This study analyzes the US market for sterile medical packaging. Historical data (1995, 2000, 2005) and forecasts to the years 2010 and 2015 are provided by product (trays, pouches, IV containers, bags, vials, blister packs, clamshells, prefillable syringes, and plastic bottles), market (pharmaceuticals, medical supplies and devices, diagnostic supplies and others) and material (resins, glass, foil and other). Material data are provided in pounds, with product data presented in current dollars and units. In general, sterile packaging is required for medical products used in invasive procedures, such as surgeries or injections, as well as for some in vitro diagnostic products. It should be noted that for many of these packages, nonsterile types are sold in the medical field as well; however, the statistics appearing in this study include only those products that are deemed sterile. Key strategic and competitive variables affecting the US sterile medical packaging industry are also discussed, US market share is identified, and the industry's leading competitors are profiled.

INTRODUCTION ix

I. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1

II. MARKET ENVIRONMENT 4
General 4
Macroeconomic Environment 5
Population & Demographic Trends 8
Health Care Trends 10
Medical Conditions 12
Chronic Conditions 13
Acute Conditions 15
Health Insurance Trends 16
National Health Expenditures 20
Medical Providers 23
Hospitals 25
Physicians 25
Dentists 26
Outpatient Facilities 27
Skilled Nursing Homes 28
Patient Activity 28
Surgical Procedures 30
Outpatient Episodes 30
Diagnostic Tests 32
Medical Product Shipments 33
Pharmaceuticals & Biologicals 34
Surgical & Medical Instruments 35
Surgical Appliances & Supplies 36
Electromedical Equipment 37
In Vitro Diagnostic Products 37
Dental Products 38
Ophthalmic Goods 38
Other Medical Products 38
Pricing Trends 39
Regulatory Considerations 41
Pharmaceuticals 42
Medical Supplies & Devices 43
Sterilization Technology 45

III. PRODUCTS 49
General 49
Unit Demand Patterns 52
Cost Considerations 54
Thermoformed Trays 55
Types of Thermoformed Trays 57
Applications 58
Producers 59
Pouches 60
Types of Sterile Pouches 61
Applications 63
Producers 64
Sterile Bottles 64
Sterile Glass Bottles 65
Sterile Plastic Bottles 67
Prefillable Inhalers 69
Metered Dose Inhalers 70
Types of Metered Dose Inhalers 71
Applications 73
Dry Powder Inhalers 74
Types of Dry Powder Inhalers 74
Applications 75
Product Development 76
Sterilization Wrap 77
Prefillable Syringes 79
Injectors 81
Cartridges 83
Sterile Closures 85
External Closures 86
Rubber & Elastomer Stoppers 88
Blister & Clamshell Packs 89
Types & Materials 90
Films 91
Backings 93
Applications 94
Producers 95
Vials & Ampuls 96
Vials 97
Glass Vials 98
Plastic Vials 100
Ampuls 102
Plastic Ampuls 103
Glass Ampuls 104
IV & Blood Containers 105
Semi-Rigid Containers 106
Mini-Bags 108
Glass IV Containers 110
Sterile Bags 111
Types & Features 112
Producers 115

IV. MATERIALS 116
General 116
Plastic Resins 118
Polyvinyl Chloride 121
High Density Polyethylenes 126
Polypropylene 129
Thermoplastic Polyesters 131
Low Density Polyethylenes 134
Thermoplastic Elastomers 136
Polystyrene 137
Polycarbonate 139
Acrylic 141
Other Plastic Resins 142
Glass Materials 145
Paper & Paperboard 146
Foil 148
Stainless Steel 149

V. APPLICATIONS 151
General 151
Pharmaceuticals & Biologicals 154
Surgical & Medical Instruments 156
In Vitro Diagnostic Products 159
Surgical Appliances & Supplies 161
Other Product Applications 162

