In what now seems like an idea gone wrong, many jobs were sent overseas to save on labor costs. In the 1990’s American corporations could save as much as 25% on labor costs. Today, those costs have shrunk to 16% at best. In a January 19^th, article written by Brian Stoffel for on-line investment advisor The Motley Fool, Brian writes: “Back in 2000, U.S. based companies could set up factories in coastal Chinese towns where they could count on paying workers $.50 cents per hour. By 2015 BCG [Boston Consulting Group] says, the average [Chinese] worker will be demanding nine times the salary at $4.50 per hour.” Add to that the increased cost of shipping due to oil prices,  rent increases in commercial property and very high utility rates; the result are that today global manufacturers are seeing the advantages of overseas manufacturing diminish.

Today’s U.S. jobs report indicated that the United States economy gained momentum in January, by adding 243,000 jobs. Our second straight month of better-than-expected gains. The largest gains were in the manufacturing sector. And that trend has been growing since last year.

Exposure to supply chain disruption has many global manufacturers seeing red, white and blue. Adverse weather events from the recent past have shown some serious chinks in supply chain management. When floods, earthquakes and tsunami’s hit developing countries that do not have governmental and non-governmental agencies in place to facilitate a quick recovery, supply chains get adversely disrupted. Production lines stop and sales slump.

Add to that the fact that high unemployment in America has drive labor rates down, and more and more states are passing “right to work” laws as well as offering tax incentives to companies who will locate in their states and bring much needed jobs, global manufacturers are being wooed to relocate their facilities back home.

Moving more jobs back home won’t result in a drop off in manufacturing in China. As the middle class in China grows, the Chinese will be the biggest customer for the goods manufactured there. America will even be exporting more goods to China as the growing wealth there has increased the demand for goods made in the USA. Goods manufactured in America are still sought after all over the world.

This trend is just starting, but is gaining momentum. As more and more jobs are added, our economy will grow and restore trust back into the American consumer, who in turn, will spend more money and further this momentum of growth. At last, I think I see a light at the end of the tunnel.

Manufacturing Will Come Back to America is a post from Connecticut Plastics Blog, which is run by the nation's leading Plastic Fabricator" - Connecticut Plastics.

It looks like the page has been up since 2010, and honestly there have not been any posts in 2011.  But each story is heart warming and speaks of the great innovations in medicine that we enjoy here in the US.

If you or a loved one has experienced a medical miracle, why not visit the page and post your own story. You can include a photo and I also see links to videos. It is important to support the medical and bio-science industry in the US. It is responsible for saving many lives.

Visit A Medical Device Saved My Life on Facebook.

A Medical Device Saved My Life

Here at Connecticut Plastics, Inc., companies that make up the US Medical Device Industry are some of our most important customers. We are happy to have played a small part in these medical miracles.

A Medical Device Saved My Life Facebook Page is a post from Connecticut Plastics Blog, which is run by the nation's leading Plastic Fabricator" - Connecticut Plastics.

The latest design in breast cancer screening.

Hologic, Inc. is a  publicly held company that focuses on women’s health issues worldwide. Hologic, Inc. (Nasdaq: HOLX) is a leading developer, manufacturer and supplier of premium diagnostic products, medical imaging systems, and surgical products dedicated to serving the healthcare needs of women throughout the world.  Hologic offers the following information from their website:

In 2011 Hologic celebrates 26 years of focusing on women’s health and 21 years as a public company. We are on a mission to help women everywhere lead longer, healthier lives. It is our reason for being and the single focus of every breakthrough we pursue, every investment we make.

Connecticut Plastics, Inc. is proud to be a critical supplier of precision machined plastic components to Hologic, Inc for assembly into their life saving medical diagnostic equipment.

Hologic, Inc Wins Excellence in Design Award is a post from Connecticut Plastics Blog, which is run by the nation's leading Plastic Fabricator" - Connecticut Plastics.

