Plastics currently form one of the most important components of the medical device industry. Medical device designers and engineers are increasingly preferring plastic to conventional materials, such as metal and glass, because of its superior flexibility in the fabrication process. Commodity thermoplastics dominate the market followed by thermoplastic elastomers and engineering resins. Engineering plastics are used mainly in applications involving multiple sterilizations, or in which structural integrity, strong performance level, and low cost are important. The demand for engineering plastics, such as polycarbonates, is expected to drive growth of the overall engineering resin segment.