Radio frequency welding is a bonding process which is typically used to manufacture flexible items. The RF process lends itself particularly well to air/gas/liquid containment requirement that are common in the medical industry. Unlike sewing and stitching methods, RF sealing renders an impervious smooth bond, which does not harbor residues, which can promote growth of bacteria and the like. Two of the industries that use RF welding to fabricate some of their patient products are the medical and pharmaceutical industries. RF welding can be used within these industries to create products that need to be airtight and fluid-tight, such as blood bags and IV bags, as well as other products, such as blood pressure cuffs, colostomy and catheter bags. If you’re interested in learning more about radio frequency welding and finding out whether it would be a process well suited for the products you need, read on.
Why RF Welding?
While there are a number of sealing methods that these industries could use to fabricate their products, radio frequency welding is used most often because it is the most reliable and durable method for seam sealing. Adhesive bonding is messy and not reliable enough in terms of how airtight and leak proof it is. RF welding creates a dependable seal that is safe from leakage, abrasion and other problems that could cause product malfunction. Because many medical and pharmaceutical products require the use of PVC, TPU and other polymers, the process is ideal since these materials lend well to radio frequency welding. Radio frequency welding is used to fabricate a variety of products in a number of different industries, not just the medical and pharmaceutical industries.
What Types of Products Are Made?
Radio frequency welding is an efficient and reliable solution for fabrication of a variety of inflatable products, and many of these are widely used in the medical industry. Some of the products that the pharmaceutical and medical industries use that are made through the process of RF welding include:
- IV bags
- Blood bags
- Colostomy bags
- Pressure cuffs
- Glucose bags
- Saline bags
Benefits of Using RF Welded Products
Some of the main benefits to these products, in addition to them being leak-proof and airtight, are that they are impermeable and capable of remaining sterile/bacteria-free. This, of course, is essential for use within healthcare facilities. The seams cannot be compromised, which makes RF welded bags and other products reliable for medical use. Additionally, the seams are strong—radio frequency welding fuses materials together to create a new, one piece seam that is as strong, or stronger than the original piece of material.
If you’re considering radio frequency welding as the process for making a product you need to use at your company or within your industry, contact SealWerks today. Our experienced associates can assist you in finding the ideal manufacturing process, material selection and product configuration that can help you decide whether RF welding is right for your product. You can even customize products by adding a logo—perhaps for your practice or the hospital you are working for. No matter what you have in mind for the products you need, SealWerks produces many known products in the marketplace today, and provides prototyping services if you need new construction or modifications to existing products.
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