Dow Introduces HEALTH+™ Polymers Offering a Strong Commitment to Service, Production Quality and Regulatory Compliance

NPE 2009, Chicago - June 22, 2009

To address specific challenges facing the healthcare device value chain, The Dow Chemical Company (“Dow”) today introduced a portfolio of high performance polyolefins that includes a strong commitment to service, production quality and regulatory compliance.

Products in the portfolio of HEALTH+™ Polymers include specific grades of DOW™ High Density Polyethylene, CONTINUUMTM High Density Polyethylene, and DOW™ LDPE.  Medical device brand owners and pharmaceutical packaging manufacturers selecting DOW™ HEALTH+™ Polymers receive a strong service standard which includes a Notification of Change in specifications, product composition, sourcing location and discontinuation of product, and assurance the products are produced according to stringent specifications.

“HEALTH+ Polymers offer peace of mind to healthcare brand owners and manufacturers,” said Carlos Ruiz, global market director for Health & Hygiene in the Basic Plastics business of The Dow Chemical Company.  “These polymers provide an assurance of supply reliability for any company needing to source polymers for use in healthcare applications.”

Specific high-performance polyolefin grades supported by Dow’s industry-leading service standard, DOW HEALTH+, include:

    • CONTINUUM™ High Density Polyethylene (HDPE)
      • DMDA-6620 HEALTH+
    • DOW™ High Density Polyethylene (HDPE)
      • DMDA-8907 HEALTH+
      • DMDA-8007 HEALTH+
      • DMDA-8920 HEALTH+
      • DMDA-8940 HEALTH+
      • DMDA-8904 HEALTH+
      • HDPE 12450N HEALTH+
      • HDPE 25455N HEALTH+
    • DOW™ LDPE
      • LDPE 690 HEALTH+
      • LDPE 692 HEALTH+

All medical application uses for DOW HEALTH+ Polymers must be approved by Dow pursuant to its Medical Policy.  Each HEALTH+ Polymer has been certified in accordance with requirements for some healthcare applications. It is the responsibility of the medical device or pharmaceutical manufacturer to determine that the Dow product is safe, lawful, and technically suitable for the intended use.

“We have responded to the specific performance challenges facing healthcare providers and suppliers by developing a porfolio of high-performance polyolefins that are backed by the DOW HEALTH+ service commitment,” said Ruiz.  “Our healthcare products may be used in pharmaceutical bottles and lids, and our offering in this market segment will continue to grow.”

Dow’s resins for the healthcare device market segment and pharmaceutical packaging industry may be utilized for injection molding, blow-fill-seal, injection blow molding and extrusion blow molding applications.  These resins are fully supported by a dedicated team of technical service, research and development and marketing professionals and are backed by DOW HEALTH+.

For more information on DOW HEALTH+ and the resins that are best suited to fit your needs in this market segment, please contact your Dow representative.

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For Editorial Information:

Corey Newsom
The Dow Chemical Company
+1 (281) 966-4245

Liz Jeffries
Porter Novelli
+1 (212) 601-8137
elizabeth.jeffries@porternovelli.com