THE ESSENTIAL ENABLERS
SOLID SOLUTIONS FOR FLUID CHALLENGES Medical diagnostic devices, printer cartridges, cosmetic applicators and automotive filters have something important in common—they depend on Essentra Porous Technologies. Our components enable products—both common and highly specialized—to do their jobs. Often hidden from view, small parts from Essentra regulate the movement of fluids and vapors, making pens write, air refreshed, surgical procedures safer, and hundreds of other functions possible.
Our customers cross industries in 57 countries and counting. And our global manufacturing presence offers true and reliable speed to market, with 97% on-time delivery. Our commitment to quality, employing quality control labs to procedures and ISO compliances at our facilities, ensures that every part we manufacture will satisfy the highest expectations of uniformity, delivering a 99.97% quality yield.
H
B
D
E
A
F
G
C
A. Wound care foam
C. Surgical device vent
E. Writing instrument reservoir
G. Pipette tip filter
B. Printer cartridge reservoir
D. Automotive filter
F. Pregnancy test wick
H. Cosmetics sponge
ESSENTIAL ENABLERS Developing innovative solutions for essential everyday items, ranging from healthcare products to office and school consumables.
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ESSENTIAL MATERIALS Essentra Porous Technologies continues to cultivate innovation and excel at customization. Our cutting-edge R&D headquarters tests the limits of material science, and our engineers take those advancements to our customers. We collaborate on design, prototypes, modifications and product samples to solve our customers’ specific engineering challenges. And 9001:2008 ISO manufacturing facilities ensure that our customers can rely on unrivaled consistency and quality from the first Essentra product to the very last. We offer highly customized solutions, produced in a regulated environment, in a range of materials:
FOAM
FIBER
POROUS PLASTIC
A proprietary or customized blend of raw materials created through a clean hydrophilic polyurethane process. Each formulation creates a range of densities, porosities and softnesses. Based on the type and end use of the foam, converting, roll stock and laminations are available.
A blend of polymeric fibers bonded together for ideal fluid handling capillary structures. Pore size, density, and materials are varied to produce critical performance for specific applications. Component performance can be further optimized by impregnating fiber structures with active ingredients, such as activated carbon, zeolites, cyclodextrin complexes, pigments, surfactants, reagents or concentrates.
A range of polymer particles fused together for specific mechanical and chemical properties. Porous plastic has excellent dimensional control and is produced in complex, three-dimensional shapes. Components can vary greatly in porosity, permeability, flexibility and strength for specific applications. Additives that enable self-sealing, color and hydrophilicity are available to further enhance performance.
• Available foams include medical grade (ISO 10993 and ISO 13485 certified), cosmetic, slow recovery and a foam-fiber hybrid material • Catalyst-free, hypoallergenic, 100% latex free—skin-contact friendly • Hydrophilic or hydrophobic • Ability to incorporate customer exclusive additives • Skived or poured to thickness
• Materials used include polyester, polyolefins, nylon, cellulosics, acetate and other fibers • Pore sizes range from 2 microns to greater than 100 microns • Chemical- and high-temperature resistant • Hydrophilic or hydrophobic • Customized three-dimensional shapes, custom colors, roll stock and die-cutting
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• Materials include a range of polymers, such as polyolefins, polyamids, acrylics, styrenics and others • Hydrophilic or hydrophobic • Pore sizes range from 5 microns to greater than 250 microns • Porosity ranges from 30% to 70% • Customized three-dimensional shapes, custom colors, roll stock and die-cutting
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS ABSORPTION The uptake of a fluid in order to hold and not leak, overflow or spill EVAPORATION Liquid-to-vapor phase transfer F ILTRATION The act of mechanically separating a mixture of solids and fluids
PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT Product development is the cornerstone of Essentra, and customization is the science of our solutions. Our R&D center pushes the limits of liquid and vapor control, and our engineers use those advancements in collaboration with our customers to develop customized products. PHASE ONE Customer Needs: Our customers make products that require functions such as: Absorption
Functional Separation
R EPELLENCY
Evaporation
Venting
The process of keeping a liquid away from a specific area
Filtration
Wicking
Repellency
Performance Optimization
CONTROLLED RELEASE
Controlled Release
Contamination Control
To hold or contain a specific volume of fluid and permit its release in a controlled manner F UNCTIONAL SEPARATION Partitioning a liquid mixture into component parts
PHASE TWO Material Science: These functions require our in-house porous material technologies: Foam
Fiber
Porous Plastic
VENTING Pressure relief system in which liquid does not escape WICKING The transfer of liquid from one point to another via capillary forces