Though plastics have been disparaged in the media as of late, due to the fact that most plastics are not biodegradable; it is not likely that plastics will be reduced or replaced in the medical industry.  As plastics are single handedly responsible for saving lives- from containing infection, delivery of medicine, to child-proof caps; they are here to stay.

At Connecticut Plastics, Inc. we serve the medical device industry by supplying our customers with precision machined plastic parts that they assemble into their life saving devices and medical diagnostic equipment. We hope you find our latest research helpful and make the most out of our recently launched Plastics Learning Center.

Plastics In Medicine is a post from Connecticut Plastics Blog, which is run by the nation's leading Plastic Fabricator" - Connecticut Plastics.

The various links to included on this kids conservation program have games, music, video, and even home projects that your children can participate in, that will have them excited about saving energy around the house and helping to protect the environment.  These Green Kids will also read inspiring stories about children just like them, who have taken on projects like planting trees or working in community gardens.  The sites are colorful with terrific graphics that are sure to hold their interest for hours and get them excited about helping you save energy around the house.  Soon they’ll be telling you to turn off the lights, when you leave the room.  Now that’s a switch.

As always, we here at Connecticut Plastics enjoy providing our customers, friends, and conserving kids with interesting topics on plastics. plastic fabrication is what we do and we are dedicated to helping preserve our planet by teaching the kids of tomorrow what proper conservation means to our environment. Our precision parts are assembled into hundreds of appliances, devices and instruments found in homes, hospitals and workplaces all over the globe that you and your whole family use. We hope you and your child enjoy your visit to our recycling page for kids.

Kids Conservation: Teaching Kids Recycling is a post from Connecticut Plastics Blog, which is run by the nation's leading Plastic Fabricator" - Connecticut Plastics.

Over time, PEEK and other biocompatible polymers have supplanted metals—especially stainless steel—in a number of orthopedic applications, while the potential commercialization of Abbott Vascular’s bioabsorbable stent could serve as yet another example of devices that no longer depend on metal. Furthermore, some people question whether metal-on-metal hip implant designs have literally worn out their welcome: Inflammation and early implant failure have been attributed to metallic debris particulates generated by friction caused by the metal bearing materials.

In light of this design and attitude shift away from metals, I recently asked a panel of experts specializing in the PEEK polymer, metal alloys, and ceramics for their two cents on the role that metal may play in future implants. A response by Robert Raess, medical market manager and Midwest regional manager at Titanium Industries Inc., represents the general consensus of the panel. “There will always be a place for the mainstays, but there will be unique and new applications. There’s still a growing population, and there will always be new procedures, but I think there’s a market for everything,” he says.

Raess issues a solid assessment. It’s unlikely that metals will be out of the picture completely any time soon when it comes to implants; in fact, they remain important in a variety of applications. However, their role (along with the role biocompatible polymers) could be changing. For example, metal may no longer be the dominant material in a given device, but it may still be incorporated into the implant design to serve a particular function or provide specific properties. “The most important thing I see is integrating different materials together,” says panelist Andrew Nield, director of sales and marketing at C5 Medical Werks. There is no device that only uses a ceramic; it is integrated with polymer such as PEEK or a metal. That becomes much more important as you start to get smaller and smarter devices and you want to increase their reliability. You need to get more out of a material and get synergistic materials by putting two materials together.

Ultimately, the goal is optimizing biocompatible medical implants to enhance patient care, regardless of the material. “As we look at more-specific patient populations and their particular needs, it may be that new materials bring with them new benefits that outweigh those of metals or indeed other existing material solutions… I suppose it’s bringing something new that isn’t present at the current time for a particular niche application,” says panelist Marcus Jarman-Smith, technology leader at Invibio. Biocompatible polymers can bring their own benefits, ceramics others, and metals others. Really, we have to just consider the best solution for a patient and offer more high-quality choices to the engineers to hopefully encourage them to innovate either with a different material that allows them more freedom or with combinations of materials.”

