Now in its 21st year, the Medical Design & Excellence Awards (MDEA) program has revealed the finalists in nine categories. The winners will be announced at Medical Design & Manufacturing (MD&M) East in New York on June 11.

"Tomorrow’s World Today" on May 25 will be devoted to Tritan copolyester, a material that “has transformed how brand owners, designers, molders and consumers think about clear plastics,” according to Eastman Chemical (Kingsport, TN).

As with any product, the material’s physical properties, the environment(s) in which it will be used, its cost and the manufacturing process must be taken into consideration during the material selection process. Depending on the medical device, however, there may be added layers of complexity.

A new production plant in Singapore is due to come on stream in the first half of 2021, making Sabic (Riyadh, Saudi Arabia) the only high-heat resin producer with manufacturing capabilities in all regions.