MDM WEST
DermaMed: The Industry’s Leading Adhesive Tapes Manufacturer!
Where industry leaders find adhesive tape solutions for wound care, surgical disposables, wearables, and other stick-to-skin applications.
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F.A.Q.
How did DermaMed Coatings get started?
In the late ‘90s, the founders realized that there were not many adhesive coaters – especially in the medical industry – willing to do custom runs at reasonable quantities. Typically, if a customer needs to change something like adhesive coat weight or a different basis weight liner, most adhesive coating companies require very large MOQs and long lead times. DermaMed set out to compete with other coating companies, and the only way we could do this was by being willing to do the smaller, specialty coating jobs that nobody else was willing to do.
What industries does DermaMed serve?
As our name implies, DermaMed manufactures adhesive materials for the disposable medical device industry, such as surgical drapes, electrodes, advanced wound care, and continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) devices. While we also service other industries, such as aerospace and food packaging, our primary focus on medical allows us to serve those medical customers better and manufacture those materials in an exceptionally clean environment, which is not typical of adhesive coating facilities.
Where are you located, and how long has DermaMed been around?
We have served this industry for 26 years and have built a staff of employees from the adhesive coating and medical device manufacturing industries. DermaMed has multiple facilities in Northeast Ohio (Akron and surrounding areas). DermaMed currently operates three coaters in two separate facilities, with a third facility and fourth coater coming online sometime in 2026. The multiple facilities and coaters provide peace of mind to our global customer base, as we can mitigate concerns related to single-sourcing and disaster recovery.
How would you describe one of your typical customers?
Our customers typically fall into one of three categories: OEMs, contract converters, and product designers. DermaMed works alongside our range of customers from early development stages to full scale production and process improvement campaigns. DermaMed understands the importance of confidentiality in the medical device industry, so prior to commencing work, we typically have a non-disclosure agreement with all our customers.
Since DermaMed started as a custom coater, does that mean everything you do is custom?
Absolutely not. In fact, most of the adhesive tapes we coat are purchased by several different customers. DermaMed manufactures several versions of the medical industry’s most common materials, such as Spunlace polyesters, polyurethane films, and polyethylene foams.
Why does DermaMed only manufacture the adhesive tape rolls? Why does it not also do the die cutting/fabricating?
From the beginning, DermaMed decided not to compete with any facet of our customer base, including our exceptional selection of contract rotary converting customers. When a customer needs rotary die cutting, DermaMed can make the appropriate introductions.
I’m concerned that DermaMed will not understand the performance requirements for my material.
By working with our customers on the front end of product development, we can better understand their requirements, from processing to applying the finished device to the patient. Our team consists of several veterans from the rotary converting industry, so we understand the requirements associated with different types of die cuts, liner strips, etc. Suppose the finished device requires a certain level of breathability or duration of wear time. In that case, DermaMed can provide the customer with backing material and adhesive choices that will improve the probability of success of that product.
My company has some particular requirements related to raw materials and performance. How do I know that DermaMed can meet those standards?
DermaMed partners with all major raw material vendors so that we can offer a broad selection of material options, including various face stocks, medical adhesives, and release liners. Our materials team knows where to find those materials that meet the strictest performance requirements. For customers with a specific raw material(s) in mind, DermaMed will work with selected vendors to ensure that the materials arrive at the best price and remain in stock during our manufacturing obligations to the customer.
From the production standpoint, DermaMed employs several different coating methods that ensure the precise application of adhesive to the substrate, ensuring consistent lot-to-lot consistency in critical quality values such as adhesive duration and breathability.
What assurances do I have that the quality of DermaMed’s products and services will meet our standards?
In addition to maintaining ISO 9001 and 13485 certifications, DermaMed manufactures all its products in an ultra-clean manufacturing environment, with our team members wearing hair nets, beard guards, etc. DermaMed also ensures our production materials have the appropriate quality documentation (such as ISO 10993 biocompatibility testing), we audit our vendors regularly, and our team members are adequately trained and made aware of any issues related to the quality of our products.
What about the other adhesive coaters out there? Can’t they do the same thing?
Our industry contains several very capable adhesive coaters, many of whom have been in business for decades. Typically, these companies offer a broad catalog of adhesive tapes in their portfolios that will span several industries, including medical. However, because these companies usually operate on the principle of selling out of a fixed catalog, unless there is a product in their catalog that matches your specific need, the customer must often choose between compromising on a material that doesn’t match their requirements or embarking on a long and expensive development process.
Can I see how the product is made?
DermaMed believes that our facilities are our greatest selling tool, and we welcome visitors who want to see how our products are produced.
