick snap fitting – was intentionally designed to cut down on the likelihood of human error and ultimately provide an added level of security for health care fluid applications.”

Value Plastics received enthusiastic feedback from one early adopter who stated, “this product is fantastic.” The customer looked at approximately 26 different solutions before selecting the SBL Series for its wound therapy application. The SBL was rated superior to all other solutions considered, including designing and molding it in-house.

Fort Collins, Colo. – February 10, 2009 – Value Plastics, a premier OEM supplier of precision plastic components, introduces SCV Series check valves for medical devices. These new check valves come in multiple medical grade materials and sizes to meet a diverse set of fluid management applications. The check valves, which are being unveiled at Medical Design & Manufacturing West (MD&M West), Feb. 10-12, 2009 in Anaheim, Calif., are ideal for medical device designers focused on infusion, drainage and irrigation applications.

Following on the introduction of DCV Series double check valves in January, 2008, SCV Series products are available in anti-siphon or one-way check valve configurations in a variety of materials and end fitments. The valves feature low priming volume, ease of removing air bubbles during priming and operate in any spatial orientation. The patented design of the latex-free platinum-cured silicone diaphragm prevents sticking and assures trouble-free operation. All materials satisfy USP Class VI and ISO 10993 criteria. End fitments include .118” (3.0 mm) x .161” (4.1 mm) and .122” (3.1 mm) x .165” (4.2 mm) tubing, and male and female luer tapers complying with ISO 594-1 and 594-2 standards. All products are suitable for EtO or gamma sterilization, and autoclavable options are available on special order. All SCV Series check valves are suitable for use with air or liquids.

Jim Pisula, Vice President, Marketing for Value Plastics, explained that the company has received many requests for check valves from their customers, saying, “Given this high degree of interest and a unique feature set, we knew the time was right to expand our product offering.”

Now Biopharmaceutical companies have additional choices for their Single-Use needs. The Sanitary Fitting (SF) Series, the latest product addition from Value Plastics, is the perfect solution for biopharm applications.

These new components allow drug manufactures to realize the business advantages of single-use technology including

• Less capital investment
•  Major reduction in labor and cleaning expense
•  Major reduction in turnaround time between campaigns • Simplified process layout
• Reduced complexity
•  Reduced risk

The new SF series is based on design concepts calling for a heavy-duty part with superior side load strength, while providing superior flow through characteristics; making it the connector of choice for Single-Use processes. “Pharmaceutical professionals find this connector offers all the benefits of a disposable part while offering performance capabilities not found in earlier versions of flange fittings; says Jim Pisula VP Marketing.

Value Plastics is pleased to announce the availability of our fittings and connectors in animal-free polypropylene. Polypropylene is by far the most widely used resin for flexible tube fittings in the biopharmaceutical industry. The new animal-free polypropylene significantly reduces our customers’ BSE-related paperwork by completely eliminating the documentation requirement for fittings made with this material.

Since the first reported outbreak of BSE (bovine spongiform encephalopathy or “mad cow disease”) in the United Kingdom, suppliers of healthcare products, in conjunction with global healthcare agencies, have diligently worked to reduce the threat of this serious disease. BSE is a progressive neurological disorder of cattle that can be transmitted to humans. Worldwide healthcare agencies have recommended a number of steps to reduce the risk of BSE to humans including documenting that those products containing animal derivatives only use material from BSE-free countries. Plastic products commonly use beef tallow as a lubricant in the manufacturing process and tracking all of them to their source can require a significant expense for a medical device and biopharmaceutical manufacturer.

The new animal-free polypropylene is in addition to Value Plastics’ extensive line of animal-free PVDF and polycarbonate fittings and connectors for the medical device and biopharmaceutical industry, including the 600 Series line of large connectors. All animal-free and 600 Series products are Class VI certified and suitable for gamma sterilization.

For more information on the implications of Mad Cow disease to medical products, see the editorial “The Curse of the Mad Cow” at http://www.devicelink.com/mpmn/archive/06/04/005.html.

Free samples can be obtained by calling Value Plastics Inside Sales at 970-267-5200 (toll-free in U.S.A. at 888-404-5837) or by completing an online request at http://www.valueplastics.com/contact/contactUs.aspx

Value Plastics is pleased to announce that they are a founding member of the Bio-Process Systems Alliance (BPSA), a special purpose group of The Society of the Plastics Industry, Inc..

What is the BPSA?
The Bio-Process Systems Alliance (BPSA) was organized to meet the challenges of the emerging single-use bioprocessing industry. There is a great need to educate, standardize, and develop guidelines that safeguard the quality of drugs produced using this technology. The goal of BPSA is to globally promote confidence in the application of single-use products in the biotech/pharmaceutical manufacturing industry.

• The alliance consists of leading companies engaged in the manufacture and use of single-use bioprocessing products.
• Brings together the diverse know-how necessary for single-use bioprocessing, ranging from manufacturers of plastic film, bags, bioreactors, filtration, to fittings and connection devices.
• Provides an integrated knowledge base for the development, implementation, validation, and operation of single-use bioprocesses.
• Provides a forum for the development of compatible technologies and standards to facilitate the use of disposables for pharmaceutical manufacturing.
• Facilitate the acceptance of single-use technology by regulatory agencies.