What do you think about the role of metal in future implants? Let me know in the comments section. Also, read the full roundtable to find out more about our panelists’ thoughts on biocompatible metals, evolution versus revolution of materials, and what’s next for biomaterials. –Shana Leonard

REPRINTED FROM QMED ONLINE NEWLETTER.

Are Metals Being Muscled out of Medical Implants? is a post from Connecticut Plastics Blog, which is run by the nation's leading Plastic Fabricator" - Connecticut Plastics.

Precision Machined Polycarbonate Component for Medical Application

At Connecticut Plastics we understand the common ways in which plastics have improved our day-to-day lives. Understanding this helps us pave the ways for revolutionary uses in the future. If you’d like to learn about more technical uses of our plastic fabrication services as well as the science behind plastics, plastics chemistry and the field of engineering, visit our plastic parts Learning Center.

How Plastic Parts Improve Our Daily Lives is a post from Connecticut Plastics Blog, which is run by the nation's leading Plastic Fabricator" - Connecticut Plastics.

In a first-of-its-kind event, a delegation of chief executives from some of the top American companies which manufacture med devices, completed a successful series of meetings in Beijing last week with key Chinese government officials to strengthen the U.S. industry’s presence in this important market.

The trip, coordinated by the Advanced Medical Technology Association (AdvaMed), focused on the industry’s commitment to providing patients in China with access to the innovative medical technologies and diagnostics developed by U.S. based companies in support of China’s reform of its health care system. AdvaMed believes mutually beneficial market access for both U.S. and Chinese medical technology companies will help China meet its goal to extend health coverage to all of its citizens by 2020.

“AdvaMed member companies are exporting more products to China than ever,” said AdvaMed Chairman James V. Mazzo, President, Abbott Medical Optics. “In 2009 alone, U.S. medical technology exports to China totaled $1.3 billion – a 21 percent increase over the previous year despite the global economic downturn.”

“We want to build on the strong and positive commercial relationship that exists between our industry and China,” Mazzo added, “and look forward to working with the Chinese government and local companies involved in fabrication of biocompatible medical devices to ensure regulatory and trade policies provide patients in China with access to the life-enhancing and life-saving innovations developed by America’s medical device and diagnostics companies.”

“AdvaMed’s member companies support China’s health care reform goals to provide better care to more citizens in China,” said Stephen J. Ubl, President and CEO of AdvaMed. “We believe China and the U.S. can learn from each other as we both reform our health care systems. It is important to ensure China’s health reform efforts are executed in a way that protects and promotes innovation and expands patients’ access to health care.”

While the Chinese medical technology delegation met with Vice Premier Wang Qishan; Yang Jiechi, Minister of Foreign Affairs; Gao Hucheng, Vice Minister of Commerce and New Trade Representative; Shao Mingli, Commissioner State Food and Drug Administration and Vice Minister of Health; Li Zhaoxing, Chairman of the National People’s Congress Foreign Affairs Committee; and Jon Huntsman, U.S. Ambassador to China.

Joining Mazzo and Ubl on the trip to China were:

* Kevin J. Buehler, President and CEO of Alcon, Inc.

* Joseph DeVivo, President of Orthopedic Reconstruction, Smith & Nephew

* David B. Perez, President and CEO of Caridian BCT

* Julie A. Shimer, Ph. D., President and CEO of Welch Allyn

* Huimin Wang, M.D., Corporate Vice President, Japan, Asia Pacific & Latin America, Edwards Lifesciences, Ltd.

* Dow R. Wilson, President, Varian Oncology Systems

The visit also resulted in the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the Chinese Association of Medical Devices Industry (CAMDI) to work with AdvaMed to harmonize ethical standards for China’s medical technology industry.

“While AdvaMed’s Code of Ethics has been in place for many years, health care and medical technology innovation increasingly extends beyond national and cultural borders,” said Ubl. “The signing of this memorandum of understanding by AdvaMed and CAMDI is a significant step forward in our industry’s mission to establish consistent ethical standards across international borders.”

