Understanding Biomedical Die Cutting

Biomedical die-cutting is a critical process that supports the creation of highly specialized medical devices and components.  It enables manufacturers to produce complex shapes and patterns from materials like polymers, foams, films, and fabrics.  The biomedical industry is continually pushing the boundaries of materials.  In this world, precision and reliability are incredibly important.  That’s why you need a converting partner that you can trust. 

Custom die-cutting is the most popular service that we offer. We die cut biomedical materials as a stand-alone service and as part of our custom manufacturing solutions.  Our team has manufactured membrane combs, adhesive tabs, filter membranes, prepared splint material, laminated and slit specialty materials for our customers, and much, much more.

What is Biomedical Die-Cutting?

Biomedical die-cutting refers to the process of using die-cutting technology with various biomedical materials. This technique involves using a die, which is a specialized tool designed to cut, shape, or emboss materials with high precision.

The resulting components are crucial in ensuring that medical devices function correctly and meet regulatory standards.  With 40 years of experience working directly with the biomedical industry, Custom Converting is your best choice for biomedical die cutting services.

The Importance of Biomedical Die-Cutting

Biomedical die-cutting plays a vital role in the medical industry for several reasons:

  • Precision and Accuracy: The die-cutting process allows for the creation of highly accurate and consistent components. This is critical in medical applications where even minor deviations can affect the performance of a device or the safety of a patient.
  • Material Versatility: Die-cutting can be performed on a variety of materials used in the biomedical field, including hydrogels, silicone, polyethylene film, membranes, etc.. This versatility makes it possible to tailor components to specific requirements.
  • Efficiency and Cost-Effectiveness: Die-cutting is an extremely efficient process that can produce large volumes of components quickly. This efficiency translates to cost savings for manufacturers and ultimately for consumers.
  • Customizability: Biomedical die-cutting allows for the customization of components to meet unique specifications. This is particularly important for medical devices that need to be tailored to individual patient needs or specific medical conditions. 

Techniques in Biomedical Die-Cutting

  • Through Cutting:  Fully die-cut parts are parts which have been cut through all the layers of the product (through cut). These include items like face-shields and diagnostic testing sticks. As a custom manufacturer, we’re prepared to work with nearly any material to create an astounding variety of products.
  • Kiss cutting:  Kiss cutting can be a two-level die-cutting operation that cuts the shape through all the layers of your product and leaves it on the liner. Typical kiss-cut parts might look like topical patches or labels which can be put onto rolls or reels for easy removal from the silicone liner.
  • Rotary Die Cutting:  Rotary die cutting is a special kind of die cutting that uses a cylindrical die to cut shapes out of material. The die cutting process is incredibly efficient because it cuts out many identical shapes as it rotates.
  • Score Cutting:  Score cutting is another two-level die cutting operation that allows us to produce crack and peel on the silicone liner to help remove the liner more easily.

Biomedical die-cutting finds applications in various areas of the medical industry

  • Medical Devices: Components for medical devices, such as catheters, surgical instruments, and implantable devices, often require precise cutting.
  • Diagnostic Tools: Die-cutting is used to produce components for diagnostic tools, including test strips and assay devices.
  • Protective Equipment: Die-cutting is used to produce parts for personal protective equipment (PPE), such as face masks.

Additional Benefits of Biomedical Die-Cutting

  • Reduced Waste: The precision of the process means that materials are used effectively, reducing overall waste and environmental impact.
  • Enhanced Quality Control: The consistency and precision of die-cutting contribute to higher quality control standards.
  • Scalability: Die-cutting is highly scalable, making it suitable for both small and large production runs. This flexibility allows manufacturers to meet varying demand levels and adjust production as needed.
  • Improved Safety: By providing precise and consistent components, die-cutting helps ensure that medical devices and products function correctly. This contributes to patient safety and reduces the risk of device-related issues.

Conclusion

Die cutting is a crucial process in the biomedical manufacturing industry.    It is essential to do business with a manufacturer with experience in this challenging field.   Custom Converting has been die cutting and offering converting services for 40 years.   We make your parts, to your specifications – every time. 

Die cut parts are a component of most manufactured items. We can make your product from the ground up or make one piece of your finished product. Why add expensive equipment with a large footprint to your facility? Custom Converting will do the die-cutting for you. We custom manufacture your parts to your specifications, working closely with you to provide the best service in the industry.

