The finishing of medical housing surfaces must meet the highest standards of functionality, hygiene, and design. This blog post will explain how formary uses thermoforming to produce visually appealing and functional medical housings ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements.
Talida Eichhorn
Updated on June 3, 2026
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The surface treatment of medical covers must withstand mechanical stress and comply with strict standards for electromagnetic compatibility (EMC), fire safety, and hygiene. In addition, the demands on design and haptics are increasing, as devices are increasingly in the field of vision or in direct contact with patients.
Technical surface refinements in medical technology ensure that housings function reliably and safely. These include the following surface treatments:
EMC protection (electromagnetic compatibility) uses a conductive inner layer to shield unwanted radiation and protect sensitive electronics including ultrasound devices or ECG systems from emissions and electromagnetic interference. This EMC shielding is achieved through specialized coating processes such as conductive paints, electroplating, or vapor deposition.
Many medical plastic housings must comply with the UL94 V0 classification and self-extinguish within seconds in the event of a fire.
Plastic housings made from material blends such as ABS-PC combinations combine the superior mechanical properties of polycarbonate with the lower processing temperature and moldability of ABS and are ideal for flame retardancy. This ensures that safety standards are met with optimal functionality, even for large cladding components.
Medical devices are often exposed to intense lighting or direct sunlight, but can be protected by UV-resistant plastics. UV-stabilized plastics such as ASA or ABS prevent surfaces from yellowing, becoming brittle, or losing their mechanical properties over time. This ensures long-lasting functionality and appearance, even with intensive use.
The surface of medical cladding components is much more than just a design element. It is crucial for functionality, hygiene, and user-friendliness. Cladding should not only look good but also integrate seamlessly into sterile, functional environments. The advantages:
For CI-compliant colors and logos on medical technology housings, various color options can already be integrated in the material during production for larger quantities. The desired RAL shade is extruded directly into the plastic material using so-called masterbatches. The process is cost-efficient, but requires a minimus material volume (1-5 tons).
In addition to painting and coating, the thermoforming process itself offers opportunities for targted surface design. For example, textures and patterns can be engraved directly into the tooling. This allows fine leather-like patterns, grooves, or microtextures to be transferred to the component surface during forming.
The result: glare-free, non-slip, and easy-to-clean surfaces that are ideal for surgical environments or diagnostic workstations.
Beyond design and safety, medical device surfaces must also meet specific functional requirements. These include:
However, it is important to note: Such additives do not replace regular cleaning, which is why resistance to disinfectants is a key criterion in the selection of materials.
The surface defines more than just the appearance: it also affects hygiene, safety, functionality, and user experience. With the right materials and processes from formary, you get functional and economically viable solutions for thermoformed components used in medical applications.
Request your thermoformed medical housings directly through the formary configurator and kick-tart your next project.
Surface finishing refers to the targeted treatment of plastic surfaces to optimize properties such as conductivity, texture, and appearance. This makes thermoformed medical housings more durable, safer, and easier to use.
