The big news from Colder Products Co. at MD&M East last week was with its latest product announcement—the NS1 series of quick disconnect couplings. The NS1 is the smallest plastic, non-spill quick disconnect coupling available today, says the company, and it provides a secure, reliable connect and disconnect in a user-friendly, compact footprint.

I stopped in for a brief visit with Jim Brown, Medical Business Unit Manager, and he showed me quickly how the coupling works. A quick turn of the thumb latch provides an audible click indicating that the connection has been made.  And unlatching the connection closes the non-spill shutoff valves, so no fluid can escape from the connector.

The dry-break style design provides ultra-low air inclusion, minimizing contaminants and eliminating the need to purge air bubbles from systems. The connection can also be made with minimal alignment, and allows the tubing to rotate freely without kinking or twisting, unlike most threaded connections.

In the press release announcing the new components, Brown said, “As devices become smaller and the level of fluid flow accuracy and precision continues to increase, the need for a connector sized for these applications becomes obvious. The non-spill technology in this tiny connector provides the opportunity for a truly closed system and a cleaner, safer connection for small tubing diameters where space is at a premium.”

The NS1 couplings are constructed from polypropylene and PEEK materials that ensure reliable strength and chemical compatibility for a wide range of applications. Available for precise applications with tubing sizes less than 1/8-in., they are ideal for use in medical diagnostics and In Vitro Diagnostics (IVD), printing and ink handling industries, and more.

Colder Products Co.
www.colder.com