Originally Published MPMNSeptember 2004

INDUSTRY NEWS

Thermoplastic Supplier Provides Custom Polymer and Process Development Services

Corinne Litchfield

Companies purchasing small quantities of materials can often believe they are shortchanged in terms of customer service. Sometimes they may feel they have been coerced into buying more than they need. 

Foster Corp.'s Applied Polymer Development (APD) group (Putnam, CT; www.fostercorp.com)has a better idea. The firm now offers custom polymer and process development services, unrelated to the amount of material purchased, to medical device manufacturers around the globe. By forgoing quantity requirements, the company can provide R&D assistance on a contractual basis to both small- and large-scale manufacturers.

Small-volume material-supply purchasers are sometimes required to buy minimum lots substantially greater than what they need for their consumption, and technical support may be minimal. The typical transaction between a materials supplier and customer is made in dollars per pound of material purchased. Rather than tell potential customers to return once they have a price-per-pound amount, APD assists customers with the development process on a contractual basis. 

"There's an increasing demand for companies to do R&D regarding material solutions before they can determine how much material is needed," says Dan Lazas, APD's business manager. The company's polymer engineering skills, laboratory, and processing equipment are available to clients needing services ranging from experimental design to comprehensive material support. Services are offered on time-based rates or project fees, and are tailored to meetthe client's application and budget requirements. 

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