If you need biomedical die cutting services, contact us by filling out our quote-request form and emailing it to sales@customconverting.com, fill out our online contact form, or just calling us at (760) 724-0664.

Custom Adhesives for Medical Devices: Tailoring Solutions for Optimal Performance

In the world of medical devices, the success of a device often hinges on more than just its core functionality. The adhesive materials used to secure and integrate these devices play a critical role in their overall effectiveness and patient comfort. Custom adhesives for medical devices are emerging as a game-changer, offering tailored solutions that enhance performance, safety, and user experience.

At Custom Converting, we are familiar not only with the full line of 3M medical adhesives, we work with a variety of other adhesive manufacturers and offer custom adhesive coating. When you’re not sure what adhesive would work best for your project, our team are the right ones to ask. We’ve been working in this field for over 40 years. We’re here to listen to your concerns and assist you every step of the way.

The Importance of Custom Adhesives in Medical Devices

Medical devices range from wearable sensors and glucose monitors to topical patches. Each device has specific requirements for adhesion, which traditional adhesives may not fully address. Custom adhesives are designed to meet these precise needs, ensuring that devices perform optimally while maintaining patient comfort.

  • Unique Device Requirements: Different medical devices have unique adhesion needs based on their size, shape, and intended use. For example, a glucose monitor that adheres to the skin needs an adhesive that is both strong and water resistant, while a monitor designed to be worn only during surgery should be more easily removed. Custom adhesives are engineered to meet these specific requirements.
  • Enhanced Performance: Custom adhesives can be tailored to enhance the performance of medical devices. This includes optimizing adhesion strength, flexibility, and resistance to various environmental factors such as moisture, heat, or bodily fluids. By precisely aligning the adhesive properties with the device’s operational needs, custom solutions ensure that the device remains securely in place and functions effectively.

Key Advantages of Custom Adhesives for Medical Devices

Improved Patient Comfort: One of the primary benefits of custom adhesives is their ability to improve patient comfort. Custom formulations can minimize skin irritation, reduce allergic reactions, and adapt to various skin types and conditions. This results in a more comfortable user experience, especially for devices that are worn for extended periods. Customer experience is paramount – if a device isn’t comfortable, the customer will look elsewhere.

Enhanced Durability and Reliability: Custom adhesives are designed to withstand the specific conditions in which a device operates. Whether it’s the need to stay intact during rigorous physical activity or to maintain adhesion in a moist environment, custom adhesives provide reliable performance, reducing the risk of device failure and enhancing overall safety. We know our clients want to maximize the performance of their medical devices in order to set themselves apart in the marketplace, and we will work with you to get an custom adhesive that works for you.

Better Compatibility with Device Materials: Medical devices are made from a range of materials, including plastics, metals, and fabrics. Custom adhesives can be formulated to adhere effectively to these various substrates, ensuring a strong bond and maintaining the integrity of the device. We’ve worked with these materials and more, including films and nonwovens.

Tailored Application: Custom adhesives can be designed for easy application and removal, which is crucial for devices that need to be applied or changed frequently. For example, adhesives used in wearable sensors must allow for easy attachment and removal without leaving residue or causing discomfort. It’s important to understand how each medical device is designed to be used in order to customize the adhesive correctly.

Conclusion

Custom adhesives are playing a pivotal role in the development and effectiveness of medical devices. By providing tailored solutions that meet the specific needs of each device, these adhesives enhance performance, safety, and patient comfort. As technology progresses, custom adhesives will become even more integral to the medical field, driving innovations that improve the way medical devices are used and experienced.

In the realm of medical devices, custom adhesives are more than just an accessory—they are a crucial component that can make a significant difference in patient care. Embracing these tailored solutions not only optimizes device functionality but also ensures a better, more comfortable experience for patients.

Our decades of experience in the field of converting have resulted in incredible customer loyalty. Customers appreciate having a relationship with a manufacturer where they can sit down, face-to-face and exchange ideas.

Custom Converting is registered as a medical device manufacturer with the FDA and CDPH. Not only can we adhesive coat your product, we can manufacture it as well. Look to us for all your converting needs, from die-cutting to packaging.

We’d love to discuss your project with you. Complete the form on our website or the detailed request for quotation and email it to sales@customconverting.com. You can also call us at (760) 724-0664.