PHASE THREE Custom Engineering—Our Expertise: We apply our material science technologies though custom engineering and collaborate with customers in the following development process: 1. Prototypes 2. Customer Evaluations 3. Modifications & Enhancements
PERFORMANCE OPTIMIZATION The addition of active ingredients such as antimicrobials, activated carbon, zeolites, cyclodextrin complexes, self-sealing, pigments, surfactants, reagents or concentrates CONTAMINATION CONTROL The use of specialty wiping products to control contamination according to specific critical environment requirements
PHASE FOUR Finalized Product Development for Superior Quality: Once the product solution is identified, Essentra’s production process and rigorous quality-control standards deliver unrivaled consistency—every part, component or assembled unit offers the same great quality no matter how many we make. We deliver finalized products with a 99.97% quality yield for use in: Medical Devices & Surgical Components Writing Instruments & Printer Ink Control • Personal Care & Fragrance Delivery • And Much More • •
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HEALTHCARE & LIFE SCIENCES
MEDICAL & SURGICAL DEVICES Precision engineering saves lives. And the precise handling of fluids and vapors is often critical to clinical success. Essentra’s commitment to research and development is perhaps most important when it comes to our collaboration with the healthcare industry. Our leading-edge R&D headquarters constantly refines the role that porous media plays in lifesaving operations. From the release of pressure in surgical devices to the comprehensive treatment of wounds, our products and components enable safe and reliable medical procedures—improving the quality of patient care.
IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF PATIENT CARE
E F
A
D B
C
A. Sample collection media B. IV component
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C. Surgical absorption media and wound care dressings
D. Venting components for laparoscopic surgery devices
E. Clean wipes F. Waste removal canister filter
HEALTHCARE & LIFE SCIENCES
Selected Medical & Surgical Products
MEDISPONGE® WOUND CARE Advanced hydrophilic, polyurethane foams feature ultrapure formulations and optimized absorptive capacities, enhancing patient care and enabling faster healing. Ideal for a variety of healthcare applications, our medicalgrade foams and fiber composites are highly customizable for specialized wound care performance. • Custom additives
• Tear strength
• Porosity
• Tensile strength
• Density
• Softness
NEBULIZER FILTERS
SURGICAL ABSORPTION MEDIA
SUCTION CANISTERS
Maximized filtration efficiencies and high material purity protect nebulizer machines from particles harmful to internal mechanisms, ensuring that users continue to receive effective treatment from their equipment.
Precision-engineered absorption elements range from absorptive components specially fitted for specific surgical devices to super-absorbent surgical pads, all customizable for any specialized application, providing sterile solutions in fluid control.
Our specially formulated porous plastic suction canisters enable high air flow rates, while a uniformly impregnated microscopic additive swells exponentially on contact with any aqueous liquid, protecting sensitive surgical equipment from liquid contaminants.
VENTING COMPONENTS
DRUG DELIVERY RESERVOIRS
Our engineers leverage wide ranges of porous material technologies for customized surgical equipment venting solutions that can be further optimized by the addition of active ingredients and custom additives.
Drug delivery reservoirs feature unadulterated porous materials with high chemical resistances to store liquid pharmaceutical agents and release them on demand, for use in direct administration to patients or in combining multiple drugs.
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HEALTHCARE & LIFE SCIENCES
LABORATORY & DIAGNOSTICS Our precisely engineered products are at work in laboratories across the world, each and every day, improving the science behind human and animal health. Advanced genetics labs depend on the quality of our DNA/RNA purification media for accurate results. Forensics labs rely on the consistency of our swabs and media for dependable sample collection and testing. And our engineers and scientists continue to develop new laboratory and diagnostics solutions—from proprietary color change technology to pipette depth filters with low contamination and uniform air flow. Essentra’s products and components are essential to the Life Sciences industries.
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IMPROVING THE SCIENCE BEHIND HUMAN HEALTH
HEALTHCARE & LIFE SCIENCES
Selected Laboratory & Diagnostics Products
PREGNANCY & OVULATION TESTS As the worldwide industry standard, Essentra’s lateral flow assay wicks offer proven performance in liquid transfer precision for at-home diagnostics, providing optimized capillary action, high material purity and proprietary color-change technology for more reliable testing with easier-to-interpret results.
DIAGNOSTICS MEDIA
LATERAL FLOW ASSAY WICKS
Our ultrapure production eliminates adulteration for customized diagnostics media used in DNA /RNA purification, urine and saliva collection, forensics and more.
Our wicks can satisfy any lateral flow liquid transfer requirement, combining highly customizable capillary action and industry-leading manufacturing techniques with innovations like proprietary color-change technology.
