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Medical Tubing Extrusion

Medical Tubing Extrusion

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Description


TwinScrew’s medical tubing extrusion line is designed for producing high-precision medical catheters and specialty tubing, meeting the medical industry’s strict requirements for quality, safety, and reliability.
The system processes various medical-grade materials including PVC, PU, TPU, PE, and EVA, supporting single-lumen, multi-lumen, and multilayer structures.
It is suitable for manufacturing vascular catheters, infusion tubes, gastric tubes, urinary catheters, dialysis tubing, and other clinical devices.


What Is a Medical Tubing Extrusion Line?

A medical tubing extrusion line uses a single-screw or twin-screw extruder to melt and plasticize medical-grade polymers, forming tubing through a combination of die head, sizing, cooling, haul-off, and cutting systems.
The production process includes:

1. Material plasticizing and extrusion:

The screw system melts and homogenizes the material, and precise screw-barrel design maintains stable melt flow and dimensional accuracy.

2. Die head & sizing:

Supports single-lumen, multi-lumen, or multilayer die heads, combined with low-pressure vacuum sizing and spray cooling to ensure outer-diameter and lumen precision.

3. Cooling & haul-off:

Vacuum or water cooling tanks stabilize the tube shape, while servo haul-off units maintain consistent line speed to prevent dimensional fluctuation.

4. Cutting & winding:

Servo-driven haul-off and planetary cutting systems provide precise fixed-length or continuous cutting, with optional automatic coilers.

5. Online inspection & control:

A closed-loop laser diameter gauge and PLC system automatically adjust outer-diameter and wall-thickness in real time, keeping tolerances within ±0.01 mm and rejecting defective products.


Key Advantages of TwinScrew Medical Tubing Extrusion Line

1. High-precision dimensional control:

Closed-loop laser diameter measurement with PLC control maintains outer-diameter and wall-thickness tolerances within ±0.01 mm and performs automatic rejection.

2. Vacuum sizing & spray cooling:

Low-pressure vacuum sizing combined with spray cooling ensures consistent outer-diameter and accurate lumen dimensions.

3. Multilayer & multi-lumen extrusion:

Supports co-extrusion and multi-lumen structures for producing complex catheters and multifunctional tubes.

4. Material compatibility & clean design:

Compatible with PVC, PU, TPU, PE, and EVA.
Key components are made of stainless steel and corrosion-resistant alloys, and clean-room-compatible designs prevent static and dust contamination.

5. High-speed stable output:

Combined volumetric conveying and servo control enable production speeds of up to 150 m/min.

6. Precise cutting & winding:

Servo-driven haul-off and planetary cutting provide precise fixed-length or continuous cutting, with optional automatic coiling for higher efficiency.

7. Complete downstream configuration:

Standard line includes single-tube die head, vacuum spray cooling tank, haul-off, dual-station oscillating winder, pay-off stand, conveyor, and high-pressure air-blow system.

8. Flexible control system:

Offers both traditional operator panels and PC-based control systems with recipe storage, data monitoring, and remote diagnostics.


Applications

  • Vascular catheters, central venous catheters, and infusion tubing
  • Anesthesia tubes, endotracheal tubes, and gastric tubes
  • Urinary catheters, dialysis tubing, and surgical device tubing
  • Multi-lumen catheters, perforated tubes, and drainage tubes
  • Multilayer or light-shielding medical tubing
  • Other disposable clinical devices and specialty medical hoses


Line Configuration

Standard medical tubing extrusion line includes:

  • Raw-material drying and feeding system (optional automatic dosing)
  • Single-screw or twin-screw extruder (supports co-extrusion and auxiliary extrusion)
  • Medical-grade die head & sizing system (single-lumen / multi-lumen / multilayer)
  • Vacuum sizing tank & spray cooling tank
  • Servo haul-off unit
  • Planetary cutting machine (fixed-length or continuous cutting)
  • Dual-station oscillating winder / belt conveyor
  • High-pressure air-blow system and pay-off stand for 3-meter feeding distance
  • PLC / PC control system with recipe management, data tracking, and remote diagnostics

Optional modules include: guide-wire insertion, smart monitoring, ultra-precision laser gauges, SUS304 vacuum cooling modules, and air-ring drying systems.


Smart Automation & Control Interface

  • PC/PLC integrated control:
    Centralized control of extrusion, vacuum, cooling, haul-off, cutting, and winding units, with recipe storage.
  • Closed-loop laser measurement:
    Laser diameter gauges and PLC closed-loop control continuously adjust screw and haul-off speed, ensuring OD, wall-thickness, and multi-lumen accuracy.
  • Multi-zone PID temperature control:
    Precise temperature management for barrel zones and die head, ensuring melt stability.
  • Servo haul-off and synchronized control:
    Servo closed-loop haul-off and cutting prevent OD fluctuation and maintain ±0.03 mm dimensional accuracy.
  • Remote monitoring & smart management:
    Optional data-acquisition and remote-monitoring modules enable production status tracking and predictive maintenance.


Technical Data

Parameter Range Description
Inner diameter 0.8 mm – 17 mm Adjustable for single-lumen, multi-lumen, and guide-wire channels
OD tolerance ±0.01 mm – ±0.03 mm Ensured through laser measurement and vacuum sizing
Line speed ≤150 m/min High-speed stable production
Material compatibility PVC, PU, TPE, PE, EVA Suitable for medical-grade materials
Extrusion system Single-screw / twin-screw Supports co-extrusion and auxiliary extrusion
Downstream units Vacuum cooling, haul-off, winding Complete line configuration


Why Choose TwinScrew?

1. Over 20 years of extrusion experience:

Proven expertise in medical and high-precision tubing equipment.

2. Global installation record:

Exported to Asia, Europe, and the Americas with GMP and ISO compliance experience.

3. Strict compliance with GMP/ISO:

Equipment uses stainless-steel and corrosion-resistant materials, suitable for clean-room production.

4. Complete after-sales support:

Professional technical support and spare-parts supply ensure long-term stable operation.

5. Customization & intelligent automation:

Customized screws, die heads, and full production lines tailored to product requirements, with options for intelligent control and data management.

6. Industry best practices:

Incorporates advanced technologies such as high-precision laser gauges, servo haul-off, and closed-loop synchronization.


FAQ

Q1: What is the difference between single-lumen and multi-lumen tubes?

Single-lumen tubes are used for infusion and general catheter applications.
Multi-lumen tubes can carry multiple fluids or guide wires and are used in multifunctional and drainage catheters.

Q2: Can the line produce multilayer or light-blocking tubes?

Yes. The extrusion line supports co-extrusion and can produce dual-layer or triple-layer tubes, such as inner-transparent and outer-opaque structures, or antibacterial tubing.

Q3: How are dimensional accuracy and surface quality ensured?

Closed-loop laser measurement, vacuum sizing, and synchronized servo haul-off maintain ±0.01 mm OD tolerance and ±0.03 mm line-wide stability.
Stainless-steel cooling tanks and air-ring drying systems maintain roundness and smooth surfaces.