Advancing Precision: Exploring Die Cutting, Slitting, and Sheeting Technologies

In the realm of manufacturing and production, precision is not just a goal but a critical requirement. Whether in the automotive industry, electronics sector, or even the packaging of everyday products, achieving exact specifications is paramount. This is where precision converting technologies play a pivotal role. Among these technologies, die cutting, slitting, and sheeting stand out as essential processes that enable intricate customization and high-quality output.

What is Converting?

Converting is the process of modifying and/or combining raw materials to create intermediate forms or new products.  Custom Converting has been providing precision converting technologies for 40 years.  We’ve manufactured both parts (intermediate forms) and finished goods for industries including aerospace, biotech, medical testing, fashion, and more.  We’re a 3M Select Converter, and can obtain the adhesives you’ve been looking for – and if 3M doesn’t carry them, we can explore custom adhesive coating for you.

Converting Process: Die Cutting

Die cutting is one of the precision converting technologies that we use at Custom Converting. Common materials subjected to die cutting include paper, cardboard, plastics, rubber, foam, and textiles. Die cutting allows for precise, repeatable shapes with minimal waste, making it ideal for mass production while maintaining high quality and consistency. 

Applications of Die Cutting Include:

  • Packaging: Custom-shaped boxes, inserts, and displays.
  • Automotive: Gaskets, interior components.
  • Electronics: Insulation materials, labels, metal films.
  • Medical: Test strips, disposable components, eye shields, medical devices, adhesives for medical wearables.

Converting Process: Slitting

Slitting is the process of cutting large rolls or sheets of material into narrower rolls of specified width. This technique is crucial in industries where materials like paper, film, foil, and textiles are used in continuous rolls but need to be adapted for various applications or packaging requirements.  This precision converting technology prepares raw materials for your machines.

Key Benefits of Slitting:

  • Customization: Tailoring material widths to fit specific machinery or product dimensions.  Many raw materials come on extremely large master rolls.  Slitting reduces the size and weight of the rolls.  Slitting ensures that materials are ready for further processing or direct use, optimizing production efficiency and reducing overall costs.
  • Efficiency: Maximizing the use of raw materials by reducing waste.
  • Flexibility: Handling a wide range of materials and thicknesses.  Custom Converting can slit everything from delicate films to fiberglass or cork. 

Converting Process: Sheeting

Sheeting involves cutting large rolls of material into individual sheets of specified dimensions. This process is crucial in industries where materials need to be precisely sized for packaging, printing, or subsequent manufacturing processes.  Sheeting ensures uniformity and consistency in product dimensions, facilitating seamless integration into downstream manufacturing processes.

Applications of Sheeting:

  • Printing: Pre-cut paper or film sheets for digital or offset printing.
  • Packaging: Pre-sized sheets for box-making or food packaging.
  • Construction: Insulation materials, roofing membranes.

Conclusion

Die cutting, slitting, and sheeting are indispensable processes in modern manufacturing, enabling customization, efficiency, and high-quality output across diverse industries.  Selecting a manufacturer with expertise in these precision converting technologies to manufacture your components or finished goods is a very important decision.

The experts at Custom Converting can advise you on making the most of your materials and explain how to combine our suite of converting offerings to best suit your product.  Face-to-face relationships are the backbone of our company, and we’d be delighted to sit down with you at our conference table here in Oceanside, California. 

Our staff members take pride in our accuracy, in giving our customers exactly what they are looking for.  We make your parts to your specifications, every time.  Whether we are making finished parts or performing precision converting technologies as a step in your sub-assembly process, Custom Converting is here to serve you. Contact us today for more details!

Complete the form on our website or the detailed request for quotation available here and email it to sales@customconverting.com. You can also call us at (760) 724-0664.

Advancing Aerospace Precision: The Role of Die Cutting

In the expansive realm of aerospace engineering, where precision and innovation converge, every component plays a crucial role in ensuring safety, efficiency, and performance. Among the myriad manufacturing techniques that contribute to the creation of aerospace components, die cutting stands out as a pivotal process that combines accuracy with versatility.   

Aerospace die cutting services are one of the ways in which Custom Converting serves the Southern California industrial landscape.  We’ve worked with defense contractors and aerospace giants throughout the years, and know the specialized requirements that you have for confidentiality.   Not only that, but as a woman-owned small business, we can help you fill vendor requirements that are required by the government.