In addition to specialized wicking and absorption capabilities for precise accuracy in testing, our engineers can further enhance performance through additions such as proprietary coatings that minimize nonspecific binding and reduce potential sample contamination.
PIPETTE FILTERS
IN VITRO DIAGNOSTICS
Simple to assemble, pressure-dropoptimized pipette filters offer improved airflow uniformity with hydrophobic protection against liquid bypass contamination.
Essentra’s engineers create the porous components for accurate IVD tests in laboratories, clinical settings and even homes across the planet, with wide ranges in customizable material formulations and designs for specialized IVD challenges.
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WRITING INSTRUMENTS & PRINTER SYSTEMS More than 40 years ago, Essentra changed the writing instrument landscape by inventing the XPE® ink reservoir, raising the bar for reliability in extreme conditions— including high-altitude flights. And the innovation continues today. Essentra’s material science and capillary transfer expertise combine for ink delivery components that offer the highest levels
of performance, consistency and value. Global leaders depend on Essentra for reservoirs and nibs that maximize the efficiency of their pens and markers. Worldwide manufacturers rely on our inkjet cartridge reservoirs, engineered at the microscopic level, for consistent and controlled retention and release of ink in high-resolution printers.
THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF PERFORMANCE
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Selected Writing Instruments & Printer Systems Products
WRITING INSTRUMENT RESERVOIRS XPE® ink reservoirs redefine ink delivery dependability, offering the highest performance in extreme conditions— even high-altitude flights. Essentra’s capillary transfer expertise and porous material technologies create a comprehensive line of ink reservoirs used by market leaders across the planet. Specially formulated bonded fiber blends and 100% fiber-to-film sealed wraps are just the beginning— nearly any aspect of our writing instrument reservoirs is fully customizable.
STAMPING PADS
INK NIBS
OVERFLOW COMPONENTS
Essentra’s stamping pads utilize a range of proprietary formulations for softness and controlled wicking, creating specialized capillary designs that provide uniform ink flow for sharp details while resisting dry-out.
Polyester (PET) and porous-plastic nibs are available in a variety of shapes and dimensions for ideal ink delivery with any ink-based writing instrument, including coloring pens, highlighters, whiteboard markers and permanent markers.
Ink-overflow components add another dimension of printer cartridge efficiency— utilizing super-absorbent wicking materials to capture and redirect ink leakage back into the delivery system.
INK CARTRIDGE RESERVOIRS & WICKS Essentra’s reservoirs and release wicks are engineered at the microscopic level for purity and regulated capillary action, eliminating pigment adulteration and delivering consistent and controlled retention and release of ink at high resolutions.
Capillary structures, porosity, chemical compatibilities and wicking capabilities can be custom-engineered for specialized ink flow and write-out. And for enhanced ink delivery with simpler supply chains, our engineers design optimized nib and reservoir combinations— creating superior writing instruments with fewer variables and lower costs.
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FRAGRANCE DELIVERY
FLEXIBLE & EFFICIENT FRAGRANCE DIFFUSION OPTIONS
Essentra’s knowledge of absorption, wicking and evaporation brings the best of material science to fragrance delivery systems. Our fragrance delivery products and components span a wide variety of applications— from freshening air in bedrooms to deterring bugs in the great outdoors—and are even at work in specialized hightemperature devices. Using optimal material formulations for capillary performance, Essentra delivers flexible and efficient fragrance diffusion options.
Selected Fragrance Delivery Products PERFUME SAMPLERS
REED DIFFUSER WICKS
BIOLOGICAL SCENT ATTRACTION WICKS
Specially constructed plastic perfume samplers combine secure liquid storage with easy on-demand fragrance release for efficient and cost-effective fragrance sampling.
Essentra’s reed diffuser wicks offer optimally controlled porosity with customizable evaporation rates for exceptional performance in passive fragrance delivery, evaporating at up to three times the rate of traditional bamboo.
Featuring super absorbency for maximum saturation and ultrapure formulations for unadulterated biological scents, our customizable wicks provide controlled, efficient diffusion for any scent attraction application.
ODOR-NEUTRALIZING MEDIA
LIQUID INSECT REPELLENT WICKS
PLUG-IN AIR FRESHENER WICKS
Porous fiber structures and highly efficient carbon materials quickly absorb airborne odor-causing agents for effective odor neutralization, improving the quality of indoor air by eliminating unwanted odors.
Our liquid insecticide wicks are nondegradable and long-lasting—even at very high temperatures—offering a host of liquid-to-vapor transfer rate and price advantages over traditional ceramic wicks.
