Originally Published EMDM January/February 2002
A NOTE FROM THE EDITOR
Mark Your Calendars
March is just around the corner, which means it's nearly time for...MEDTEC 2002. That's right, Europe's premier medical manufacturing show now occurs in March. Now in its fifth year, the Medical Equipment Design & Technology Exhibition and Conference (MEDTEC) will unite the leaders of the European medical manufacturing industry on 5–7 March in an ideal forum for sourcing components, materials, subcontracting services, and equipment.
In addition to changing dates, MEDTEC has changed venues. The show is now located in Stuttgart, capital of the German state of Baden-Württemberg. The region is a dynamic centre of medical device activity, boasting not only several major manufacturers, but also an accompanying network of suppliers, and a strong base of research institutes. Readers interested in learning more about medical manufacturing in Germany's southwest should consult the Regional Focus on this area, which appeared in the October 2001 issue of EMDM. The article, which contains profiles of some of the region's leading suppliers, can also be viewed on-line.
MEDTEC 2002 will play host to thousands of visitors and 300 exhibitors supplying products and services to the medical industry. In this special preshow issue of EMDM, readers will find a description of the most innovative medical-grade products and services that will be exhibited in Stuttgart, beginning on page 34. This year's product highlights include needleless valves, stent tubing, packaging materials and machinery, and a range of catheter production equipment.
While you're at the show, don't miss the accompanying three-day conference. Visitors wishing to bring themselves up to date with the latest technical, regulatory, and business trends affecting the device industry are sure to benefit from the conference programme. This year's topics include bluetooth technology, electromagnetic compatibility in hospitals, contract sterilization methods, and drug-eluting stents.
The conference programme will also feature sessions dedicated to microtechnology, such as the presentation "Manufacturing for Minimally Invasive Surgical Instruments." In anticipation of the conference session, this issue of EMDM includes a Special Report on Minimally Invasive Devices. News editor Zachary Turke reports on technologies such as CNC milling, which are being pushed to new limits in order to meet increased demand for smaller device components. Complementary technologies for surface treatment and MEMs are also discussed.
EMDM readers attending the MEDTEC conference may also recognize the name of Dr. Andreas Lendlein, who is managing director of the firm mnemoScience (Aachen, Germany). Lendlein will be delivering a presentation at MEDTEC, entitled "Shape-Memory Polymers: a New Material for Surgical Devices." The firm's innovative technology, which promises to overcome the limitations of shape-memory metals, was featured in the Technology News section of EMDM in September 2001. To see the full text of the article on-line, readers can visit EMDM's Internet archives by going to the page www.devicelink.com/emdm/archive/01/09/technews.html.
While you can always count on EMDM to keep you informed of the latest trends in medical technology, there's simply no substitute for going to the show. If you do make it to MEDTEC, why not drop by the Canon Communications booth and say hello? EMDM editors will be on hand, and we're always happy to hear your comments and suggestions concerning the magazine.
Copyright ©2002 European Medical Device Manufacturer
