Initially offered in granule form and as semi-finished products, VESTAKEEP Fusion can be milled, compression molded, extruded, and injection molded, said Evonik. The compound was optimized for injection molding in close cooperation with Samaplast AG.

And it follows the firm’s 2018 donation to the hospice, which was used to transform a bathroom into a wet room facility for its patients.

“I’d urge any business looking to become involved with a charity to consider the hospice’s vital work, which goes above and beyond to support people.”

A collaboration between Evonik and Swiss plastics processor Samaplast results in an alternative to titanium, stainless steel, and cobalt-chromium implants.

Evonik is also developing a 3D-printable VESTAKEEP Fusion filament that can be processed via additive manufacturing using fused filament fabrication technology.

Debbie Barton, corporate partnerships manager at Nightingale House, said: “Synthite’s continued support is fantastic news for us, as it will ensure our bedrooms are modern and fit for purpose.

Nightingale House provides specialist palliative care services for local people and their families affected by life-threatening or life-limiting illness.

To demonstrate the medical potential of the technology, Evonik and Samaplast have produced prototypes of intervertebral implants, known as cages or spacers, which are used to fill the disc space in the spine following its removal due to disc degeneration. "We have produced a cage that contains all the details, such as serrations, threads, and apertures, that are relevant for spinal implants," explained Okle.

Until now, it has been virtually impossible to manufacture implants from polymer compounds with bioactive particles by injection molding, because a thin polymer layer usually forms on the surface, preventing the implant from growing in, explained Evonik in a press release. VESTAKEEP Fusion's specially configured microparticles and their homogeneous distribution, however, allow the formation of functional biphasic calcium phosphate (BCP) additives on the surface of injection-molded components. The additives allow bone cells to adhere to the implant more quickly and promote osteo-integration between the bone and implant.

Services include a 12-bed inpatient ward, a daycare unit, outpatient clinic, occupational therapy, complementary therapies, physiotherapy including a hydrotherapy pool, and an ambulance service.

“The refurbishment will update the look and feel of the bedrooms, which will in turn benefit our patients, who come from Wrexham,Flintshire, North Shropshire, East Denbighshire and parts of Gwynedd.

Thanks to the design freedom afforded by injection molding, VESTAKEEP Fusion–based cages can be tailored to patient-specific anatomies and different surgical techniques. The cage models show the design diversity in the interlocks and in the cavities for ossification. In addition, the design facilitates instrument guidance during surgery and enables minimally invasive, patient-friendly surgical techniques.

German chemicals company Evonik and Swiss plastics processor Samaplast have collaborated in the development of an osteo-conductive PEEK-based material compatible with injection molding. Spinal implant prototypes have been molded to illustrate the processing properties of the new high-performance polymer, VESTAKEEP Fusion.

"We tested VESTAKEEP Fusion on injection molding machines in the cleanroom and found that it was very easy to process," said Samaplast CEO Stefan Okle in a prepared statement. "Thanks to the excellent exchange with Evonik, we were able to produce a prototype within 10 days." Previously, tool development alone had taken eight to 10 weeks. With rapid prototyping, this process can be shortened considerably.

“I’m pleased that the revamp of four bedrooms will be taken care of by the donation, as it will help provide more comfort to patients and their families with minimal impact on hospice funds.

Nightingale House Hospice has received the cash boost from Flintshire based Synthite, a chemical manufacturer in Mold, to support the upgrade of its patients’ bedrooms.

Nightingale House Hospice has received the cash boost from Flintshire based Synthite, a chemical manufacturer in Mold, to support the upgrade of its patients’ bedrooms. The money will fund four room refurbishments, which include the installation of new curtains, bedding materials, privacy curtains, and scatter cushions. Synthite was awarded the £2,000 by its parent company Tennants Consolidated Ltd, to donate to a local charity. And it follows the firm’s 2018 donation to the hospice, which was used to transform a bathroom into a wet room facility for its patients. Debbie Barton, corporate partnerships manager at Nightingale House, said: “Synthite’s continued support is fantastic news for us, as it will ensure our bedrooms are modern and fit for purpose. “The refurbishment will update the look and feel of the bedrooms, which will in turn benefit our patients, who come from Wrexham,Flintshire, North Shropshire, East Denbighshire and parts of Gwynedd. “We require more than £3 million per year to run our day to day operations, and the business community plays a big part in helping us raise this amount.” Sarah Jones, assistant accountant at Synthite, said: “Having seen the positive effect our previous support for Nightingale House has had, donating for the second consecutive year was an easy decision. “I’m pleased that the revamp of four bedrooms will be taken care of by the donation, as it will help provide more comfort to patients and their families with minimal impact on hospice funds. “I’d urge any business looking to become involved with a charity to consider the hospice’s vital work, which goes above and beyond to support people.” Nightingale House provides specialist palliative care services for local people and their families affected by life-threatening or life-limiting illness. Services include a 12-bed inpatient ward, a daycare unit, outpatient clinic, occupational therapy, complementary therapies, physiotherapy including a hydrotherapy pool, and an ambulance service. A range of bereavement support services are also offered including a specialist service for children and young adults. Synthite has operated from Alyn Works, Denbigh Road, Mold, since the 1950s. It employs 120 people. Its main product is formaldehyde, a basic building block of the chemical industry. Formaldehyde is used in the manufacture of a vast array of everyday goods, ranging from furniture, floorboards and interior trim for motor vehicles.

"Implant manufacturers were missing a PEEK material that fuses with bone cells and, thus, accelerates healing," said Marc Knebel, Head of the Medical Systems Market Segment at Evonik. "We are closing this gap in the market with VESTAKEEP Fusion and offering an alternative to titanium, stainless steel, or cobalt-chromium implants."

Sarah Jones, assistant accountant at Synthite, said: “Having seen the positive effect our previous support for Nightingale House has had, donating for the second consecutive year was an easy decision.

Its main product is formaldehyde, a basic building block of the chemical industry. Formaldehyde is used in the manufacture of a vast array of everyday goods, ranging from furniture, floorboards and interior trim for motor vehicles.

“We require more than £3 million per year to run our day to day operations, and the business community plays a big part in helping us raise this amount.”

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We serve those towns and villages in Flintshire which lie close to River Dee in North East Wales and the border with neighbouring Chester in England.

The money will fund four room refurbishments, which include the installation of new curtains, bedding materials, privacy curtains, and scatter cushions.

With VESTAKEEP Fusion, Evonik is introducing a new product line of next-generation PEEK-based implant materials that accelerate bone fusion and convalescence. In vitro studies document a more than 30% increase in cell attachment and cell proliferation, according to Evonik. In preclinical tests, histological examination reveals a dense network of newly formed osteoblasts at the bone-implant interface. Bone histo-morphometry shows an approximately twofold increase in bone apposition. Moreover, pull-out tests demonstrate a more than twofold increase in implant fixation, said the company.