Understanding Die Cutting

Die cutting is a manufacturing process that involves using specialized machines and tools to cut, shape, and form materials into precise components. These machines, known as dies, can be custom-made to match the exact specifications required for each component. The process is highly versatile, capable of working with a wide range of materials including metals, composites, and various types of polymers that are essential in aerospace applications. 

Die cutting stands as a cornerstone in the aerospace industry, enabling the precise fabrication of essential components that uphold safety, reliability, and performance standards in aircraft.

At Custom Converting, we are the experts in die cutting.   Aerospace die cutting services are just one of the many services that we offer.   We can die cut materials from metal foils all the way to neoprene.   Just ask us!

Die Cutting Applications in Aerospace

In the aerospace industry, where safety and reliability are paramount, die cutting finds applications across various critical areas:

  • Gasket Manufacturing: Gaskets are crucial for sealing components and preventing leaks in aircraft systems. Die cutting allows for the precise fabrication of gaskets from materials that meet stringent aerospace standards for durability and resistance to extreme conditions.
  • Insulation and Shielding: Thermal and acoustic insulation are essential for maintaining the structural integrity and comfort within aircraft. Die cutting enables the production of insulation materials that are lightweight yet effective in managing temperature differentials and reducing noise levels. 
  • Structural Components: In the construction of aircraft frames and structural components, die cutting ensures that parts are precisely cut and shaped to fit seamlessly together, contributing to overall structural integrity and aerodynamic efficiency.  We offer Class A dies at Custom Converting, with a tolerance of +/- 0.002”, perfect for precise structural needs.

Advantages of Die Cutting in Aerospace

Aerospace die cutting services offer several advantages that are indispensable in aerospace manufacturing:

  • Precision: Die cutting machines can achieve extremely tight tolerances, ensuring that each component meets exact specifications without compromising quality.
  • Efficiency: The automated nature of die cutting allows for high-volume production with consistent results, reducing manufacturing lead times and costs.
  • Versatility: The ability to work with a wide range of materials makes die cutting adaptable to diverse aerospace applications, from lightweight composite panels to robust metal components.
  • Customization: Custom dies can be created to produce unique shapes and configurations tailored to specific aerospace requirements, facilitating innovation and design flexibility.

Choosing a Custom Manufacturer

Choosing a manufacturer to provide aerospace die cutting services for your business requires you to consider a number of factors.   These factors include industry experience, supply chain considerations, and confidentiality.  

Custom Converting, proudly manufacturing in the USA , offers you the opportunity to take advantage of 40 years of experience in die cutting.   One of the benefits of doing business on-shore is that your proprietary schematics stay out of the hands of intellectual pirates.   Another is that your supply chain isn’t at the mercy of changes in international shipping.  

Working with domestic manufacturing partners is important to the aerospace industry, as is working with established businesses.   Custom Converting can provide the reliable converter relationship that you’ve been looking for.

Contact Us

Whatever your industry, whether you’re looking for a custom manufacturer or converter, look no further.  Custom Converting manufactures your parts to your specifications every time.

Complete the form on our website or the detailed request for quotation available here and email it to sales@customconverting.com. You can also call us at (760) 724-0664.

Manufacturing Adhesive Fashion Items

Fashion isn’t just about fabrics and stitches; it’s a canvas for artistic expression. In recent years, adhesive fashion manufacturing has emerged as a captivating trend, pushing the boundaries of what we wear.  At Custom Converting, we believe in “Think it, Dream it, Do it” – and we’re here to make your dreams a reality.

Because of our extensive ability to do industrial die cutting and laminate single and multi-layer products, we are able to serve the adhesive fashion manufacturing industry.  Our custom adhesive coating and lamination services provide the fashion industry with both components and finished parts.

