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Operations During COVID-19
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In this period of historic upheaval to the world economy, here at Junkosha we have concentrated our efforts on maintaining a reliable supply network, especially to medical teams on the front line of the pandemic.
We have a crucial role in supplying medical equipment to healthcare professionals and so, at the commencement of this global crisis, we resolved to commit maximum resources to fulfil the increased demands on supplies for the duration of this emergency.
From the outset, our manufacturing plants immediately adapted to new procedures that took all the necessary precautions to prevent the virus from spreading. We are pleased to say that thanks to the dedication and ingenuity of our workers, partners, and the wider logistics community, we have been able to maintain our supply levels during this difficult period, overcoming the dramatic reduction of cargo traffic due to the various lockdowns across the globe.
We would like to acknowledge the hard work of the entire Junkosha team – especially our factory staff and logistics partners – during this unprecedented crisis.
From a customer and partner perspective, we are committed to communicating regularly with our entire supply chain to make sure products are delivered on time. We remain transparent regarding any obstacles that arise from the impact of COVID-19 and the associated fall-out. After all, we aspire to be ‘easy to do business with’.
We remain resilient and optimistic for the future and look forward to meeting our associates from around the globe as soon as it is safe to do so.
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Unveiling Cut-To-Length and Slit PHST
We are about to launch our newest innovation, Cut-To-Length and Slit (CTL&S) Peelable Heat Shrink Tubing (PHST) solution, as part of what is an expanding range. This new product continues our drive to providing the flexibility needed to complete increasingly complicated treatments such as neurovascular interventions.
CTL&S PHST is designed to enable a wide range of catheter-based procedures where flexibility is the key requirement. As catheter delivery systems for neurovascular procedures rely on increasingly complex shapes, constructions and polymers to deliver their intended treatment, there is a greater requirement for advanced technology innovations.
This intricacy in catheter bonding and welding applications can only be consistently achieved through advanced technology innovations such as CTL&S PHST, which enables catheter manufacturers to use different lengths to not only reflow a catheter’s baseline materials, but also to attach complex shapes and constructions.
Key application areas include balloon mounting, catheter lamination, forming, tacking, masking, bonding parallel tubes and polymer jacket compression.
Here at Junkosha we are extremely proud of our ability to produce solutions at the leading edge of what is possible. To find out more about our precision engineered catheter technologies, please visit: http://www.junkosha.co.jp/english/products/tube/i02.html
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As many of our US customers and associates will know, Yuki Harris is our Office Manager here at Junkosha USA, based in Irvine, California.
She handles a wide range of responsibilities covering HR, Accounting, Inside Sales and sales support for the US team.
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In a typical day, Yuki will kick-off by going through numerous emails and sending out shipping notifications to customers. There are often morning meetings with colleagues but in today’s world these are now virtual meetings supplemented with regular calls and emails to keep in touch whilst the team works from home. The rest of the day is spent focused on book-keeping and other daily tasks.
One of the best experiences Yuki has had since working with Junkosha was visiting the team in Japan with her US/UK colleagues for product training. Originally from Tokyo, Yuki loved having the opportunity to experience her hometown through her colleagues’ eyes, revealing a totally new point of view which Yuki describes as a very special experience. She was particularly impressed by her US colleagues’ love for Sushi, which they ate almost every night!
In her spare time, you will find Yuki either at an American Football pitch, a basketball court or athletics track with one of her three sons. She drives them across different states for fixtures and is always on the sideline cheering them on. Away from sporting environments, Yuki also enjoys spending time with her boxer puppy, Kingston.
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2.5:1 PHST Status Update with Chris Prigge
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Junkosha’s 2.5:1 Peelable Heat Shrink Tubing (PHST) provides catheter manufacturers with the highest shrink ratio currently possible in Peelable FEP, enabling customers to save time and money through a reduced number of shrink processes.
Launched back in 2019, 2.5:1 PHST represents a unique, industry-first tubing solution and forms part of our ambitious drive towards continued innovations. We caught up with Chris Prigge, Junkosha’s Vice President of Sales Engineering for the East Coast of America, to find out how it has been performing in the market.
Q: Please could you provide a status update on 2.5:1 PHST?
A: 2.5:1 PHST is gaining a lot of momentum from both the contract manufacturers in our industry and also the OEM’s performing in house manufacturing. As catheter manufacturers realise the benefits this solution can deliver, the more they are coming on board to try it out.
Q: How does 2.5:1 PHST help to meet customers’ unmet needs?
Our 2.5:1 PHST solution allows research and development teams to manage less inventory of part numbers and achieve consolidation by using a larger shrink ratio. They can iterate designs faster and bring new technologies to the forefront quicker.
In manufacturing settings, it also outperforms traditional methods. Typical removal of heat shrinks after processing requires a skiver, fixturing, or some other apparatus used in processing. These all necessitate staff training to be completed, but even after this there is still the danger of causing damage to the catheter alongside reduced yield levels.
Q. What feedback have we received about 2.5:1 PHST?
A: Though PHST is more expensive than our current FEP heat shrink solutions, the switch to PHST is easily justifiable when evaluating the improved product yields and reduced total cost of ownership. The feedback we have received so far speaks to this, with companies evaluating what they can save by using solutions like out 2.5:1 PHST.
Q: You mentioned OEMs are doing more in-house manufacturing. Do you expect this to be a transition to longer-term internal manufacturing? How will Junkosha help to facilitate this?
A: In many cases, the major OEM’s are focusing on the intellectual property side of their technology while running parallel with a contract manufacturer to support the other devices required to make the overall procedure a success.
At Junkosha, we support both the OEM and contract manufacturer through our full-solution products. Furthermore, our ongoing engineering support and customer service is much like our product, an industry leader!
Q: What new technologies and clinical procedures are driving the need for customisation in the tubing industry?
A: Traditional catheter-based procedures are focused on opening a blockage with a balloon or delivering a stent/coil. Today, as active catheters come to the fore, it is increasingly crucial that devices supply energy, by sending signals, steering and measuring tools through to increasingly hard-to-reach areas of the body. With the continued demand for devices with reduced diameters, this complicated balancing act is only achievable through customisation.
Q: Lastly, what do you forecast for the future of 2.5:1 PHST?
A: As more and more engineers discover how easy PHST is to work with, it is inevitable that 2.5:1 PHST will be used on a greater scale. It is incredibly versatile in its applications and eliminates processes and downstream issues. Seems like a no brainer to me!
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We first began production of medical probe cables back in 1984 – 36 years ago!
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