Originally Published EMDM October 2001
REGIONAL FOCUS
Baden-Württemberg: Germany's Dynamic SouthwestA tradition of quality and an emphasis on R&D make the German state an attractive location for medical OEMs and suppliers alike.
Benjamin Lichtman
Formed in 1952 from the fusion of the lands of Baden and Württemberg, Germany's third-largest state continues to prove that good things come in pairs: the industrial and the aesthetic, the new and the old, the high-tech and the high tourist season.
Bordered by France to the west and Switzerland and Austria to the south, Baden-Württemberg enjoys a central location in the heart of Europe. And it is a dynamic centre; the state registered record 4.2% economic growth in 2000.
Although it may be best known as the headquarters of Porsche, Baden-Württemberg also has a long tradition of innovative design in the medical industry. In particular, the area surrounding the city of Tuttlingen boasts nearly 400 surgical instrument manufacturers, which are in turn supported by local, medically oriented suppliers. Approximately 15–20 million medical instruments are produced each year in the Tuttlingen area, according to Werner Vogel, head of the Technology Design and Project Implementation section of GWZ (Stuttgart), the state's regional development agency.
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| Herrmann Ultrasonics supplies equipment for the processing of medical-grade plastics and nonwovens. The firm uses a technique called Micro Gap Control to eliminate metal contact between the weld horn and the anvil drum, allowing for high web speeds. |
In a sign of this region's significance to the medical industry, the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research last year singled out the Tübingen/Tuttlingen area as one of 14 winners in a national competition for the establishment of medical technology centres. The programme was designed to promote collaboration between German research institutes, industry, and healthcare providers. As a result of the competition, Tübingen and Tuttlingen now share a Centre of Competence in Minimally Invasive Medicine & Technology, which encompasses the University Hospital of Tübingen, the Chamber of Industry and Commerce Black Forest-Baar-Heuberg, the University of Stuttgart, the Karlsruhe Research Centre, and the German Institute for Textile and Fibre Research in Stuttgart.
The aim of the group, according to spokesman Dr. Ludger Schnieder, is to "combine the existing experience and ability in the area of minimally invasive medicine to form an interdisciplinary network." Current areas of research include the interaction of surgical instruments with imaging equipment, surgical systems for minimally invasive procedures in the head and neck, innovations in neuroendoscopy, and systems integration.
Schnieder adds that the competence centre has the goal of overcoming the handicaps faced by small and medium-sized firms, and creating an atmosphere that encourages cooperative research and development. In addition to supporting the activities of existing manufacturers, the competence centre also supports the establishment of new companies.
Focus on Research
"In Baden-Württemberg, we are traditionally frugal, since we have no natural resources," says Michael Kanzler, vice president of sortimat GmbH (Winnenden), a manufacturer of custom automated assembly machines for the device sector.
In addition to a reputation for thriftiness, Baden-Württemberg's hilly landscape and lack of natural resources have engendered a tendency in its citizens to rely on ingenuity and quality craftsmanship. As in Switzerland, this tendency has manifested itself in the niche industry of clock making. Generations of subsuppliers specializing in various forms of precision mechanics have evolved to serve the Black Forest's most famous industry. But in the long term, these suppliers must diversify. Baden-Württemberg is looking to the future, and that means R&D.
Research has become something of an industry in itself in Baden-Württemberg. In fact, a German government report conducted in 2000 indicated that, of the <42.8 billion spent on R&D in Germany in 1997, Baden-Württemberg alone accounted for <10 billion, or roughly 24%. In 1997, this corresponded to an impressive 3.8% of the state's GDP. These figures make sense when you consider that Baden-Württemberg is home to no less than nine universities, 28 technical universities, and 150 research institutes.
Among these is the renowned Karlsruhe Research Centre, one of the largest noncommercial science and engineering research institutions in Germany. The centre's medical technology programme is currently researching the development of virtual-reality surgical training systems, minimally invasive surgical tools, electrotherapy, and computer-aided diagnostics. Meanwhile, the centre's nanotechnology programme is also investigating medical applications. With a strong track record of technology transfer, the Karlsruhe Research Centre has already spun off several high-technology companies with activities in the medical sector.
Completing the Supply Chain
Of course, research is only the first link. Medical manufacturers also require a network of specialized suppliers to get their products to market. Here, too, Baden-Württemberg gets high marks. According to data from the GWZ, Baden-Württemberg benefits from the highest density of high-technology firms anywhere in Germany.
