Surmodics has launched an IOL Cartridge Coating Automation Center at its Horsham, Pennsylvania facility. The centre combines hydrophilic coating technology with automated processing for intraocular lens delivery systems. The facility offers HydroBond 5/5, a hyaluronic acid-based coating designed for IOL cartridges, with cure times under five minutes per layer to support high-throughput production. The coating creates lubricious cartridge surfaces for smooth lens delivery. Surmodics will provide customised solutions ranging from coating automation integration into existing operations to fully outsourced manufacturing programmes. The company has partnered with injection moulders and automation equipment suppliers to support flexible manufacturing models. The centre aims to help ophthalmic device manufacturers achieve scalable production from initial feasibility through commercial-scale manufacturing. Surmodics brings nearly 50 years of surface technology experience, including over 20 years specifically in IOL cartridge coating.

Surmodics launches IOL Cartridge Coating Automation Center in Horsham. New center combines advanced hydrophilic coating technology, IOL cartridge application expertise and automated processing to support scalable ophthalmic device manufacturing Learn Engineering HORSHAM, PA / ACCESS Newswire / October 7, 2026 / Surmodics, a provider of surface technologies and performance coatings for the medical device industry, today announced at the opening of the American Academy of Ophthalmology annual meeting in New Orleans the launch of its IOL Cartridge Coating Automation Center at its Horsham, Pennsylvania site just outside Philadelphia. "The delivery system for an intraocular lens (IOL) combines precision injection-molded parts with a specifically selected lubricious, biofriendly coating," said Chip Hance, CEO of Surmodics. "As IOL manufacturers increasingly seek automated assembly and modern biomaterial formulations, our Automation Center provides automated coating processes designed for efficient production throughout the product lifecycle." The center brings together advanced hydrophilic coating technology, decades of IOL cartridge application expertise, precision coatings processes and automation capabilities in a manufacturing platform developed specifically for IOL delivery cartridges. Its modernized process aligns application and curing with cartridge geometry and automated manufacturing requirements, supporting consistent coating of critical internal surfaces while reducing process time and reliance on manual manufacturing steps. Discover more Get Health Tips A key technology available through the center is HydroBond(TM) 5/5, a proven hyaluronic acid-based hydrophilic coating engineered for IOL cartridge applications. The coating and associated rapid thermal cure process are designed to enable base coat and topcoat cure times of less than five minutes each, creating a process architecture well suited for automated, high-throughput production. The coating provides a highly lubricious cartridge surface designed to facilitate smooth lens passage through the delivery system. Having developed relationships with experienced injection molders and automation equipment partners, Surmodics can develop customized solutions ranging from integration of coating automation into customers' existing manufacturing operations to fully outsourced cartridge coating and manufacturing programs. This flexible approach enables customers to select a manufacturing model aligned with their product, volume and commercialization requirements. "For ophthalmic device manufacturers, consistent cartridge performance requires efficient, scalable manufacturing," said Bob Hergenrother, VP of R&D and Innovation at Surmodics. "Our center combines coating chemistry, cartridge expertise and automation to support customers from initial feasibility through process optimization and commercial-scale production." About Surmodics Surmodics provides performance coatings, specialty hydrogels and pigments, drug delivery capabilities and analytical testing to leading ophthalmology companies. With nearly 50 years of experience in surface technology and biomaterials, including more than 20 years of IOL cartridge coating experience, Surmodics supports medical device developers from early-stage feasibility through commercialization with expertise in surface modification, application development and process optimization. For more information, visit www.surmodics.com.

Surmodics acquires Alta Biomed business, expanding hemocompatible surface technology and analytical testing capabilities. Acquisition adds proven PzF(TM) thin-film surface modification technology, specialized blood- and tissue-contacting device expertise and a West Coast testing facility HORSHAM, Pa., October 1, 2026 (Newswire.com) - Surmodics Inc., a leading provider of surface technologies and performance coatings for the medical device industry, today announced that it has acquired the business of Alta Biomed, a Carlsbad, California-based medical device coating and testing services company specializing in surface technologies for vascular and other medical devices. The acquisition is a strategic addition to Surmodics' growing portfolio of hemocompatible and biocompatible surface technologies. It brings Alta Biomed's proprietary PzF(TM) thin-film surface modification technology to Surmodics, adding an established anti-thrombotic, anti-inflammatory and pro-healing option that joins Surmodics' existing hemocompatible portfolio. "As medical device innovation advances in neuromodulation, brain-computer interfaces, neurovascular, structural heart, and venous and arterial technologies, engineers and scientists need a broader range of surface technology options to address increasingly complex blood-contacting applications," said Charlie Olson, President, Surmodics Coatings, Biomaterials and Catheter Technologies. "PzF gives our customers another proven thin-film surface modification to consider as they develop the next generation of devices." PzF is an ultra-thin polymer surface modification technology designed to enhance hemocompatibility for blood and tissue-contacting medical devices and materials. With more than 20 years of history in medical device applications, PzF has received six FDA clearances and one PMA approval and is commercialized today in cardiovascular and embolization technologies. The technology can be applied to a variety of substrates ranging from metals, polymers, medical fabrics and even tissue. Device applications include stents, grafts, catheters, filters, nitinol devices, ePTFE devices and PET/polyester materials. The acquisition also expands Surmodics' analytical testing capabilities. Alta Biomed's Carlsbad facility brings established expertise in hemocompatibility and particulate testing, including coating integrity assessment, acute particulate testing and dynamic human blood loop testing used to compare coated and uncoated devices. With the acquisition complete, Surmodics has assumed Alta Biomed's ongoing operations in Carlsbad. The location expands Surmodics' geographic footprint and provides a West Coast presence closer to many medical device companies in California and the surrounding region. Existing Alta Biomed programs will continue as the company's PzF surface modification and testing capabilities are integrated into the broader Surmodics organization. "This acquisition is a natural and exciting next step for our team. Joining Surmodics provides the scale, established leadership and global access to reach more patients with our advanced coating technologies," said Chris Nocera, VP of Engineering, Alta Biomed, who will lead the Carlsbad site. The acquisition further advances Surmodics' strategy to build a differentiated portfolio of coating and surface modification technologies, specialty biomaterials and technical services that can support medical device companies from early feasibility and technology selection through testing, process development and commercialization. About Alta Biomed Alta Biomed, formerly Alta Biomaterials and a portfolio company of Nidus Biomedical, is a medical device coating services and testing company based in Carlsbad, California. The company specializes in PzF thin-film surface technology for vascular and other medical devices and works with medical device developers on coating feasibility, process development, coating integrity assessment, particulate testing and dynamic human blood loop testing. For more information visit www.altabiomed.com/. About Surmodics Surmodics provides performance coatings, surface technologies, specialty polymers, analytical testing, drug delivery and catheter development capabilities to the medical device industry. With nearly 50 years of experience in surface technology and biomaterials, Surmodics works with medical device developers to improve device performance and support programs from early-stage feasibility through commercialization. For more information, visit www.surmodics.com. Media Contact