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Dordan Debuts New Tooling and Thermoforming Investments for Medical Packaging at MD&M West

Posted by Chandler Slavin on Dec 3, 2025 11:30:24 AM

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Dordan Debuts New Tooling and Thermoforming Investments for Medical Packaging at MD&M West 

Anaheim, CA. -- February 3-5, 2026 -- Custom thermoforming company Dordan Manufacturing will exhibit at MD&M West at the Anaheim Convention Center. MD&M West is the largest domestic trade show and expo for the medical device industry, bringing together stakeholders from across the supply chain to share innovations in medtech.

Dordan will showcase its thermoformed medical packaging solutions—including device trays and blisters, procedural and surgical kits, and sub-component assembly trays—at booth #1082. The company is a full-service medical packaging thermoformer offering in-house design, tooling, thermoforming, and ISO Class 8 cleanroom manufacturing. Dordan is ISO 13485:2016 certified for medical packaging design, manufacturing, and distribution.

This year, Dordan purchased a new Formetec prototyping press and a Kiefel thermoforming machine for its cleanroom. These investments support the growing demand for high-quality, precision-formed medical packaging.

“Our investment in new equipment directly supports operational efficiency, scalability, and quality,” said Daniel Slavin, President & CEO of Dordan Manufacturing. “We’re excited to highlight both our packaging solutions and the manufacturing technologies that help us deliver consistent, high-performance results for our medical customers at MD&M West.”

Dordan’s packaging showcase—paired with information about the company’s recent technology investments—will provide attendees with insight into design-for-manufacturing principles, the relationship between tooling and part quality, and how medical packaging performance is directly influenced by the equipment it is formed on. Visitors are encouraged to stop by Dordan’s booth to learn how the company selects machinery and tooling to meet the unique needs of medical device manufacturers seeking high-quality, reliable packaging.

Register with Dordan's complimentary code INVITE23102 for 20% off registration and visit Dordan at booth #1082.


About Dordan Manufacturing

Dordan Manufacturing is a fourth-generation, family-owned custom thermoforming company specializing in high-quality medical, pharmaceutical, industrial, and consumer packaging solutions. Located in Woodstock, Illinois, Dordan offers in-house design, rapid prototyping, tooling, ISO Class 8 cleanroom thermoforming, and certified quality management systems (ISO 13485:2016 and ISO 9001:2015). With more than 63 years of experience, Dordan partners with OEMs to deliver precision-engineered packaging that drives product protection, performance, and manufacturability. 


About MD&M West

MD&M West is the largest medical design and manufacturing event in North America, bringing together engineers, buyers, executives, and innovators from across the medtech supply chain. The annual event features educational sessions, product launches, networking, and technology demonstrations spanning medical devices, packaging, automation, materials, and manufacturing solutions. MD&M West is produced by Informa Markets and held at the Anaheim Convention Center.

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Expanding Access to Thermoforming Insights: Dordan Launches New Technical Content Channels

Posted by Chandler Slavin on Nov 20, 2025 7:59:33 AM

As packaging requirements across medical device, industrial, and consumer markets continue to change and intensify, access to clear, concise technical information is needed. Customers consistently request greater visibility into thermoforming workflows, materials performance, cleanroom operations, and quality systems.

Historically, our social media channels have highlighted company culture, corporate milestones, and behind-the-scenes snapshots of life at Dordan. To build on that foundation, we areexpanding our content approach to include short-form, engineering-focused educational videos on Instagram and TikTok. This new stream of technical micro-videos will give packaging teams quick, accessible views into packaging design, prototyping, thermoforming, materials, and quality controls.

Followers can expect:

  • Faster access to technical information

  • Clearer visibility into manufacturing workflows

  • Better understanding of material behavior and process capability

  • More transparency into quality and regulatory controls

Followers will have access to:

  • Cleanroom Thermoforming Walkthroughs: Step-by-step overviews of ISO Class 8 thermoforming, from material conditioning to forming, trimming, and in-process inspection.

  • Material Comparisons & Performance Insights: Draw ratios, heat-related distortion, clarity considerations, and forming behavior.

  • Toooling & Prototyping Processes: CAD modeling, CAM programming, CNC machining, sample forming, and design-for-manufacturing best practices.

  • Quality & Regulatory Topics: ISO 9001:2015 & ISO 13485:2016 certified controls, IQ/OQ/PQ fundamentals, traceability, sampling plans, and process capability discussions.

  • Sustainability & Circularity: Recyclability of common thermoformed materials, strategies to reduce SKU complexity, and design impacts on material efficiency.

  • Behind-the-Scenes Videos: Real-time looks at tooling, thermoforming, trimming robotics, QC inspection, and workflow optimization.

Where to Find Us

Instagram: @dordan_manufacturing
TikTok: @dordanmfg

New video coming soon: A day in the life of a Quality Control Manager!

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When to select cleanroom manufacturing for medical packaging

Posted by Chandler Slavin on Nov 3, 2025 6:34:50 AM

Determining the appropriate level of quality control for thermoforming medical packaging requires an understanding of the procedures and production environment. Below is a report comparing cleanroom manufacturing, non cleanroom medical manufacturing, and standard production. This will help medical device companies determine what kind of production environment is required to meet their quality expectations. 

Looking for high-quality medical packaging? Contact us or request a quote today.

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Prepare for MD&M Midwest with Dordan's top three articles on medical packaging

Posted by Chandler Slavin on Oct 15, 2025 8:40:21 AM

There will be many packaging suppliers exhibiting at MD&M Midwest, so we'd like to take this opportunity to provide some technical resources on medical packaging that may help you compile your agenda. Below are our top-three most viewed articles that offer insight into the medical packaging development process.

