Originally Published EMDM November/December
2004
Industry News
MEDTEC Pavilion Casts Spotlight on Precision Metals Processing |
| A turning centre from Swiss machine builder Tornos S.A. features 10 independent axes of motion. |
The cardiology and orthopaedic sectors of the global med-tech industry have
experienced substantial growth during the past three years. Life-enhancing technologies
such as drug-eluting stents and cardiac rhythm management devices have resulted
in the creation of a s5 billion market in Europe alone, according to industry
analysts. As for orthopaedic products, they have boomed under the combined influence
of an aging population and the widespread availability of joint replacements.
Orthopaedics represents a nearly s16 billion market worldwide, of which Europe
generates more than s6 billion in annual sales. Both of these sectors rely on
precision metal-processing equipment and services to fabricate the necessary
devices and associated surgical instruments. The PrecisionTec pavilion at the
forthcoming MEDTEC Exhibition & Conference, which returns to Stuttgart,
Germany, on 15–17 February 2005, provides OEMs in these and other sectors
with a one-stop sourcing venue.
Producers of cardiology and orthopaedic devices visiting the show will be able
to interact with equipment designers that understand the unique demands of the
medical device industry. Laser systems, electrical-discharge machining equipment,
and CNC machining stations will be featured. Suppliers of stainless steel, nitinol,
titanium, and other specialty alloys routinely used in device applications will
also be among the exhibitors.
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| Twin-spindle CNC micromachining centres from US-based MicroGroup can process metal parts as small as 1 mm diam. |
To provide a comprehensive resource to OEMs, a number of leading custom metal
processors will be demonstrating their expertise, and several CNC machine builders
will tout the features of their equipment by producing medical parts on the
show floor. Exhibitors include HAAS Automation, Willemin Macodel, Tornos, Chiron
Werke, Machine Solutions, Royal Master Grinders, MicroGroup, and Tsugnami. Recent
developments in laser processing equipment will be the main event at the stands
of Leister Process Technologies, STI Laser, ACI-Laser, Laser Automation, and
Laser Mechanisms. Specialty metals suppliers at PrecisionTec will include Heraeus,
Supra Alloys, and Dynamet. Numerous custom metals processors with expertise
in the medical sector, including UTI, Memry, Creganna Medical Devices, EUROflex,
Fort Wayne Metals, and Ulbrich Stainless Steels, will round out the event.
MEDTEC and PrecisionTec are organized by Canon Communications llc, which also
publishes this magazine.
For more information about the events, contact the MEDTEC help desk via phone:
+353 1 8060557; fax: +353 1 8621482; or e-mail: medtecstuttgart@ perform.ie.
Up-to-the-minute information can also be found at www.medtecshow.com.
Copyright ©2004
European Medical Device Manufacturer
