Ever since MD&M West in February 2026, HydroMark™ has gained significant attention within the hydrophilic coating community. However, Formacoat’s Vice President, Todd Michael Paulsen, is not surprised.
“There was a need in the medical device coating space that has been created by mergers and consolidations of coating companies – as they get bigger, their price points get higher and higher” says Paulsen. “Over the next several years, it will become increasingly difficult for start-ups and mid-size companies to have affordable access to coatings and application services. The cost of entry will become too great as the large conglomerates only focus on the companies with the largest check books.”
HydroMark™ hydrophilic coatings are engineered to deliver consistent lubricity, durability, and application flexibility across a wide range of medical devices, including catheters, guidewires and films, ranging from simple to complex geometries.
The platform includes thermal-cured options, allowing device manufacturers to align coating selection with device materials, production workflows, and regulatory requirements (see table below).
“Customers are telling us they want choice, flexibility, and supply-chain resilience,” added Mark Gross, CEO. “HydroMark™ gives OEMs access to a new, independent hydrophilic coating platform – supported by a partner that already understands how to apply, qualify, and manufacture coated devices at scale. Our goal is to give customers a new option, backed by deep technical application expertise and manufacturing credibility.”
But what makes HydroMark™ a true medical coatings disruptor is the price point. “Prohibitive costs are the enemy of innovation” says Paulsen. “Hydrophilic coating technology has not changed all that much over the last couple of decades. The same coating we used to purchase for $183 a litre twenty years ago now costs over $2,200 – no changes to the technology, just the name on the outside of the bottle!”
The HydroMark™ platform is one of ease of use, durability and performance. “We all want to drive an Alfa Romeo, as they make amazingly beautiful cars. But you don’t need to drive something that expensive to get you from point A to point B. And at Formacoat, we have always believed that it’s not the car (or coating) that makes the difference, it’s the driver (application). And no one puts their customers in the driver’s seat better than Formacoat” states Paulsen.
About Formacoat
Founded more than 25 years ago, Formacoat is a leading medical device contract manufacturer specializing in advanced coating application and process development. Headquartered in Chaska, Minnesota, Formacoat partners with medical device OEMs –from startups to global leaders – to enhance device performance through expert coating selection, application, and manufacturing excellence.
