CHASKA, MINN. — Formacoat, a medical device coating services provider with nearly 25 years of experience, is expanding beyond coating application and contract manufacturing with HydroMark™, its proprietary hydrophilic coating platform launched in February 2025.
The launch marks a strategic step for Formacoat, which has invested in research and development infrastructure, manufacturing capabilities and scientific talent to bring its own coating technology to market. The company describes HydroMark as a long-term platform designed to support continued development, qualification and scalable production.
“These investments ensure we can innovate, qualify and manufacture coatings with speed, reproducibility and scalability,” said Mark Gross, Formacoat CEO. “HydroMark is not just a product launch—it’s a long-term coating technology platform.”
Designed for performance and manufacturing
HydroMark hydrophilic coatings are engineered to provide consistent lubricity, adhesion and durability across medical devices such as catheters, guidewires and films. The platform is intended to accommodate simple and complex geometries, and includes thermally cured options that can be evaluated against device materials, manufacturing workflows and regulatory requirements.
Key platform attributes include a low, consistent coefficient of friction to support device navigation; robust adhesion and durability under demanding use conditions; and ongoing development involving surface properties, polymers and curing methods. Formacoat’s in-house coating application, qualification and scale-up expertise supports the platform from development through manufacturing.
“For over two decades, Formacoat has helped customers select, validate and apply the right coating technologies for their devices,” said Todd Paulsen, vice president at Formacoat. “With HydroMark, we’re taking the next step by bringing our own coating technology to market—backed by our application experience and without the added cost pressures associated with royalties or corporate consolidation.”
A new option in a consolidating market
Formacoat sees HydroMark as an independent alternative in a market where consolidation may limit choice and increase costs, particularly for start-ups and mid-sized manufacturers. Paulsen argues that rising coating prices can become a barrier to innovation and make it harder for smaller companies to access established technologies.
“Prohibitive costs are the enemy of innovation,” Paulsen said, pointing to the increase in the price of one hydrophilic coating from about $183 per liter two decades ago to more than $2,200. He said the example illustrates the cost pressures customers can face.
For original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and contract manufacturers (CMOs), Formacoat’s role as both coating applicator and technology developer offers another potential sourcing path. Gross said customers are looking for choice, flexibility and supply-chain resilience, supported by a partner with practical experience applying, qualifying and manufacturing coated devices at scale.
Putting performance to the test
Formacoat has also announced the HydroMark Challenge, an initiative intended to compare HydroMark with customers’ existing coated catheters. Planned evaluations include dye testing, lubricity comparisons and pricing models at no charge. The company said additional details would be announced at MD&M Midwest, October 28th and 29th.
