FAQs
Q: What are secondary operations in regards to catheter tubing?
A: Secondary operations are value added services performed on an extruded tube in order to make it more complex and useful than the initial extruded tube. Typically secondary operations are performed to create features and profiles that cannot be done practically and/or cost effectively using conventional extrusion techniques. Examples of this are, heat treating/annealing, hole drilling, skiving, punching, pad printing, shape forming, tipping, sealing, etching, welding, bonding, assembling marker bands, wire termination and overmolding. Secondary operations are often precursors to final device assembly in which the device is fully completed and placed into packaging trays for bulk sterilization. Many facilities that provide secondary operations also provide full device termination services since it is more cost effective than sending to another manufacturer to complete the work.