Our most popular articles on medical packaging

"What to Know When Developing Medical Tray Packaging" -- This addresses the main factors of the packaging development process, including design, prototyping, tooling, manufacturing, and quality control requirements. This article offers a roadmap to collaborate with thermoformers on medical packaging projects. 

"Selecting the Right Material Thickness for Thermoformed Packaging" -- Understand how package design and the appropriate material type and thickness go hand-in-hand when developing a high quality thermoformed packaging. 

"Explore the Key Features Behind Medical Packaging Pricing" -- This report breaks down the main cost drivers for medical thermoformed packaging, including material type and thickness, package size and functionality, order quantities, and quality control requirements. 

Dordan Manufacturing is a 4th generation family-owned and operated custom thermoformer of medical packaging solutions. ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 13485:2016 certified, Dordan is a full service packaging supplier, offering in house design, tooling, thermoforming, and cleanroom manufacturing. Based outside of Chicago in Woodstock, IL., Dordan has over 63 years of custom thermoforming experience. 

Join Dordan at MD&M Midwest, booth #2531, to speak with our sales engineers about medical packaging and register for 20% off with Dordan's comp code, INVITE23102.

 

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Final Call: 20% off MD&M Midwest Registration w/comp code

Posted by Chandler Slavin on Oct 13, 2025 3:19:52 PM

Medical Design & Manufacturing Midwest (MD&M Midwest) begins Oct. 21 at the Minneapolis Convention Center. Custom medical thermoforming company, Dordan Manufacturing, will be displaying its most recent medical packaging innovations, accompanied by demonstrations from sales engineers with 30+ combined years of custom thermoforming experience. Register for MD&M Midwest for 20% off with Dordan's comp code, INVITE23102, and visit Dordan in booth #2531. 

MD&M Midwest is the region's largest event for the medtech industry. Dordan is located outside of Chicago, which aligns geographically with many of the show attendees. Coupled with the fully-integrated design, tooling, thermoforming, and cleanroom manufacturing services and ISO 13485:2016 certification, Dordan is an ideal supplier of custom thermoformed medical packaging solutions. 

Join Dordan at MD&M Midwest, booth #2531, to speak with our sales engineers about medical packaging and register for 20% off with Dordan's comp code, INVITE23102.

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Visit Us at MD&M Midwest for Medical Packaging

Posted by Chandler Slavin on Sep 22, 2025 2:35:00 PM

Minneapolis, MN -- Oct. 21-22 -- Custom thermoforming company, Dordan Manufacturing, is exhibiting at MD&M Midwes, the largest medtech trade show and conference in the region.

MD&M brings together stakeholders from across the medical supply chain, with pavilions dedicated to packaging, plastics, and automation. As a medical packaging supplier, Dordan looks forward to sharing its custom thermoforming capabilities with show attendees through interactive product displays and videos. 

Dordan is a full-service medical packaging supplier with in-house design, tooling, thermoforming, and ISO Class 8 cleanroom manufacturing. ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 13485:2016 certified, Dordan offers quality and reliability backed by over six decades of experience.

Visit Dordan at MD&M Midwest, booth #2531, for thermoformed medical packaging solutions and register for 20% off with Dordan's comp code, INVITE23102.

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Video: Installation and Function of New Water Cooling Tower

Posted by Chandler Slavin on Sep 8, 2025 11:37:03 AM

Dordan is happy to report it got a new water cooling tower! 

What is a water cooling tower?

In thermoforming, heated plastic sheet is shaped over and into an aluminum mold by vacuum and pressure. Once formed, the material must cool quickly to lock in dimensional accuracy. Cooling towers make this possible by supplying chilled process water that circulates through channels in the mold, pulling heat out of the plastic and stabilizing temperatures for consistent parts.

The water absorbs heat as it moves through the mold and then returns to the cooling tower, where the energy is released into the atmosphere through evaporative cooling. The cooled water is recirculated in a closed loop, ready for the next cycle. Because water is reused rather than discharged, cooling towers provide a more efficient and sustainable way to manage heat in manufacturing.

Dordan pairs central cooling towers with chillers to maintain precise temperature control. This is critical for industries such as medical and automotive packaging, where repeatability and tight tolerances are required. By managing the thermal environment of the molds, cooling towers help thermoformers balance quality, efficiency, and reliability in production.

🎥 Check out our video on the installation of our new cooling tower and learn how it helps better manage the water consumption associated with thermoforming!

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Dordan Manufacturing Company Video

Posted by Chandler Slavin on Aug 21, 2025 7:39:23 AM

Dordan Manufacturing has been producing custom thermoformed packaging since 1962. As a fourth-generation, family-owned company based in Woodstock, Illinois, we combine decades of experience with risk-based engineering and ISO-certified quality assurance to deliver reliable packaging solutions across multiple industries.

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Watch Robotics at Work in Dordan’s Thermoforming Line

Posted by Chandler Slavin on Aug 15, 2025 9:43:01 AM

Dordan Manufacturing has 14 thermoforming lines, including two with robotics for high volume items. These robots strip plastic parts from the web after being thermoformed and die cut, allowing for consistent and efficient handling before the parts enter inspection and packaging. Dordan's engineers develop custom end-of-arm tooling for robotics in house, which integrates with the thermoform tooling, also produced in house.

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Dordan Featured in Plastics Today: Quality Control in Medical Thermoforming

Posted by Chandler Slavin on Jul 31, 2025 8:25:00 AM

A recent feature in Plastics Today explores how production environments, regulatory classifications, and process validations shape the way medical packaging is designed and manufactured. I was grateful for the opportunity to share Dordan’s perspective on how we approach quality as an ISO 13485:2016 certified medical thermoformer.

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