Fusion Labeling For Healthcare Polymers

Exceed Durability Requirements & Help To Mitigate Healthcare Associated Infections (HAI)

Proven Fusion Labeling Solution For Healthcare

As a disruptive polymer technology company, Polyfuze provides advanced Fusion Labeling Technology to healthcare industry products made from polyolefin thermoplastics like Polypropylene and Polyethylene for:

Working with Hill-Rom, Weber GmbH & Co.KGr, AMA Plastic and Alliance precision Plastic for several years now, Polyfuze Fusion Labeling has provided solutions for Warning, Informative, Tracking and Brand Recognition labeling on their challenging polyolefin plastic products for the healthcare industry.

Michael M - Hartwell Medical

“It makes our products better.”

Medical Waste Expert Shares Thoughts on Disruptive Fusion Label Technology from Polyfuze

Bob Spurgin

Nation’s Leading Authority on Healthcare Waste Management

For over 3 decades, Bob Spurgin has been at the forefront of Medical Waste Policy, Permitting, and Regulatory Advocacy for Health Facilities, Regulators and Industry throughout the United States.

Worked with over 200 hospitals and major waste service/product providers.
Was contractor for “Finding the Rx for Managing Medical Waste.”
Co-authored of the EPA Guide for Infectious Waste.
Was editor of “Environmental Standards for the Healthcare Industry.”
Has appeared on CNN, PBS and ABC.
Speaks at national and regional health care conferences.
Medical waste advisory group on LinkedIn has over 3500 members worldwide.

www.spurginassociates.com

How Damaged Labels Are Perfect Environments For HAI Causing Bacteria.

HAI Causes

According to a study conducted by Stephanie A. Boone and Charles P. Gerba², experts have seen increasing evidence that contaminated surfaces or fomites play a prominent role in the spread of viral and bacterial HAI.

“Fomites” are non-living objects in healthcare settings that include a wide array of polyolefin plastic products and labeling that are continually exposed to a range of harsh inputs. For example, a durable Polypropylene Sharps Container and label must endure 600 cycles of detergent and high temp steam pressure washing at 121°C (250°F) while a Polypropylene Medical Sample Tray and label must survive cryogenic freezing at -80°C (-112°F).

Where polyolefin products are designed to endure these diverse fluctuations, incompatible labels applied to them cannot, leaving them unsterile and damaged becoming the perfect environment for HAI harboring microbes that can be transmitted through a single touch.

2) https://patientcarelink.org/improving-patient-care/healthcare-acquired-infections-hais/

Facts About HAI's

Why do standard labels applied to polyolefin plastics like Polypropylene and Polyethylene used in Healthcare Environments like sharps containers and biohazard waste bins not meet requirements?

Because like Teflon®, nothing wants to stick to them.

Polymer Fusion Labeling Technology

Different from standard Adhesion Label Technologies where the primary action is surface adhesion of two different materials attempting to glue together, Polymer Fusion Labeling Technology is at the molecular level creating one piece of fused inseparable Olefin plastic.

How Does It Work?

Pigmented Polymer (Fusion Label) is molecularly fused to Olefinic Plastic (Product) using heat/pressure via standard Hot Stamp / Heat Transfer / VersaFlex Technology.

The fusion reaction takes place quickly during this process resulting in the two plastics coming together (Melting/Joining) and then quickly cooling once complete.

More Information

Compatible Polyfuze Fusion Labeling

Because Polyfuze Fusion Technology Labels are made of the same polyolefin plastic, they fuse molecularly into the subsurface leaving a fully flush, easier to clean and sanitize surface. No peeling edges, gummy adhesives or exposed under layers to harbor virus or bacteria. They are also 100% permanent for the life use of those products meaning they can successfully endure aggressive disinfectants, extreme heat, steam and cryogenic freezing for the life of those products.

Labeling Advantages With BioCote® Technology

Polyfuze Fusion Technology Labels have recently partnered with BioCote® to be able to include its silver ion technology within the same formulation for labeling.

This means, for a finished polymer product, they will not only benefit from our permanent fusion labeling for brand and message recognition, but now those labeled areas would also be helped in gaining a barrier of protection against any buildup of microbes, bacteria or mold that might cause infection or illness.

Polymer Fusion Labeling with BioCote also creates an easy to sanitize and keep clean surface area on your polymer products.

This extra barrier of protection, when using our Fusion Label technology combined with BioCote technology, can be very effective for medical waste containers, agricultural crates, fishery totes, food service trays, high chairs, booster and car seats, playground equipment, waste carts and more.

* BioCote® technology does not protect users or others against disease causing bacteria, germs, viruses or other harmful organisms. This technology is not a substitute for good hygiene and/or cleaning practices.

Benefits Of Fusion Labeling In Healthcare Environments

Sterile - Polyfuze Fusion labels create a flush, label-free surface on polyolefin fomites that are easy to clean and sanitize. No more gummy adhesives or peeled edges for bacteria to harbor.
Safe - Polyfuze Fusion Warning/Safety labels continue to inform patients, healthcare workers and biohazard collection technicians for life of the product without degradation.
Perception - Damaged incompatible labels leave peeled edges, exposed under layers and gummy adhesives that imply contamination and uncleanliness. Polyfuze Fusion Labels become an integral part of the product and cannot lift, peel or de-laminate for the life of the product.
Price vs. Cost - Damaged incompatible labels not only leave workers and patients vulnerable to HAI causing bacteria, but the healthcare industry vulnerable to "failure to warn" and potential litigation which requires additional labels, labor and costs to mitigate. Polyfuze Fusion Labels infused with PREVENT Antimicrobial continues to inhibits growth hours after sanitizing operations cease.

Blog - How Labeling Influences Healthcare Associated Infections

If there’s one thing the COVID-19 pandemic has helped to shed light on, it’s the global epidemic of Healthcare Associated Infections…. Read more about how standard labeling not only harbors bacteria, but affects safety, perception and cost for healthcare workers, patients and the industry as a whole.

Have A Project Or Want To Learn More?

Contact Polyfuze

Contact experts for questions, with up to 26 years of experience,

Fusion Labeling

Discover how Polyfuze overcomes the nature of polyolefin plastic.

Why Polyfuze

Discover the Key Benefits to choosing Polyfuze Fusion Labeling Technology.