Breaking the Mold: Why Medalist® TPE Tubing Is Redefining Medical-Grade Performance

Tired of the same old silicone, PVC, and TPU?

If you’ve worked in medical extrusion, catheter design, or device assembly for any length of time, you know the tradeoffs: silicone can be costly and tough to process, PVC often faces environmental scrutiny, and TPU tends to yellow or stiffen under radiation or sterilization cycles.

At Glenn Enterprises, we partner with leading material innovators to bring better solutions directly to medical device engineers and OEM manufacturers. Today, we’re proud to announce that our partner manufacturer has launched 42 new SKUs of Medalist® medical-grade TPE tubing—a next-generation solution that’s already redefining performance, compliance, and flexibility for critical applications.

These materials aren’t just alternatives—they’re upgrades.

A Smarter Alternative to Conventional Tubing Materials

For decades, silicone, PVC, and TPU have been the industry standards for flexible medical tubing. While each material has strengths, each also carries well-documented drawbacks that affect cost, performance, and manufacturing efficiency.

Silicone, for instance, offers excellent biocompatibility but requires high-temperature curing and can pose challenges for joining or bonding operations. PVC, though cost-effective, is under increasing regulatory and environmental pressure due to plasticizers and chlorine content. TPU, while clear and flexible, is sensitive to radiation and can degrade or yellow over time.

The new Medalist® TPE tubing lineup changes that equation.

Engineered to combine the best attributes of silicone, PVC, and TPU—while eliminating their most common weaknesses—these medical-grade TPEs deliver exceptional clarity, process efficiency, sterilization versatility, and long-term stability across multiple product series.

Introducing the Medalist® Medical-Grade TPE Tubing Portfolio

Each of the three new series—MD-12300, MD-53200, and MD-41255—has been engineered to match or exceed the performance characteristics of its legacy material counterpart. With 42 SKUs across varying durometers, wall thicknesses, and colors, this portfolio offers one of the most complete TPE tubing selections available for medical OEMs today.

MD-12300 Series: The Silicone/SEBS Alternative

Purpose-built for durability, elasticity, and process efficiency.

The MD-12300 Series delivers a rubber-like elasticity that mimics the tactile and mechanical performance of silicone while providing the added benefits of thermoplastic processing. This SEBS-based formulation supports a wide range of sterilization methods—including autoclave, gamma, and EtO—without compromising material integrity or flexibility.

Key technical attributes:

• Shore A hardness range: 45A to 65A

• Tensile strength: > 1,200 psi

• Elongation at break: > 600%

• Compression set: < 30% (22 hr @ 70°C)

• Sterilization compatibility: Autoclave, EtO, gamma

• Processing: Thermoplastic extrusion—no curing required

Applications:

• Drainage tubing

• Peristaltic pump tubing

• Medical balloon covers and compliance balloons

• Single-use fluid transfer lines

By combining silicone-like elasticity with low extractables and improved processing control, the MD-12300 Series reduces production time, eliminates post-curing, and enables recyclable scrap streams—critical benefits for high-volume, high-efficiency manufacturing environments.

MD-53200 Series: The PVC/TPU Alternative

Engineered for clarity, strength, and radiation stability.

The MD-53200 Series was developed as a direct replacement for flexible PVC and TPU tubing, offering a unique balance of optical clarity, flexibility, and long-term durability under sterilization. Unlike PVC, this material contains no plasticizers or halogens, making it a safer and more sustainable choice for modern medical devices.

Key technical attributes:

• Shore A hardness range: 60A to 85A

• Tensile strength: > 3,000 psi

• Clarity: > 90% light transmittance

• Kink resistance: Superior to PVC

• Gamma stability: 70% less color shift than TPU

• Processing: Standard extrusion or co-extrusion

Applications:

• Catheters and IV tubing

• Peristaltic pump lines

• Drug delivery and fluid transfer systems

• Pressure monitoring lines

This material’s clarity and kink resistance make it ideal for visualization-critical systems where flow verification and reliability are essential. In gamma-sterilized applications, MD-53200 exhibits minimal color shift—maintaining both transparency and mechanical properties even after multiple sterilization cycles.

MD-41255 Series: The C-Flex® Alternative

Designed for biotech, pharma, and dialysis—where failure isn’t an option.

The MD-41255 Series represents the softest and most flexible tubing in the Medalist® portfolio, specifically tailored for bioprocessing, pharmaceutical, and dialysis applications that demand superior weldability, sealing, and long-term durability.

Key technical attributes:

• Shore A hardness range: 40A to 55A

• Tensile strength: > 1,000 psi

• Weld/seal capability: Thermal, RF, and solvent-compatible

• Extractables/leachables: Extremely low (USP <661> compliant)

• Sterilization: Gamma, EtO, autoclave

• Biocompatibility: USP Class VI and ISO 10993

Applications:

• Single-use bioprocess assemblies

• Peristaltic pump tubing

• Dialysis sets and connectors

• Sterile fluid transfer systems

Unlike some legacy TPE or PVC tubing, MD-41255 maintains flexibility across a broad temperature range and resists brittleness after sterilization. Its clean weldability and smooth inner surface minimize flow restriction and particle shedding—key for controlled pharmaceutical environments.

Manufacturing Advantages: Precision, Efficiency, and Consistency

Beyond material performance, the Medalist® TPE tubing line is optimized for modern manufacturing workflows. Each product is extruded under tightly controlled conditions to ensure consistent wall thickness, durometer, and optical clarity.

Processing Benefits:

• No curing or vulcanization required (vs. silicone)

• Shorter production cycles and faster turnaround

• 100% recyclable scrap stream

• Compatibility with multi-lumen and co-extrusion geometries

• Excellent bond strength for insert molding and assembly

For OEMs and contract manufacturers, these efficiencies translate directly into cost savings, improved throughput, and reduced environmental impact—all while maintaining compliance with FDA, USP, and ISO medical material standards.

Regulatory and Quality Assurance

Every Medalist® medical-grade TPE compound meets or exceeds:

• USP Class VI and ISO 10993 biocompatibility requirements

• FDA 21 CFR compliance for indirect food and drug contact

• RoHS and REACH directives

• Latex-free and DEHP-free formulations

Full material data sheets, certificates of analysis (COAs), and lot traceability are available upon request—ensuring confidence and consistency from prototype through production.

Sustainability and Supply Chain Reliability

As the medical device industry continues to prioritize sustainability and circular design, the shift away from PVC and silicone dependency is accelerating. Medalist® TPE tubing supports that transition by combining recyclable thermoplastic chemistry with global supply reliability.

With 42 SKUs available and in stock, these materials are ready to ship now—reducing lead times, stabilizing sourcing, and providing flexible scaling for high-mix, low-volume production environments.

Why It Matters

For engineers and sourcing professionals, the decision to switch materials often comes down to risk.

The Medalist® TPE platform mitigates that risk by providing:

• Proven, validated material data

• Reliable global manufacturing and logistics

• Compatibility with standard extrusion and welding processes

• Long-term supply assurance and compliance confidence

Simply put, this is the next evolution in medical-grade tubing—where performance, processability, and sustainability intersect.

42 SKUs. Live Now. Ready to Ship.

Whether you’re building catheters, dialysis systems, or next-gen single-use assemblies, Medalist® TPE tubing offers a smarter, cleaner, and more reliable material foundation for your design.

If you’re building something bold, we’ve got the polymer manufacture to match.

🔗 Contact Glenn Enterprises to request samples, material data, or pricing.

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