Here’s a few ideas for adhesive fashion that you may want to manufacture:

  • Temporary Tattoos: Remember those metallic tattoos that adorned skin during summer festivals? Think intricate metallic patterns on décolletage, arms, or even across the back.  We can custom die-cut anything that you can imagine.  If you’ve been inspired by Coachella fashion, we are here to make it happen.
  • Pasties: In order to manufacture pasties, we laminate adhesive onto customer-supplied fabric, apply liner, and then die cut the parts. Our industrial die-cutting machines can manufacture any shape or size of part that our customers can think up, and when you add the variety of fabrics available on the market, the possibilities are endless.
  • Guards for Running: Runners often find that the abrasive action of sweat and shirt causes discomfort.  If you’re looking for an adhesive fashion manufacturing solution, let us know.
  • Fashion Tape:  Double sided tapes designed to perform temporary hems or keep wardrobe malfunctions at bay.  These are a part of every styist’s kit, and more and more consumers are taking heed.
  • Peel-and-Stick Embellishments: Forget sewing sequins onto your dress. Now you can simply peel and stick them wherever you desire. These embellishments add instant glam to any outfit, whether it’s a little black dress or a denim jacket.  We have extensive experience with laminating adhesive to fabric, and we’d be happy to apply our custom adhesive coating services to your idea.
  • Shoe Inserts:  Padded inserts designed to protect heels from rubbing, add additional comfort when wearing high-heels, or to prevent blisters are popular items.  Set your inserts apart by investing in printing your brand on your parts – we can do it all. 

The creatives in fashion rely upon manufacturers who can make their ideas come to life

 Custom Converting has a variety of industrial die-cutting machinery, with tolerances up to +/- 0.005”, and we can provide what you need for your adhesive fashion manufacturing.  We provide accuracy and timely deliveries, as we manufacture your parts to your specifications, every time.

We provide a full range of services including industrial die-cuttinglaminating, and kiss-cutting.  As a 3M Select Converter, we are able to obtain the highest quality adhesive for various applications.  With Custom Converting’s more than 40 years in business, we have the expertise to make recommendations when called for. 

Contact us today for a free quote. 

Complete the form on our website or the detailed request for quotation and email it to sales@customconverting.com. You can also call us at (760) 724-0664.

Working With Inventors

Our partnership with inventors is one of the things that makes Custom Converting unique.   As a custom manufacturer, we’re able to produce and supply a variety of materials and products.  We’ve manufactured everything from disposable bikinis to devices for medical testing.  Our capabilities will make your dreams come alive, which is the true meaning of “custom”.  We encourage customers to “Think it, Dream it, Do it”!

Inventors Working with Experts

Every inventor needs an expert in manufacturing to come alongside them.  You know what you want to make.  We know how to take your ideas and make them happen on the production floor.  Working with materials on a small scale or in development is one thing, working with them on a grand scale is another.  Let us walk alongside you and help you get your product onto the shelves.  We even provide packaging services.   Custom Converting can be your one-stop-solution. When we’re working with inventors, we know they don’t want to over-complicate their creations.

We’re the experts in what materials are available and might be suitable for your product.   As a 3M Select Converter we have access to the full catalog of 3M adhesives, tapes, foams and films.   And if 3M doesn’t have what you want, we work with many other providers as well.   We can also laminate materials together to create something with additional functionality.  This is one of the ways that we work with inventors – we supply the manufacturing experience, they provide the ideas.

Custom Die-cutting

Your product requires a custom steel-rule die?  Not a problem.   We’ll get a die made just for you and start cutting your material in short order.    Need more accuracy?   Custom Converting offers precision rotary dies as well as class-A custom dies.   Whatever the shape or size of your final product, we can have a die made to accommodate your needs.  Your invention doesn’t have to look like something that’s gone before to take shape – we’ll suit the shapes to your needs.

Inventors using innovative materials?

We’ve been asked to work with everything from fabric to kraft paper to titanium metal.   Our ability to utilize a variety of materials gives us the ability to conform to your needs, and the needs of your customers.    We can coat your materials, slit them, die-cut them, print them and package them.   We’re truly ready to work with inventors to make dreams into realities.

In-person Consultations: Working with Inventors

Not every contract manufacturer will make the time to sit down and talk about ideas with inventors, but we do.   You can set an appointment to speak with our experts and sit down at a table with someone who’s going to catch your excitement and see the possibilities in your creation.   We’re happy to give you advice and the benefit of our years in the business.   And not only are we willing to sit down with you, we’re conveniently located in North San Diego county.

Interested in benefiting from our years of experience and personal touch?  Contact us today!

ISO Certification Process

ISO Certification


Most manufacturers have ISO certifications, but what is it? Why do we do this? And what’s the ISO Certification process like?