VI. INDUSTRY STRUCTURE 165
General 165
Industry Characteristics 166
Market Share 168
Competitive Strategies 171
Packaging Product Companies 171
Contract Packaging Firms 172
Mergers, Acquisitions & Licensing Agreements 173
Marketing & Distribution 174
Manufacturing 176
Company Profiles 178
Ahlstrom Corporation 179
Alcan Incorporated 181
Alcoa Incorporated 184
Alexander (James) Corporation 186
Amcor Limited 187
Ballard Medical Devices, see Kimberly-Clark Corporation
Baxter International Incorporated 190
Becton, Dickinson and Company 192
Bemis Company Incorporated 194
Braun (B.) Melsungen AG 196
Cardinal Health Incorporated 197
CYRO Industries, see Degussa AG
Degussa AG 201
DeRoyal Industries Incorporated 203
DuPont (EI) de Nemours 204
Eastman Chemical Company 206
ESCO Technologies Incorporated 209
Gerresheimer Holdings GmbH 210
Honeywell International Incorporated 212
Hospira Incorporated 214
HUECK FOLIEN GmbH & Company KG 216
Kendall Healthcare Products, see Tyco International
Kendall-LTP, see Tyco International Limited
Kimberly-Clark Corporation 218
Kimble Glass Incorporated, see Gerresheimer Group
Kloeckner Pentaplast GmbH & Company KG 219
KNF Corporation 221
MeadWestvaco Corporation 223
Medcare Medical Group, see Medline Industries
Medi-Plus, see Bemis Company Incorporated
Medical Instill Technologies Incorporated 224
Meditron Incorporated, see Medline Industries
Medline Industries Incorporated 225
Oliver Products Company 227
Owens-Illinois Group Incorporated 228
Perfecseal Incorporated, see Bemis Company Incorporated
Pliant Corporation 230
Rollprint Packaging Products Incorporated 231
SCA Packaging North America, see Svenska Cellulosa
SCHOTT AG 233
Sharp Corporation, see Superior Group Incorporated
Superior Group Incorporated 235
Svenska Cellulosa AB 236
Technipaq Incorporated 238
Tek Packaging Group, see ESCO Technologies
Tekni-Plex Incorporated 239
3M Company 240
TOLAS Health Care Packaging Incorporated 241
Unicep Packaging Incorporated 243
West Pharmaceutical Services Incorporated 245

LIST OF TABLES
TABLE NUMBER PAGE
SECTION I -- EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Summary Table 3

SECTION II -- MARKET ENVIRONMENT
1 Macroeconomic Indicators 8
2 Population by Age Group 10
3 Medical Conditions 13
4 Health Insurance Coverage 19
5 National Health Expenditures 22
6 Selected Medical Providers by Type 24
7 Selected Patient Activity by Type 29
8 Medical Product Shipments by Type 34
9 Sterile Medical Packaging Prices 41

SECTION III -- PRODUCTS
1 Sterile Medical Packaging Demand by Product Group 51
2 Sterile Packaging Demand by Product Group 53
3 Sterile Thermoformed Tray Demand 57
4 Sterile Pouch Demand 61
5 Sterile Bottle Demand 65
6 Prefillable Inhaler Demand 70
7 Sterilization Wrap Demand 79
8 Prefillable Syringe Demand 80
9 Sterile Closure Demand 86
10 Sterile Blister & Clamshell Pack Demand 90
11 Vial & Ampul Demand 97
12 IV & Blood Container Demand 106
13 Sterile Medical Bag Demand by Application 112

SECTION IV -- MATERIALS
1 Sterile Packaging Raw Material Demand by Type 117
2 Plastic Resin Demand in Sterile Medical Packaging by Type & Application 120
3 Polyvinyl Chloride Demand in Sterile Medical Packaging 126
4 High Density Polyethylenes Demand in Sterile Medical Packaging 129
5 Polypropylene Demand in Sterile Medical Packaging 131
6 Thermoplastic Polyester Demand in Sterile Medical Packaging 134
7 Low Density Polyethylenes Demand in Sterile Medical Packaging 136
8 Thermoplastic Elastomer Demand in Sterile Medical Packaging 137
9 Polystyrene Demand in Sterile Medical Packaging 139
10 Polycarbonate Demand in Sterile Medical Packaging 141
11 Acrylic Demand in Sterile Medical Packaging 142
12 Other Plastics Demand in Sterile Medical Packaging 144
13 Glass Demand in Sterile Medical Packaging 146
14 Paper & Paperboard Demand in Sterile Medical Packaging 147
15 Foil Material Demand in Sterile Medical Packaging 149
16 Stainless Steel Demand in Sterile Medical Packaging 150

SECTION V -- APPLICATIONS
1 Sterile Medical Packaging Demand by Application 153
2 Pharmaceuticals & Biologicals: Sterile Medical Packaging Demand 156
3 Surgical & Medical Instruments: Sterile Medical Packaging Demand 158
4 In Vitro Diagnostic Products: Sterile Medical Packaging Demand 160
5 Surgical Appliances & Supplies: Sterile Medical Packaging Demand 162
6 Other Applications: Sterile Medical Packaging Demand 164

SECTION VI -- INDUSTRY STRUCTURE
1 Sterile Medical Packaging Sales by Company, 2005 168

LIST OF CHARTS
CHART NUMBER PAGE
SECTION III -- PRODUCTS
1 Sterile Medical Packaging Demand by Product Group, 2005 52

SECTION IV -- MATERIALS
1 Sterile Packaging Raw Material Demand by Type, 2005 118
2 Plastic Resin Demand in Sterile Medical Packaging by Type, 2005 121

SECTION V -- APPLICATIONS
1 Sterile Medical Packaging Demand by Application, 2005 153

SECTION VI -- INDUSTRY STRUCTURE
1 Sterile Medical Packaging Market Share, 2005 170