Medical Device Link.

Originally Published EMDM November 2005

INDUSTRY NEWS

In Brief

Three Southern California contract moulders have teamed up to provide medical device OEMs with a single source for precision plastic and elastomeric components. Hi-Tech Rubber (Anaheim, CA, USA), Inland Technologies (Fontana, CA, USA), and A.C. Hoffman Engineering (Riverside, CA, USA) offer state-of-the-art injection moulding of liquid silicone, thermoplastics, thermoplastic and silicone elastomers; flashless moulding of organic and silicone materials; and subcomponent assembly.

On most new projects, the firms can produce prototypes in approximately two weeks and rapidly move into full-scale production. Design and process engineering support, material engineering, in-house prototype tooling, and custom assembly and subassembly services are available. In addition, A.C. Hoffman recently unveiled a new 55,000-sq-ft manufacturing facility with cleanroom moulding capabilities.

For additional information, contact Hi-Tech Rubber Inc., 3191 E. La Palma Ave., Anaheim, CA 92806, USA; phone: +1 714 6327710; fax: +1 714 6325647; Internet: www.hitechrubber.com.

Metal Fabricator Starts Medical Division

A company with a history of machining titanium and stainless steel on a contract basis for medical and dental applications has decided to make it official and launch a medical division. Carniamed (Paluzza, UD, Italy), the medical division of Carniaflex, offers complete in-house product development and production of medical devices used in endoscopy and related procedures. Biteflex biopsy forceps and Retriflex foreign-body-retrieval devices are examples of products developed in collaboration with end-users. They are compatible with many popular models of endoscopes currently in use. The firm will introduce its new medical division at the upcoming Medica and MEDTEC trade shows.

For more information, contact Carniaflex S.r.l., Via Nazionale 8, 33026 Paluzza (UD), Italy; phone: +39 0433 775164; fax: +39 0433 775856; e-mail: carniaflex@carniaflex.it; Internet: www.carniaflex.com.

Subcontractor Adds LIM Capabilities

OEM demand for silicone components and cost efficiencies have led a supplier to add liquid injection moulding (LIM) to its range of capabilities. A full-service contract manufacturer serving the healthcare industry, SMC Ltd. (Somerset, WI, USA) notes that integrating more materials and manufacturing processes under one roof results in lower production costs.

An additional advantage, according to owner and president Chetan Patel, is reduced lead times for the silicone moulds and production parts. “We have built single-cavity liquid injection moulds in-house in just five weeks,” says Patel. “The single-cavity tools mould production parts that can be incorporated into validated processes while multicavity tooling is being developed.”

SMC Ltd. provides design, moulding, and device manufacturing services in US FDA–registered facilities certified to ISO 13485.

Contact the company at 330 SMC Dr., Somerset, WI 54025, USA; phone: +1 715 2473500; fax: +1 715 2473611; e-mail: inquiry@smcltd.com; Internet: www.smcltd.com.

Acquisition Expands Firm’s Orthopaedics Machining Capabilities

To broaden its scope of services for makers of orthopaedic products, Accellent Inc. (Wilmington, MA, USA) has announced the acquisition of Campbell Engineering (Huntsville, AL, USA). Campbell Engineering provides precision machining and assembly of orthopaedic implants and instruments for the medical device industry. The purchase will allow Accellent to strengthen its position as an outsourcing partner for global orthopaedics firms. The firm believes that this market sector will continue to experience strong growth.

For more information, contact Accellent Inc., 100 Fordham Rd., Wilmington, MA 01887, USA; phone: +1 978 6570066; fax: +1 978 6570878; Internet: www.accellent.com.

Packaging Equipment Maker Retools Business Focus

Belco Packaging Systems Inc. (Monrovia, CA, USA) has spun off distribution of nonproprietary packaging equipment and consumables to concentrate on the manufacture of its blister-tray-sealing machines and constant-heat validatable pouch sealers. This new focus will accelerate machine development and permit further improvements in customer service. Among recent developments for the medical device market is an RFID system designed to ensure that blister-sealing trays and tools are aligned with machine settings. The firm’s equipment is distributed in Europe through Medical Engineering Technologies (MET) in Great Britain.

For more information, contact MET, Webster House, Jesmond St., Folkestone, Kent CT19 5QW, UK; phone: +44 8454 588924; fax: +44 8700 562153; e-mail: solutions@met.uk.com; Internet: www.met.uk.com.

Ceramics and Ultrasonic Transducer Suppliers Move in Together

Two divisions of Piezo Technologies (Indianapolis, IN, USA) have relocated. A new facility will house both Keramos, a manufacturer of advanced piezoelectric ceramic materials, and Etalon, a provider of ultrasonic transducers. Though both divisions will be collaborating, they will maintain individual operations. Piezo Technologies anticipates that working in close proximity will lead to improved product development. The facility has a Class 100 cleanroom, microassembly and ESD-protected assembly areas, and it is equipped with dicing saws capable of precision cutting to 12 µm.

For more information, contact Piezo Technologies, 8431 Georgetown Rd., Ste. 300, Indianapolis, IN 46268, USA; phone: +1 317 8764670; fax: +1 317 8764681; Internet: www.piezotechnologies.com.

Zeus Builds Plant in Ireland

Fluoropolymers extruder Zeus Inc. (Orangeburg, SC, USA) has announced that it will establish a 28,000-sq-ft plant in Letterkenny, Ireland. The firm also may purchase an adjacent 2.9-acre lot for future expansion. The facility is the company’s first European manufacturing site.

For more information, contact Zeus Inc., 3737 Industrial Blvd., Orangeburg, SC 29118, USA; phone: +1 803 2689500; fax: +1 803 5335694; Internet: www.zeusinc.com.

Copyright ©2005 European Medical Device Manufacturer