What does an ISO certificate tell you?


ISO is the International Organization for Standardization. An ISO certificate says that our company maintains a Quality System to a certain standard – a standard set by international experts in the manufacturing space. Our ISO certification tells our customers that we’re serious about doing things correctly, that we track our goods and services, that we respond to customer complaints, and that we are continuously improving. It gives you an idea of what to expect. Every company that has an ISO certification goes through the ISO certification process on a regular basis.


Why is it good for us?


Internally, working to ISO standards helps us to speak a common tongue with other manufacturers, whether vendors or customers. Having the ISO standard gives us a benchmark by which to measure ourselves. Our continual process of internal audits and checks keeps things from falling through the cracks, whether that’s employee training needs or infrastructure within or without the company.


What does the process look like?


Over the course of the year, we continually perform internal audits of the various departments within our company. Someone from outside the department comes through and checks the process. This internal audit is recorded for our annual meeting if everything goes well, but if it doesn’t, it’s addressed right then and there. Custom Converting is known for its employees working together as a team, and we don’t wait to fix problems! The ISO certification process serves as a guideline, but we go above and beyond.


At the end of the year, we sit down as a company and review all our materials with senior management. We make goals for the next year, address risks and opportunities, and see where we could continue to improve.


After our internal meetings are complete, we compile all the data and make an appointment with an external auditor (independent from our own operations) come to our facility and audit how we operate and maintain consistent quality throughout our organization. Our Quality Manager and his assistant spend the day with the auditor, bringing in other employees and management for interviews as requested. We go over all of the documented information, records, materials, etc. The auditor is escorted through our facility while manufacturing and managerial operations are taking place live, and verifies that our quality systems and procedures actually are being adhered to.

At the end of the day, the auditor makes his recommendations, which the Quality Manager takes back to senior management for review. If problems are found, we are issued a “Corrective Action Report” by the audit team where we must prove that we have taken the appropriate steps to insure we have corrected any issues and are compliant with our Quality System. Once all is compliant, we are issued a continuance of our certification.


Assuming all goes well, we update our website with any new certifications and move forward with the year ahead. Ant that’s the story of the ISO Certification Process.


Conclusion


Custom Converting is ever-evolving, working to offer you the best converting services possible. Having an ISO certification offers you the security of knowing what to expect, and it offers us a benchmark to not only meet, but exceed our Quality management System.

3M Medical Adhesives

3M Medical Adhesives play a crucial role in the construction of medical devices, ensuring reliability, comfort, and safety for patients. 3M has over 55 years of experience in developing medical-grade adhesives and films. These materials serve as adhesives within various medical devices, from wearable health monitors to diagnostic patches.

Custom Converting is a 3M Select Converter and we are proud to offer the full line of 3M adhesives and tape products. Not only have we been working in the converting field for 40 years, we’ve been working specifically with the biotech industry, life-sciences industry and medical device industry for decades. We have experience that you can trust.

Do you just need a 3M Medical Adhesive supplier, or someone to convert tapes and/or adhesives for you? We can do that. Would you like custom manufacturing of your component or product? Look no further. Custom Converting makes your parts to your specifications every time.

Applications of 3M Medical Adhesives

3M’s medical adhesives, films, fasteners, and components find applications across countless medical device manufacturing processes. These materials improve productivity and add value to your products. Whether it’s securing diagnostic films, creating microfluidic diagnostic adhesives, or developing body-worn solutions, 3M has you covered.

What products might require a 3M medical adhesive?

  • Transdermal Drug Delivery Systems: Adhesive patches deliver medications through the skin. Examples include pain relief patches, and hormone replacement therapy patches.
  • Electrodes for ECG and EEG Monitoring: Medical adhesives attach electrodes to the skin for electrocardiogram (ECG) and electroencephalogram (EEG) monitoring. These electrodes ensure accurate signal transmission.
  • Ostomy Appliances: Adhesives are used in ostomy bags and pouches to securely attach them to the skin around a stoma (an opening created during surgery, e.g., colostomy or ileostomy).
  • Surgical Drapes and Incise Films: Adhesives help secure surgical drapes and incise films during procedures. They create a sterile barrier, prevent contamination, and maintain a clear field of view for surgeons.
  • Medical Tapes and Dressing Adhesives: Medical tapes are essential for securing catheters, tubing, and wound dressings. They provide reliable adhesion while being gentle on the skin.
  • Diagnostic Wearables and Sensors: Adhesives hold wearable sensors (e.g., glucose monitors, ECG patches) in place on the skin. They ensure continuous monitoring without discomfort. Adhesives that adhere to skin, stay in place, and provide comfort are essential for wearable medical devices. Patients rely on these devices for critical health monitoring.
  • Orthopedic Braces and Supports: Adhesives secure orthopedic braces, splints, and supports. They enhance patient comfort and stability.
  • IV Catheter Securement: Transparent film dressings with adhesives are used to secure intravenous (IV) catheters and prevent dislodgment.

