These are the themes and repeated challenges of fluoropolymer coating suppliers around the world; especially in the world of medical devices. These were the questions I spent the last 6 years trying to answer while leading the world's largest provider of fluoropolymer medical device coatings.

I left my former role in the spring of 2022 determined to find a solution. In August I received a call from Jose and Daniel Cavero, the owners of a small high performance coating company nestled in the shadow of O'Hare Airport. In their typical, transparent nature, they asked me very deliberately, "There are a lot of concerns and issues in the market. We were told you may be able to help us."

Daniel picked me up from the terminal and we met Jose at a local restaurant for lunch and discussed Cavero Coatings. In the industry for 36 years, I knew of Cavero, but never thought of them as a competitor or powerhouse. Jose worked for an organization that my former employer had acquired some years earlier. Jose did not go with the sale. Jose did not want to relocate, so he decided to hang his own shingle and started Cavero Coatings. This is where Jose made a critical decision that probably limited his growth initially but satisfied his personal beliefs. Cavero Coatings, from day one, would only manufacture sustainable high performance waterborne liquid and powder coatings. With solar panels on the roof of the plant and an annual waste stream that most coating companies would strive for in a week, Jose has not only produced responsibly, he has created some of the best products I have seen.

Cavero's primary business is high temperature coatings used around the world in automotive, heavy equipment and large diesel engines. Along the way, sustainable nonstick fluoropolymer coatings were also developed for industrial bakeware, mold release and other associated markets. As issues began to mount over the past several years, Cavero knew they must be doing something different, and right. I knew within the first 30 minutes of being in their plant that I had to be part of this.

Cavero has just finalized the development of a catheter guidewire coating series that is REACH compliant with non-detectable levels of PFOA and total PFAS levels well within the limits set in the EU. Additionally, these products are waterborne with very low VOC's. Cavero will be taking a focused approach in the medical device space and will be implementing an ISO13485 quality system in 2023. Very exciting times.

If you currently use or specify fluoropolymer coatings in the medical space, or any market, and need a more sustainable solution, Cavero is here to help.