CRYSTAL LAKE – Despite a dip in sales, Covidien's Crystal Lake manufacturing plant continues to churn out more than 200 different products used for the safe and secure disposal of syringes and other medical supplies.

The Dublin-based company's medical supplies segment had sales of $439 million in the fourth quarter of 2012, down 9 percent from $481 million in the fourth quarter of 2011.

In fiscal 2012 the segment's sales fell 2 percent to $1.74 billion from $1.78 billion in fiscal 2011, a result of lower sales of SharpSafety and OEM products, some of which are made at the company's plant at 815 Tek Drive in Crystal Lake, according to corporate earning reports released in November.