Engineered Hermetic Sealing for Life Sciences Applications
Relco designed and delivered a custom induction sealing machine for a medical industry customer developing a vacuum drainage bottle used in a life sciences application. The solution was engineered to support product development, validation, and low-volume production, where process control, repeatability, and seal integrity are critical.
This project demonstrates Relco’s hands-on experience designing special-purpose machinery for regulated medical and life sciences manufacturing environments, where equipment performance must align with both technical and regulatory requirements.
Application Overview: Medical Vacuum Drainage Bottle Sealing
The customer required a sealing solution capable of producing a reliable hermetic weld on a plastic component with inherent surface variation caused by the moulding process. In medical device manufacturing, even small inconsistencies at the seal interface can compromise performance, validation outcomes, and long-term product reliability.
Key application requirements included:
- Consistent hermetic sealing across a mould parting-line ridge
- A process that avoids direct heating of the product
- Tight control of sealing parameters for repeatable results
- Suitability for development, testing, and limited production volumes
- Alignment with regulated life sciences workflows
Engineering Challenge: Managing Tolerance Variation Without Direct Heating
Traditional sealing approaches can struggle when component geometry varies, particularly in medical applications where direct heating may introduce risk to the product or material properties.
Relco’s engineering team addressed this challenge by developing a solution that combines induction sealing technology with a compliant contact interface, allowing the system to accommodate part variation while maintaining consistent energy transfer and sealing pressure.
The Solution: Bespoke Low-Volume Induction Sealing Machine
Relco engineered a custom low-volume induction sealing system specifically tailored to the customer’s product and development environment. At the core of the system is a compliant silicone rubber contact interface, designed to conform to the surface of the moulded part and compensate for dimensional variation.
This approach enables the formation of a robust, repeatable hermetic seal, even across challenging features such as mould parting-line ridges, without applying direct heat to the component.
Key Technical Features
- Induction sealing process engineered for medical applications
- Compliant silicone rubber interface for tolerance management
- Controlled pressure and energy delivery to ensure seal consistency
- No direct heating, reducing risk to sensitive components
- Low-volume system design suited to R&D, validation, and pilot production
Process Control, Validation, and Scale-Up Support
The system was developed to provide the customer with precise control over critical process parameters, supporting structured development and validation activities. This level of control enables:
- Repeatable sealing during product testing
- Data capture to support process validation
- Evaluation of sealing performance under defined conditions
- A clearer pathway for future scale-up to higher-volume production
By designing the equipment around controlled, measurable parameters, Relco ensures the sealing process developed at low volume can be transferred more effectively into a production environment.
Demonstrated Expertise in Medical and Life Sciences Machinery
This project highlights Relco’s expertise in the design and manufacture of special-purpose machinery for the medical and life sciences sectors. From concept through delivery, the solution reflects a deep understanding of:
- Medical device manufacturing constraints
- Regulated production and validation requirements
- Mechanical and process reliability
- Engineering for repeatability and long-term use
Relco works closely with customers to deliver equipment that meets immediate technical needs while supporting long-term manufacturing strategies.
Custom Sealing and Automation Solutions from Relco
Relco designs and builds bespoke automation, sealing, and assembly systems for regulated industries, including medical devices and life sciences manufacturing. Whether supporting early-stage development, validation, or limited production, Relco delivers engineered solutions built around the customer’s product, process, and compliance requirements.
If you are developing a medical or life sciences product and require a custom induction sealing solution or special-purpose machinery, Relco can provide expert support from concept through implementation.