Democrats in both houses of Congress have introduced legislation that would force the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to better monitor emissions of ethylene oxide (EtO) from plants that manufacture the toxic gas or use it to sterilize medical devices. The Public Health Air Quality Act of 2020, sponsored by Sen. Tammy Duckworth (Ill.) and Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester […]
Medline Industries Inc.
U.S. senators demand investigation of Trump COVID-19 supply chain effort
Three U.S. senators today demanded an investigation into Project Air Bridge, a Trump administration supply chain management project to import personal protective equipment (PPE) and other medical supplies during the COVID-19 pandemic. Dubbing the project “opaque,” U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) also released new documents and information from […]
UPDATE: Medtech contract manufacturers make it work during a pandemic
From coping with wild fluctuations in demand to keeping workers safe and customers satisfied, these medical device industry suppliers have managed to adapt amid COVID-19 and an uncharted business environment. Medical device contract manufacturers are finding ways to keep business going during the coronavirus pandemic. Medical Design & Outsourcing recently conducted another round of an informal survey of […]
Medline reopens Illinois medtech sterilization plant
Medline Industries resumed sterilization operations at its Waukegan, Ill., plant on Friday, following state certification of the company’s $10 million in emission-control upgrades, the company announced. The Waukegan plant reopening follows the decision this week by officials in Cobb County, Ga., to allow an Atlanta Sterigenics EtO plant to reopen for 21 days to sterilize devices and products […]
How medtech contract manufacturers are managing during the coronavirus pandemic
From invoking their business continuity plans to marshaling their pandemic teams, medical device contract manufacturers are finding ways to keep business going during the coronavirus pandemic. Medical Design & Outsourcing conducted an informal survey of manufacturers and other companies that serve the medtech industry. Here’s some of what we learned. Get the full story on our […]
Medline to retool Wisconsin plant to produce hand sanitizer
Medline Industries said today that it will start making hand sanitizer at its Hartland, Wis. plant — with a goal of producing 150,000 bottles a week by mid-April to help Americans protect against coronavirus. The Northfield, Ill.–based medical supplies company is modifying equipment and ventilation systems for the new line. Hand sanitizer is one of the […]
U.S. lifts tariffs on certain medical supplies to prevent spread of coronavirus
U.S. trade officials recently exempted more than 100 medical items manufactured in China from import tariffs in an effort to fight the coronavirus outbreak, according to published reports. Cardinal Health and Medline Industries were among 27 companies with certain products that had their 7.5% tariffs lifted. Exempted products included protective masks, drapes and gowns, hand […]
Medline Industries temporarily halts EtO sterilization at Illinois plant
This article has been updated with a comment from Medela. Medline Industries has temporarily closed its Waukegan, Ill., medical device sterilization operation to install nearly $10 million in emissions upgrades. The privately owned company uses the carcinogenic gas ethylene oxide (EtO) to sterilize its own and other companies’ devices at the plant. Medline did not […]
Medline Industries acquires Médi-Sélect
Medline Canada today said it acquired Médi-Sélect for an all-cash transaction for an undisclosed amount. Médi-Sélect will stay as an independent division of Medline Canada throughout the rest of the year and will be headed by its current president Philippe Cantin. He will report to the president of Medline Canada Ernie Philip. “Médi-Sélect and Medline […]
Report: EtO blood levels higher in Illinois neighbors of Medline sterilization plant
This article has been updated with comments from Medline Industries. People who live about a mile away from a Medline device sterilization plant in Waukegan, Ill. have blood levels of the cancer-causing gas ethylene oxide that are about 50% higher than those who live farther away, according to a report by WebMD and Georgia Health News. Environmental health researchers from the […]
Smiths Medical inks Portex Acapella distribution deal with Medline Industries
Smiths Medical this week said it signed a distribution agreement with Medline Industries for its Portex Acapella Choice Vibratory PEP Therapy device. “The distribution partnership with Medline provides improved access to our Acapella Choice device for patients within the non-acute and home care settings,” senior director of global marketing and general manager Nirav Sheth said […]
