Sterilizers & Autoclaves News

Attention Texas - why spend more than ave to? order the 1915x sterilizer. That will do the job. http://www.all-american-autoclaves.com

Eschmann Equipment, having history over 200 years, is Britain’s leading manufacturer of operating tables and equipment for hospital operation theatres, and a leading manufacturer of infection control systems for the small clinics.

After many years of ownership by large multinational corporations, Eschmann was bought in 2001 by a private consortium headed by George Kennedy CBE, who was previously Chairman of Smiths Group Medical Systems Division. Eschmann Equipment is the market leader in the design and manufacture of operating tables, electrosurgery machines and Little SisterTM sterilisers. It is one of the largest employers in Lancing, West Sussex.

Under its new management team, Eschmann has invested heavily in its products and business. The new T20 operating table was launched in 2002. Fully electronic, the T20 table is technically in advance of competitive tables and has been well received by UK and Export customers. The infection control range has been considerably strengthened with the new “Little Sister QuickVac” autoclave and the new “SES Little Sister” washer disinfector. Current development programs are focused on a further expansion of the operating table range, new electrosurgery units, and a new range of autoclaves.

The Company has recently moved into a GBP4.0 million purpose built office and factory complex. The Company employs 230 people and has a wholly owned subsidiary in Singapore, covering Asia and Pacific Rim countries. Over one-third of output is exported, with particular strengths in Middle East markets.

Lord Warner, Health Minister, will be visiting to Eschmann Equipment’s new facilities in Lancing, West Sussex on Wednesday, 28th April 2005. The visit is part of the Healthcare Industries Task Force (1) initiative and Lord Warner is the Government co-chair of HITF.

During the visit Lord Warner will view the latest technologies in operating room equipment being employed by Eschmann and discuss ways in which the company is helping to drive improved co-operation between the UK’s medical manufacturing industry and the Department of Health.

The Healthcare Industries Task Force (HITF)

Health Minister Lord Warner and Sir Christopher O’Donnell, Chief Executive of Smith & Nephew, are jointly heading a Task Force bringing together Government and the healthcare industry.

The first initiative of its kind between Government and this important sector, the Healthcare Industries Task Force will operate for one year under the joint chairmanship of Lord Warner and Sir Christopher O’Donnell. Lord Sainsbury, DTI’s Minister for Science and Innovation, Mike O’Brien MP, Minister of State for Trade, Investment and Foreign Affairs, and senior industry figures will also participate in this program.

Lord Warner said that, the healthcare industry is important both in terms of developing products to support better healthcare and as an important economic sector. This Task Force will help us to understand how Government and Industry can work together for mutual benefit. Great advances are being made in medical technology, make sure we harness this expertise and maximize the benefits for patients, industry and national economy.

Sir Christopher O’Donnell said that there are further opportunities by partnership with the medical professions and health care providers to improve industry growth and to contribute to patient benefits. It is an extremely positive step that the Government has recognized these opportunities and established this task force to examine the issues and take action.

1. Around 1800 companies, multi national and small organizations form Health Industry in U.K. They produce a wide range of medical equipment and devices, ranging from syringes to pacemakers. Total output in the UK is about GBP4bn, including estimated sales of GBP2.2bn to the NHS. Exports are in the region of GBP1.6bn.

2. The Healthcare Industries Task Force (HITF) will bring Health industry and government together to identify steps to develop, the UK healthcare industry and maximize the benefit to patients from healthcare products in particular to:

a. Increase professionals and patients access to innovative medical technology across all healthcare services

b. Facilitate an improved environment for product research, development, clinical evaluation and related investment.

c. Provide a clear framework of regulation and information that serves patients

d. Promote international trade in products in this sector

Co-chaired by a Government Minister and a leading Chief Executive, HITF will, within a year, deliver recommendations which should benefit patients, encourage the best use of NHS resources to improve growth in investment, manufacturing and exports. Four Working Groups are planned; each with co-chairs from Government and Industry will assist the Task Force.

3. The Association of British Healthcare Industries (ABHI) is the lead trade association in this sector and is bringing industry interests together for HITF. ABHI is working with a group of other trade associations including the British In Vitro Diagnostics Association (BIVDA), the British Healthcare Trades Association (BHTA) and regional organisations Medilink and the Southern Medical Alliance. Etc.

4. Further details are available from the Department of Health’s website: www.advisorybodies.doh.gov.uk/hitf

‘’Cooking'’ carbon fiber using Autoclaves

Autoclaves play an important role in manufacturing the chassis in the composites department, and later followed by final machine stages in assembly. According to Composites Manager Colin Watts, an autoclave is a big pressurized oven, in which the carbon fibre is molded. During the initial laying-up stages of the chassis autoclaves have a number of different uses, which come into play. These stages are termed as de-bulks’ and ‘cure’.

The complex process of the construction of chassis takes place in stages, laying up the different cuts of carbon fibre, and the autoclaves have a vital role to play at each stage. These parts are cooked at different temperatures and different pressures in a vacuum, to extract any air from the material.

Every part that enters the autoclave undergoes the same process. The carbon fibre laid up in the mould must be covered in a breathable plastic layer, to allow the air to escape; this is then covered in a breather fabric, before being placed in a nylon bag which goes into the oven and has vacuum hoses attached to it.

The two principal processes during which the autoclaves come into play are de-bulk and cure. De- bulk process is used to compact and compress the material under lower temperatures, which get the resin to the point where it flows and compacts the material down in the mould. The key thing is not to use high temperatures as in cure, which is designed to produce the finished, hard material.

For each skin of the chassis, undergoes two or three de-bulks before the plies are ready for the cure. The cure is the process during which the carbon-fibre acquires its strength and stiffness. Typically, for the first cure of the chassis, it is put in the autoclave for three to four hours, at up to 180°C under a pressure of around 100 psi. Pressure is increased steadily as temperature rises: The exact point at which cure is done is considered as an important competitive advantage, a trade secret of the respective manufacturing companies. Cures are run for the core and the inner skin as well, although at lower pressures

Then comes the final machining stage. Once the final cure has been completed, and the mould is cracked to reveal the final part, the chassis upper and lower must undergo final machining. The halves of the chassis are mounted in purpose built jigs on the Huron machine, and holes are machined through the carbon fibre and into the various metal inserts for suspension pick-ups or engine mounts. Further work on a large JOBS machine allows detailing such as the obligatory camera mounting position, or areas around the fuel filler, to be completed, as well as the internal profiles of the chassis. Once this has been done, the two halves are ready to be bonded together:

Thus the chassis 01 is almost complete after being baked number of times in the autoclaves and processed under jigs and large job machines.

For more information about Eschmann SES Little Sister Autoclaves