[Image courtesy of Freudenberg Medical]
The Beverly, Massachusetts-based company also launched a comprehensive suite of associated development and manufacturing services. It now offers Lubriteq globally across its vertically integrated operations.
Freudenberg said the launch makes it the only hydrophilic coating provider to unite advanced surface chemistry with deep, in-house medical device design and manufacturing capabilities. It said it brings together complementary technologies to enhance manufacturability and deliver greater productivity and reliability across the product development lifecycle.
The company said it entered the hydrophilic coatings market after engaging with customers and industry stakeholders. It said that, while coating technologies have advanced, it has become clear that customer needs are not being fully served. That particularly rings true with the flexibility of support services and complexities of royalties, licenses and fees.
“We heard consistent feedback that directly shaped our strategy,” said Freudenberg Medical’s Chief Commercial Officer, Keith Kiernan. “Customers aren’t just looking for a better coating—they’re looking for a better partner to de-risk their product launches. We deliberately set out to deliver a solution—and a partnership model—that reflects exactly what customers told us they need. No royalties, no rigidity—just coating performance, partnership and progress.”
Learn more from Freudenberg about Lubriteq and its other offerings at MD&M West in Anaheim this week. See the medtech suppliers you need to know at the show here.
Lubriteq, an advanced, UV-curable, single-step hydrophilic coating, was engineered for versatility and performance across a range of medical device applications and polymer and metal substrates. Freudenberg said the coating delivers high lubricity with exceptional durability, consistent uniformity and ultra-low particulates.
The company said it made Lubriteq customizable to optimize performance for specific device requirements. It has compatibility with virtually all approved materials used in medical device designs.
Freudenberg’s Lubriteq launch, along with a comprehensive services model, helps customers across the full product lifecycle. It includes a rapid two-week first feasibility turnaround, tailored coating customization programs, and flexible volume-manufacturing options.
The company intends to introduce a straightforward, transparent commercial model for Lubriteq to eliminate hidden costs and reduce launch risk. Customers can access a high-performance hydrophilic coating solution with no royalties, no fixed or annual fees and no regulatory file access fees.
Commentary from Freudenberg Medical’s CEO Michael McGee
“Hydrophilic coatings and device design must work in perfect harmony to deliver optimal performance, yet the industry has traditionally approached them as separate disciplines. As a uniquely integrated technical partner, we enable customers to move faster, with less risk and greater confidence, by combining product design, advanced materials, precision coatings, and application expertise for seamless development, scale-up, and launch.”
“With more than 40 coating scientists, chemical engineers and technicians working alongside 250 medical device & catheter engineers globally, we have unparalleled expertise in developing complex chemistry and drug-device solutions for our customers. We already support over one million medical devices each year for functional surface coatings, making the introduction of Lubriteq, our hydrophilic coating solution, a natural evolution and logical next step aligned with our customers’ needs.”
“With Lubriteq, Freudenberg Medical is raising the bar for what a hydrophilic coating partner can and should be. The early responses we’re seeing from customers confirm that we’re meeting a real need. Great technology, great service and a commercial model built on trust—that’s the standard we are setting.”
