Panel-mount thermal printers
DPU-D-series direct thermal printers can accelerate the design of such equipment as cell culture analyzers, autoclaves, and dialysis monitors by streamlining printer integration into embedded systems. Suitable for mobile applications, each of the small-footprint, low-voltage devices from Seiko Instruments is a full embedded printing system that can be slotted into the front panel of a medical device. The printers are available with 2- and 3-in. print widths and incorporate the printer mechanism, paper well, tear bar, printer housing, and external faceplate into a single unit. They are available with print speeds up to 100 mm/sec, front-loading drop-in paper replacement, and an intuitive LED readout of operating status and error notifications. For data communication, a choice of USB, serial, and parallel interfaces is available.
Seiko Instruments Inc.
TORRANCE, CA

UV laser marking systems
Ultraviolet (UV) laser marking systems manufactured by Miyachi Unitek Corp. can produce high-quality marks and small characters on a variety of materials. Suited for marking plastics frequently employed in medical and packaging applications, the systems also provide controlled, corrosion-resistant metals marking. The UV lasers' 355-nm wavelength offers unique marking characteristics, according to the company, which include fine printing on electronic components, marking breakers, treating medical tubing, high-contrast HDPE marking, and corrosion- and passivation-resistant marking of stainless steels. Depending on the application, the systems can be configured to include such features as motion, vision-corrected marking, bar code mark read and verification, a custom user-interface, custom enclosures, and tooling. The system's fully integrated motion options offer up to four axes of motion; any combination of linear and rotary axes can be easily programmed from the marking software.
Miyachi Unitek Corp.  
MONROVIA, CA

Label printing system
The ecologically friendly Green Machine label printer system from K-Sun Corp. is suitable for use by laboratory and medical product manufacturing professionals that need to design and print labels in-house and on demand. Boasting a technologically advanced and ergonomic design, the system is intended to minimize cost and waste while making operation easy and comfortable. Features include a high-intensity backlit display; variable margin settings to prevent waste and provide visual balance; and hot keys for denominating type styles and sizes, language, and patch-panel, wire-wrap, or flag-style labels. The portable and PC-compatible thermal-transfer printer produces bar codes and labels, and it can also print on heat-shrink tubing. A special trimmer rounds label corners on demand.
K-Sun Corp.
SOMERSET, WI

Label printer-applicator
The PA500w wipe-on label printer-applicator has been designed by Tharo Systems Inc. to provide accurate medium- to high-speed labeling of the top, side, or bottom of a product. The machine is capable of printing and applying more than 100 labels per minute. It is delivered with a product sensor and controller to ensure accurate placement of the label on the product. A wipe-on brush ensures proper adhesion to uneven surfaces as well as smooth, flat surfaces. Accommodating labels sized from 3 × 1 in. to 4.5 × 7 in., the printer-applicator can apply them to cartons, tray and blister packages, bags, and cans made from a variety of materials.
Tharo Systems Inc.
BRUNSWICK, OH

Laser ablation centers for surface texturing
Laser ablation processes offer economic, ecological, and design advantages compared with conventional etching operations, according to system manufacturer GF Agie Charmilles. Capable of performing surface patterns and textures on metal and ceramic medical parts, the Laser 5Ax ablation center machines 2- and 3-D details from a high-quality digital image onto a variety of devices. Among its applications is the texturing of orthopedic implants in order to facilitate bone in-growth, for example. It features two optical and five mechanical axes as well as linear scales and rotary encoders to ensure accuracy. Additionally, the environmentally friendly system does not produce fluids, slurry, or chips.
GF Agie Charmilles
LINCOLNSHIRE, IL