Are you looking for a manufacturer of medical moulds? The Black Forest is well known as a centre of precision technology. Consider the firm Braun Formenbau GmbH (Bahlingen). The company—which has a Class 10,000 cleanroom for the production of medical and pharmaceutical components—specializes in moulds for two- or multiple-component plastic parts made of different materials. Nearby, the firm Kroma GmbH (Lahr) has created a patented inlay moulding process that joins plastic and metal parts in one shot. The process requires no welding and creates components that are air- and watertight.
Or perhaps you are looking for a supplier of ultrasonic equipment. Herrmann Ultrasonics (Karlsbad) offers machines for the processing of nonwovens and thermoplastic parts. According to managing director Walter Ochs, production speeds in excess of 100 m/min are now achievable, even with webs exceeding 2000 mm in width.
Quality is the first concern for the company's medical customers, and Herrmann Ultrasonics is careful to address this. "The key to achieving reliable and consistent quality is precise control of the gap between the weld horn and the anvil drum, which is where the material is processed," says Ochs. "This gap must be maintained with a tolerance of a few microns and changing thermal influences have to be compensated," he notes. The firm's typical medical applications include filters, IV components, and wound dressings.
A similar obsession with quality and consistency characterizes Epflex Feinwerktechnik GmbH (Dettingen/Erms), a specialist in nitinol applications for the device industry. "Our products have good, uniform surfaces," says Uwe Stoll, who oversees the company's R&D and international sales activities. He notes that the firm uses no solder in the production of its guidewires, and that they perform better as a result. In addition to guidewires, the company produces coils, baskets, and filters.
Truth Is Beauty
Do you know quality when you see it? Stoll thinks you do. He observes that in today's market, products must be technically sound, but they must also be pleasing to the eye. "It is more and more important to have a beautiful product that the customer likes," he says, modelling one of his company's elegant, lithe guidewires. "You should feel it, look at it, and know that you have a good product."
Doing business in Germany's southwest, you will get an immediate sense of quality from the local suppliers—not to mention the landscapes. From the Bodensee to the Heidelberg castle, Baden-Württemberg offers some of Germany's best scenery. Travelling through the state by autobahn, you can feel the quality. Especially if you're driving a Porsche.
If you are racing to find suppliers in Baden-Württemberg, consider mapping your route in the following pages, which profile some of the region's leading suppliers of technology to the device sector.
Finding a Local Guide
Manufacturers shopping for suppliers in Baden-Württemberg or considering the state as a business location will find a helping hand in the Baden-Württemberg Agency for International Economic Cooperation (GWZ; Stuttgart), the state's regional development agency.
The GWZ aims to promote contacts between foreign companies and companies in Baden-Württemberg, as well as to further strengthen the region as an economic magnet by attracting foreign investors.
Werner Vogel is the agency's point man for medical issues, and he is armed with a wide range of tools to assist OEMs in their efforts, including a wealth of industry contacts and a database of local companies with medical activities.
For more information, contact Werner Vogel, Head of Section, Technology Design and Project Implementation, GWZ, Huberstr. 5, D-70174 Stuttgart, Germany; phone: +49 711 2278755; fax: +49 711 2261420; e-mail: wv@gwz-bw.de; Internet: http://www.gwz.de.
MEDTEC Moves to Stuttgart
Following four years of steady growth in Amsterdam, the Medical Equipment Design & Technology Exhibition & Conference (MEDTEC) will make its first appearance at the Stuttgart Messe on 5–7 March 2002.
The event—Europe's premier medical manufacturing show—is expected to draw thousands of visitors and more than 250 international medical suppliers. Exhibitors include suppliers of automation and assembly equipment, contract manufacturing services, medical electronics, packaging, diagnostics, moulding and extrusion equipment, medical-grade materials, and consulting services.
A conference track will be devoted to technical and regulatory issues of interest to medical OEMs in Europe. The show is organized by Canon Communications llc and sponsored by European Medical Device Manufacturer. Information for visitors and exhibitors, as well as product previews and conference details, can be found on the MEDTEC Web site at http://www.medtecshow.com.
For more information, contact Mark Temple-Smith, P.O. Box 975, Bottisham, CB5 9SF Cambs, UK; phone: +44 1233 813660; fax: +44 1233 813661; e-mail: mark@cancom.co.uk.
Copyright ©2001 European Medical Device Manufacturer