While in Beijing, AdvaMed also announced an agreement with respect to a donation and establishment of a formal cooperation between AdvaMed and the China Youth Development Foundation (CYDF), a national non-profit that has recently launched a new initiative to build hospitals in rural parts of the China. AdvaMed and its member companies will support this initiative through funding, in-kind donations and training for rural medical professionals.

“AdvaMed has raised two million Chinese yuan from our members to be used for the construction of rural health care facilities in China,” said Mazzo. “We are honored to be able to cooperate on this initiative with such a well-respected Chinese social organization and help to provide health care to more Chinese citizens.”

TNS RadHar67-JF78-100914-3001052 StaffFurigay

(c) 2010 Targeted News Service

We think this is good news for the plastic fabrication industry so we thought we would share it with our readers. Re-printed from QMed industry newsletter.

Brought to you by Connecticut Plastics, plastic machining at it’s best.

Medical Technology Trip to Beijing Shows Growing Commitment to Chinese Market is a post from Connecticut Plastics Blog, which is run by the nation's leading Plastic Fabricator" - Connecticut Plastics.

The term engineer dates back to 1325 AD when it simply meant “one who operates engines”. However, we can go back to ancient times and see examples such as the Great Pyramids of Egypt or the Parthenon in Athens. A engineering career is based around the acquisition and application of mathmatical, technical, and scientific knowledge in order to design as well as implement precise machines, devices, structures, and processes that will achieve a pre-defined outcome or goal. Engineering in and of itself is a varied discipline comprised of many specific areas of study. As such, look at this as an occupational decision can be difficult with choices such as:

• Chemical Engineering Career
• Aerospace Engineering Career
• Civil Engineering Career
• Mechanical Engineering Career
• Electrical Engineering Career
• Agricultural Engineering Career
• Software Engineering Career

As with many careers, one in engineering begins with getting the right education. A keen interest in math and science is important. Do you like to take things apart to see how they work? If so, then you could make a great engineer some day. In our Engineering Career Center you can learn more about the different branches of engineering along with appropriate organizations, associations a list of some of the best engineering and technical colleges in the world.

www.tryengineering.org

Additional info can also found via the IEEE and IBM which have teamed together to create a new site which combines info on engineering careers with interactive activities. Intended for pre-university students, parents, teachers, school counselors, and the general public, TryEngineering.org lets visitors explore how to prepare for an engineering career, ask experts engineering-related questions, play interactive games, and more.

Considering an Engineering Career? is a post from Connecticut Plastics Blog, which is run by the nation's leading Plastic Fabricator" - Connecticut Plastics.

Machined Polycarbonate Cube

There is intense pressure to remain competitive, flexible and cost-effective in the plastic fabricators market. OEM manufacturers constantly strive to increase market share while streamlining production and cutting costs.

The medical device market is a perfect example. According to Moody’s, alliances between hospitals and doctors have reduced the influence medical device manufacturing makers have in selling products directly to physicians. In the future it is hospitals that will be making the purchases. Hospitals operate under budgets and therefore have many reasons to demand price cuts.

The plastic fabrication machine shop that can reduce lead times and produce quality parts will offer you the competitive advantage where you need it most. Connecticut Plastics can give you that advantage in todays marketplace and we believe that proper communication and scheduling is the critical link between your ordering and execution. It represents a balance between demand, capacity and the supply chain. It is key to remaining economical.

Normal lead time for machine shops is four weeks or more and it’s obvious that customers always ask for better lead times. Here at Connecticut Plastics we listen to our customers. We are a state of the art CNC plastic machine shop that is always adding the latest in equipment in order to increase our capabilities. We can often supply components in 1-2 weeks and on short notice to meet critical scheduling demands.

Plastic Bonded Manifold

Learn more about our plastic fabrication techniques or request a quote, and upload your drawing. You’ll receive a response within 24 hours. Then call to discuss your delivery requirements. We’ll do our best to meet or exceed your guidelines.

Connecticut Plastic Fabricators Reduces Your Lead Time is a post from Connecticut Plastics Blog, which is run by the nation's leading Plastic Fabricator" - Connecticut Plastics.