Freudenberg Medical today launched a new high-performance hydrophilic coating solution—LUBRITEQ— as well as associated development and manufacturing services. The product’s debut

By introducing LUBRITEQ, Freudenberg Medical claims to be the only hydrophilic coating provider to unite advanced surface chemistry with deep, in-house medical device design and manufacturing capabilities—bringing together complementary technologies to enhance manufacturability and deliver greater productivity and reliability across the entire product development lifecycle.

“Hydrophilic coatings and device design must work in perfect harmony to deliver optimal performance, yet the industry has traditionally approached them as separate disciplines,” Fredenberg Medical CEO Michael McGee said. “As an integrated technical partner, we enable customers to move faster, with less risk and greater confidence, by combining product design, advanced materials, precision coatings, and application expertise for seamless development, scale-up, and launch.”

Built on a Deep Expertise in Surface Chemistry

Freudenberg Medical has more than 25 years of coating science experience, including expertise integrated through Hemoteq, that has enabled customers to achieve multiple industry firsts in complex drug-device and surface modification solutions.

“With more than 40 coating scientists, chemical engineers and technicians working alongside 250 medical device and catheter engineers globally, we have expertise in developing complex chemistry and drug-device solutions for our customers,” McGee stated. “We already support over 1 million medical devices each year for functional surface coatings, making the introduction of LUBRITEQ, our hydrophilic coating solution, a natural evolution and logical next step aligned with our customers’ needs.”

Shaped by Customer Needs

Freudenberg Medical’s decided to enter the hydrophilic coatings market after extensively engaging with customers and industry stakeholders to understand where existing solutions and partnerships can be improved, and where unmet needs continue to exist. Through these exchanges, it became clear that while coating technologies have advanced, customer needs are not being fully served—particularly through support services flexibilities and complexities of royalties, licenses, and fees.

“We heard consistent feedback that directly shaped our strategy,” Freudenberg Medical Chief Commercial Officer Keith Kiernan noted. “Customers aren’t just looking for a better coating—they’re looking for a better partner to de-risk their product launches. We deliberately set out to deliver a solution—and a partnership model—that reflects exactly what customers told us they need. No royalties, no rigidity—just coating performance, partnership and progress.”

LUBRITEQ is an advanced, UV-curable, single-step hydrophilic coating engineered for versatility and performance across a wide range of medical device applications and polymer and metal substrates. The coating delivers high lubricity with exceptional durability, consistent uniformity and ultra-low particulates. LUBRITEQ is customizable to optimize performance for specific device requirements and is compatible with virtually all approved materials used in medical device designs.

Recognizing that coating performance alone is not enough, Freudenberg Medical is launching LUBRITEQ with a services model that supports customers across the full product lifecycle—from early feasibility through commercial production. Services include a two-week first feasibility turnaround, tailored coating customization programs, and flexible volume-manufacturing options, including process transfer to the customer or contract coating support across Freudenberg Medical’s global site network. This integrated approach eliminates hand-offs across multiple suppliers, reducing risk and accelerating product development timelines.

In contrast to traditional industry practices, Freudenberg Medical is introducing a straightforward and transparent commercial model for LUBRITEQ, designed to eliminate hidden costs and reduce program launch risk. Customers can access a high-performance hydrophilic coating solution with no royalties, no fixed or annual fees, and no regulatory file access fees.

“With LUBRITEQ, Freudenberg Medical is raising the bar for what a hydrophilic coating partner can and should be,” McGee stated. “The early responses we’re seeing from customers confirm that we’re meeting a real need.”

Freudenberg Medical launched LUBRITEQ at MD&M West in Anaheim, Calif.

Freudenberg Medical is a strategic contract design and manufacturing partner to medical device and pharmaceutical companies, committed to delivering high-quality solutions from ideation to market launch and volume production. With more than 2,900 associates across 12 global manufacturing sites in key medtech hubs and expertise in materials and technologies, Freudenberg Medical offers an extensive range of vertically integrated capabilities: from minimally invasive solutions including complex catheters, hypotubes, steerable shafts, handles as well as drug and hydrophilic coatings to precision molding, two-shot and micro molding, advanced extrusions, and solutions for smart medical devices.