3M Medical Adhesives are Designed to Adhere to the Skin while Minimizing Irritation

We are often asked about adhesive allergies. A small percentage of the population (2-3%) are allergic to adhesives of any type. However, so many medical applications require the use of adhesive technology that 3M has developed medical adhesives that minimize irritation and still deliver solid adhesion.

They achieve this balance with:

  • Skin-Friendly Formulation: 3M formulates adhesives with materials that are gentle on the skin, consequently these materials minimize allergic reactions and irritation.
  • Low Trauma Removal: 3M adhesives are engineered for painless removal, so they adhere securely during use but release easily without damaging the skin. If you need an even more delicate removal process, silicone-based adhesives are known for their low trauma properties.
  • Testing and Validation: 3M rigorously tests adhesives for skin compatibility. These tests assess irritation potential, sensitization, and biocompatibility.

Customization for Specific Applications

Different applications require varying levels of adhesion. 3M tailors adhesives to meet specific needs (e.g., strong adhesion for surgical drapes, gentle adhesion for wearable sensors). Choosing the right adhesive for your project is an important part of product development.

Custom Converting has access to the full catalog of 3M adhesives. We have over 40 years of experience in the converting industry, and if you’re not sure which 3M medical adhesive is right for you, we’d be happy to assist.

If you are looking for medical adhesive from someone other than 3M, we work with many other suppliers. We also offer custom adhesive development.

We’d love to discuss your project with you and get you the right adhesive. Complete the form on our website or the detailed request for quotation and email it to sales@customconverting.com. You can also call us at (760) 724-0664.

Who Needs a Custom Manufacturer?

Who needs a custom manufacturer? You do!

Custom manufacturing and converting services benefit companies at all levels. From start-ups to established businesses, outsourcing your production saves you time, money, and headaches. How can Custom Converting make your life easier?

Reducing Costs:

Time is money. Doing your own manufacturing is expensive.

First, to manufacture for yourself, you have to find the right equipment, which takes research and engineering hours. Then you’re going to have to find a place in your facility to run the equipment, and you’re going to have to train employees to use it properly.

Employees are expensive, and experience costs money. You not only have to keep employees to run the equipment, you have to keep employees who know how to maintain the equipment. Labor costs are going up.

Rent and overhead are expensive. Adding manufacturing equipment to your floor costs you money every day of the year, not just the days you die cut, slit, or coat adhesive. Most converting equipment has a large footprint, and it doesn’t fold up and store in the corner.

Negotiating relationships with materials suppliers is time-consuming. We negotiate the best prices from established vendors. Why not let us supply your materials? As a 3M Select converter, we can obtain materials unavailable to the public.

Who needs a custom manufacturer? Businesses who want to save money.

Increased Quality and Scalability:

Working with a custom manufacturer allows you to try new ideas. Because you’re not worrying about the details of manufacturing, you can spend that time pursuing creativity and doing market research. Smaller runs allow you to pivot quickly, responding to your customers’ desires. When time is ripe, we can scale up and get millions of parts to you in a timely fashion.

Leave the learning curve to us. We can produce high-quality products because we’ve been doing it for 40 years. Quality is in our DNA, and our customers love us.

We worked with Dan before the pandemic and built a relationship with him. When the pandemic hit, we shipped him millions of parts, even adding a second shift to fulfill his requirements. After the pandemic was over, his need for die cut parts dropped back down; and we still die-cut those parts for him. Does Dan have to worry about employees or equipment investments as demand fluctuates? No! We take care of it for him, and we’ll continue to do so.

