GAP Plastics has completed a project for the NHS, manufacturing patient record holders commonly found hanging at the end of hospital beds. The NHS was looking for a better, more sustainable solution for these holders, and we were more than happy to help..
The challenges
Historically, these patient record holders were made from foamed PVC, which had a few issues:
Safety concerns: Assembling the foamed PVC required heating, which could release harmful chemicals if the process wasn’t stable.
Waste problems: The manufacturing process generated a lot of PVC waste, which couldn’t be recycled and ended up in landfills - creating environmental concerns.
Hygiene issues: Because foamed PVC is porous, it could trap bacteria, making cleaning harder and risking potential infection in hospitals.
Our solution using injection moulding
Driven by the NHS’s goal to save resources, reduce waste, and improve safety, they came to GAP Plastics for a new approach tapping into our injection moulding expertise. Injection moulding gives clients a range of materials to mould with, of which polypropylene was chosen for this job. Recyclable, durable, and smooth, polypropylene is perfectly suited for hospital environments.
What is better about the new holders?
Polypropylene patient record holders offer several key benefits:
Faster production: The injection-moulding process cuts down on assembly time.
Recyclability: Polypropylene is fully recyclable, making it more environmentally friendly.
Easy to clean: The non-porous surface is smooth and simple to disinfect, reducing bacterial growth risks.
Durability: These holders are stronger, giving them a longer lifespan in NHS facilities.
We were proud to support the NHS with this project; it gives a great insight into the range of products we can supply through injection moulding.
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