Our plug-in air freshener wicks feature optimized capillarity and porosity along with fully customizable formulations for highly controlled scent release with any electrical fragrance-delivery system.
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PERSONAL CARE & COSMETICS
BRINGING ADVANCED ENGINEERING TO THE MOST PERSONAL APPLICATIONS
Essentra’s innovations are in homes, bathrooms and pocketbooks across the world, bringing advanced engineering to the most personal applications. Cutting-edge personal care and cosmetics products enable reliable health monitoring, glowing skin and optimized makeup performance—improving and simplifying personal lives. Our pregnancy test wicks, known for exceptional dependability, are the industry standard. And our additional fluid-handling components are used in a multitude of cosmetics applications—making skin and hair shine, teeth sparkle and perfumes come alive.
Selected Personal Care Products COSMETIC FOAMS Essentra’s proprietary, ultrapure formulations perfect the science of soft— creating premium hypoallergenic, noncrumbling, salon-quality cosmetic applicators and skin care products with customizable softness, custom colors and die-cuts, and options for active ingredients. HAIR DYE APPLICATORS Our porous plastic applicators with controlled porosity and fully customizable designs bring new levels of precision to salon and at-home hair coloring with any hair dye formulation.
PERFUME & FRAGRANCE DELIVERY MEDIA Our engineers apply high-quality porous plastics, foams and fibers for a range of perfume and fragrance delivery solutions—from cartridges for scent delivery systems to perfume bottle tops, fragrance pellets and more.
TEETH WHITENING SWABS Essentra’s teeth whitening swabs feature highly pure fibers with ideal capillary structures for controlled absorption— creating the perfect delivery system for any teeth whitening formulation.
EYELINER & LIP LINER DELIVERY RESERVOIRS & NIBS Our delivery reservoirs and nibs are customizable for the optimized application of any eyeliner, lip liner or lip gloss formulation, offering our exceptional track record of quality and consistency to end products made for sensitive areas.
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INDUSTRIAL & WATER FILTRATION
THE MOST EFFECTIVE FILTRATION SOLUTION TO ANY PROBLEM
Whether for drinking water or chemical solutions for manufacturing, purity is essential, and quality filters make it possible. Different filtration environments can pose a host of engineering challenges. Essentra’s mastery of filtration and porous material production combine for the most effective filtration solution to any problem, eliminating contaminants according to the most demanding requirements.
Selected Industrial & Filtration Products SINTERED CARBON BLOCKS
AIR-OIL COALESCING FILTERS
CARBON BLOCK PRE-FILTERS
Essentra’s custom and industry-standard sized carbon blocks offer specialized pore structures and homogeneous performance to OEMs worldwide. Our engineers use FDA compliant raw materials and the finest grades of activated carbon to deliver superior performance to a variety of water and gas purification applications.
Featuring Essentra’s direct-formed design to eliminate the seams that cause structural weaknesses, our customizable coalescing filters bring higher efficiency and lower pressure drops to filtration applications that require the coalescing of an oil or lubricant from a vapor stream.
The unified design and thick polyolefin walls of our customizable seamless filter sleeves allow for minimum restriction and maximum filtration, extending the life and boosting the performance of any carbon filter.
NYLON MELT BLOWN FILTER CARTRIDGES
POROUS PLASTIC TUBES
Engineered for exceptional chemical and thermal resistance, our filter cartridges provide optimized dirt-holding capacity, low pressure drop, high filtration efficiency and long lifespans.
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Produced from UHMW polyethylene polymers, our seamless porous plastic tubes are available in lengths up to 2m and ODs up to 750mm. Fully-customizable tubes deliver superior pore size consistency, chemical and abrasion resistance, and longevity to diverse applications.
SPECIALTY AUTOMOTIVE FILTERS Proper filtration keeps engines running smoothly, and Essentra’s expertise in material science and design offers a higher degree of automotive filtration performance at lower customer costs. Direct-formed, unified filter designs increase robustness, durability and longevity—while eliminating costly manufacturing waste. Bonded fiber construction with multi-density
A HIGHER DEGREE OF AUTOMOTIVE FILTRATION PERFORMANCE
layers, produced in an award-winning ISO 9001:2008 facility, creates enhanced filtration and coalescing efficiency, higher flow rates, lower pressure drop and improved particle retention. And with full customizations for any automotive coalescing application, our filters offer exceptional flexibility for highly specialized customer needs.
Selected Automotive Filters Products DIESEL-WATER SEPARATORS
CRANKCASE BREATHERS
Designed for high efficiency in “primary” or “water-removal” systems, our direct-formed diesel-water separators offer ideal depth filtration, retaining particles throughout the entire filter media and delivering 95% single-pass water removal efficiency.
