BEVERLY, Mass. — Freudenberg Medical said it has launched LUBRITEQ, a new high-performance hydrophilic coating solution supported by a suite of development and manufacturing services aimed at improving device performance and accelerating product development for medical device and biopharma customers.
The company said LUBRITEQ is now available globally across Freudenberg Medical’s vertically integrated operations and is designed to unite advanced surface chemistry with in-house medical device design and manufacturing capabilities. The offering is intended to enhance manufacturability, productivity, and reliability across the full product development lifecycle.
“Hydrophilic coatings and device design must work in perfect harmony to deliver optimal performance, yet the industry has traditionally approached them as separate disciplines,” said Michael McGee, chief executive officer of Freudenberg Medical. “As a uniquely integrated technical partner, we enable customers to move faster, with less risk and greater confidence, by combining product design, advanced materials, precision coatings, and application expertise for seamless development, scale-up, and launch.”
Freudenberg Medical said the launch builds on more than 25 years of experience in coating science, including capabilities integrated through Hemoteq, and reflects the company’s broader strategy to deliver complex drug-device and surface modification solutions. The company said it supports more than one million medical devices annually with functional surface coatings.
“With more than 40 coating scientists, chemical engineers, and technicians working alongside 250 medical device and catheter engineers globally, we have deep expertise in developing complex chemistry and drug-device solutions,” McGee said. “Introducing LUBRITEQ is a natural evolution aligned with our customers’ needs.”
The company said its entry into the hydrophilic coatings market was shaped by extensive engagement with customers and industry stakeholders, which highlighted gaps in flexibility, service models, and commercial terms across existing offerings.
“Customers aren’t just looking for a better coating—they’re looking for a better partner to de-risk their product launches,” said Keith Kiernan, chief commercial officer of Freudenberg Medical. “We deliberately set out to deliver a solution—and a partnership model—that reflects exactly what customers told us they need. No royalties, no rigidity—just coating performance, partnership, and progress.”
LUBRITEQ is a UV-curable, single-step hydrophilic coating designed for use across a range of medical device applications and polymer and metal substrates. Freudenberg Medical said the coating delivers high lubricity, durability, consistent uniformity, and ultra-low particulates, and can be customized to meet specific device requirements.
Alongside the coating, the company is offering a services model that supports customers from early feasibility through commercial production. Services include a rapid two-week feasibility assessment, coating customization programs, and flexible manufacturing options, including process transfer or contract coating support across Freudenberg Medical’s global site network.
Freudenberg Medical said it is also introducing a transparent commercial model for LUBRITEQ, with no royalties, no fixed or annual fees, and no regulatory file access fees, in contrast to traditional industry practices.
“With LUBRITEQ, Freudenberg Medical is raising the bar for what a hydrophilic coating partner can and should be,” McGee said. “Great technology, great service, and a commercial model built on trust—that’s the standard we are setting.”
