RSNA 2008: Composiflex Introduces Custom Finishing

Erie, PA - A unique finishing method revealed at RSNA 2008 by Composiflex, a global supplier of highly-engineered composite products, removes limitations on the appearance of composite components.

Aesthetic appeal is an important consideration for medical equipment designers, particularly for highly visible patient positioning components such as cradles, overlays, and related accessories. However, designers' choices have been largely limited to clear coating, silk-screening, or painting. With the introduction of Composiflex's new process, virtually any surface design is now possible.

RSNA attendees were drawn to the "burled wood" finish of the sample medical table top on exhibit in the Composiflex show booth. Marketing executive, Marty Matthews, explained to inquiring visitors that the sample shown was not brown carbon fiber but, rather, the result of a unique finishing technique. Although burled wood may not be the finish of choice for medical equipment designers, it served its purpose at the show - to draw attention, invite questions, and inspire creativity.

Matthews noted that, "Some customers like the look of the clear-coated carbon fabric but don't really need the carbon material for performance. Our new finishing process can replicate the look of carbon without the cost of carbon." Composite components can be finished in literally any pattern or design, from a rich wood grain to a brightly-colored, pediatric-friendly look.

The customized finish now offered by Composiflex is still suitable for imaging applications but adds a new possibility for design differentiation in the competitive medical equipment market. For additional information about this new finishing option, contact Marty Matthews.

SOURCE: Composiflex, Inc.