Essentra’s multi-density, bonded-fiber CCV filters utilize cutting-edge porous technologies for contaminated blow-by gas protection, providing an environmentally friendly alternative to fiberglass with enhanced filtration efficiency and industryleading low pressure drops. SHOP WIPES Superior to scrim or air-lay but similarly priced, Essentra’s shop wipes are available in a variety of material blends, weights and custom sizes, making grease, oil, gas and other difficult-tomanage automotive fluids easy to clean.
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SPECIALTY WIPING PRODUCTS Cleanrooms and critical environments have relied on Essentra’s specialty wiping products for more than 43 years. Complete control of our state-of-the-art manufacturing process ensures superior quality at competitive prices for everything we make. Nearly all of our products are fully customizable, and for truly unique
Selected Specialty Wiping Products NONWOVEN WIPES
IRRADIATED WIPES
KNITTED WIPES
SPECIALTY WIPES
POLYESTER KNIT WIPES
STERILE ALCOHOL SPRAY
PRESATURATED WIPES
CLEANROOM BOND PAPER
STERILE WIPES
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needs, our engineers collaboratively design innovative new products for specialized requirements. Essentra offers diverse wiping solutions in contamination control. Our portfolio features a wide array of substrates, which can be chosen based on sealed edge requirements, purity levels, sterilization needs and multiple packaging options.
CONTROLLING CONTAMINATION IN THE MOST CRITICAL ENVIRONMENTS
Industries • Healthcare
• Optics
• Medical Devices
• Electronics
• Compounding Pharmacy
• Food Processing
• Aerospace
• Biotech / Pharmaceutical
• Industrial
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CUSTOMIZATIONS THROUGH INNOVATIONS Essentra’s focus on research and development, driven by our global R&D center, brings advancements in material science straight to our customers. Our engineers and scientists continually develop new intellectual property and processes – redefining liquid and vapor handling technologies across industries and the world. And we use these innovations to solve our customers’ complex engineering problems. Our expertise has overcome challenges ranging from losses in surgical device lens clarity to inefficiencies in printer system ink extraction—enabling our customers’ final success. Essentra designs parts and components to the most specified detail, with great ranges in capillarity, porosity, permeability, and additional mechanical and chemical properties—including customer-exclusive additives and highly specialized active ingredients. PRECISION ENGINEERING IS AN ESSENTIAL SERVICE FOR OUR CUSTOMERS. CONTACT OUR EXPERTS TODAY, AND ACCOMPLISH YOUR LIQUID AND VAPOR HANDLING GOALS. www.essentraporoustechnologies.com
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ESSENTRA PLC Essentra plc is a FTSE 250 company and a leading international supplier of specialty plastic, fiber, foam and packaging products. Through its four principal operating divisions, Essentra focuses on the light manufacture and distribution of high volume, essential components which serve customers in a wide variety of end-markets and geographies.
5,500 EMPLOYEES
29 COUNTRIES
5 R&D CENTERS
Packaging & Securing Solutions
Component & Protection Solutions
A leading global provider of packaging and securing solutions to a diversified blue-chip customer base. With a focus on delivering value adding innovation, quality and service to customers through a range of cartons, tapes, leaflets, foils and labels for the healthcare, consumer and specialist packaging, point of sale and paper & board industries. The division is also a leading supplier of authentication technologies and identity solutions. Customers in over 100 countries are served from facilities operating in eight countries.
The Components business is a global market leading manufacturer and distributor of plastic injection molded, vinyl dip molded and metal items. Operating units in 23 countries serve a very broad industrial base of customers with a rapid supply of primarily plastic products for a variety of applications in industries such as hydraulics, pneumatics, electrical controls and construction.
Filter Products The only global independent cigarette filter supplier. The nine worldwide locations, including a UK-based research facility and three regional development centers, provide a flexible infrastructure strategically positioned to serve the tobacco industry. The division supplies a wide range of value-adding, high-quality, innovative filters; packaging solutions to the roll-yourown sector; and analytical laboratory services for ingredient measurement for the industry. Delivering to 57 countries and counting. Find a sales office near you at:
www.essentraporoustechnologies.com Š2014 Essentra Porous Technologies | ESS-000.1
The Pipe Protection Technologies business specializes in the manufacture of high performance innovative products from commodity resins to engineeringgrade thermoplastics and polymer alloys for use in a range of end-markets. Locations in four countries, combined with a wide distributor network, serve customers around the world.
www.essentra.com
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