Who needs a custom manufacturer? Businesses who want to respond quickly to shifts in demand, and who want to bring a high-quality product to their customers quickly.

Options:

What does it mean to do business with a custom converter? It means that you can utilize any of the capabilities that we have in order to manufacture your product or products. If you’re wondering if we’re the custom manufacturer that you’re looking for, please contact us.

We can provide components for you because we have access to the full 3M catalog of adhesives. Some of our clients only use us to get these materials.

We can provide converting services for a part or parts of your manufacturing process. Some of our clients deliver specialized materials to our dock that we then die cut and return, with or without packaging.

We can provide end-to-end manufacturing services, from purchasing through final packaging, shipping you a product ready to put on the shelf.

Who needs a custom manufacturer? Businesses who want options.

Knowledge is Power:

We will give you a detailed and accurate quotation up front, before beginning the manufacturing process or your issue of a purchase order. This is vital to any business, but it is especially useful for start-ups, or anyone making pricing decisions. Don’t guess how much your product is going to cost – know.

With 40 years of experience, we can help you find solutions to your challenges. Why not make an appointment with our team? Because of the years we’ve been in the business, we’ve had a chance to try making a wide variety of products. We’re happy to share that experience with you. Face-to-face relationships built on trust can last for years, and it does, with Custom Converting.

Who needs a custom manufacturer? Businesses who want to know more.

Made in the U.S.A.

If you work with American-made raw materials and/or components, keep your production onshore and get that “Made in the U.S.A.” seal. This standard is becoming increasingly important to your customers – we’ve heard that large retailers are actively sorting vendors by where they’re manufacturing their product.

Working with a custom manufacturer located in the United States also avoids some of the problems we came across during the years of the pandemic. Supply lines were cut, overseas deliveries were in huge queues, and what was supposed to make everyone’s life easier and faster became a huge hassle.

The global economy is fraught with hazards as of this writing. Not only are shipping boats being hijacked in some parts of the world, there is a chance that we might be at war (or in a proxy war) with countries that are home to many international manufacturers. Do you want your business to collapse if China fires on Taiwan? Bringing your converting and manufacturing home just makes sense.

Who needs a custom manufacturer located in the United States? Businesses who want to mark their goods, “Made in the U.S.A.” and businesses who want to avoid the dangers inherent in depending on offshore manufacturing partners.

Conclusion:

Custom manufacturing and converting services benefit can benefit nearly every business. If you’re looking to save money, bring great products to your customers, and reduce your stress, then this option is for you.

You can contact us via phone (760) 724-0664, via the form on our site, or by emailing the attached form to sales@customconverting.com.

We look forward to hearing from you soon.

Biotech Converters In San Diego County

Biotech converters local to the North San Diego County area are few and far between.  Biotechnology is one of the major industries in San Diego County, and it’s expanding rapidly.  Companies such as Genentech, Therapeutic Solutions International, and Kinovate Life Sciences have made Oceanside their home.  Carlsbad hosts even more biotechnological innovation, with Predictive Biology, Open Biopharma, and SeqOnce Biosciences being only a few of the operators in this industry.

As demand increases, will these companies be able to find the infrastructure and partnerships locally that they need in order to produce their products?  The biotech industry often requires highly specialized components, produced with very specific materials.  Not everyone can handle these jobs, but we can.  We’ve manufactured everything from splint material to DNA membrane combs.  We die cut special materials like membranes, tapes and a wide variety of adhesives and work to a high degree of accuracy.

Custom Converting has been in business in Oceanside for 40 years, and we’ve been working with the biotech industry since our inception. As a 3M converter, we can source any adhesive material (tapes, etc.) as requested and we are also able to customize adhesives, face stock, and liner.  We are ISO 9001:2015 certified and manufacture to cGMP specifications. Our facility is registered to manufacture medical devices in the state of California and with the FDA.  We are able to comply with reduced DNA contaminate requirements upon request, and we have a humidity-controlled dry room.

Biotech is a worldwide business, but there are times that having a local converting partner to custom manufacture your parts or products is essential.  At Custom Converting, we offer you the opportunity to sit down with one of our experienced team members in person.  Biotech is one of the jewels in Oceanside’s crown, and as the industry continues to expand, custom converters will be in progressively greater demand.    See all the benefits that working with a local biotech converter offers, and contact us today!

Quality is in our DNA!