EU Industry News
ODU Snaps Up Medical Connectors Market
A recent newsletter from ODU-Steckverbindungssysteme (Mühldorf/Inn, Germany) is entirely devoted to the company's line of push-pull connectors, and for good reason. In the first four months of 1998, ODU's bookings have leaped by 50% while annual sales have increased by more than 30%. Much of this growth is attributed to the company's 
Mini-Snap line of connectors (pictured), which are especially popular among OEMs of medical electronic equipment.
"The medical market represents about 2% of global demand for connectors," says company president and general manager Wolfgang Jacobi, "but it accounts for 20% of ODU's sales." The Mini-Snap has found favour with device companies for a number of reasons, according to Jacobi. The locking system, similar to a mechanism found on quick-disconnect hoses, can be operated by using two fingers, yet it is intrinsically safe and will not come apart inadvertently. The autoclavable Mini-Snap is interchangeable with connectors manufactured by competing companies and is available in IP 50 to IP 67 protection ratings. It has been tested for electromagnetic compatibility by an accredited laboratory. The components are typically used with patient-monitoring systems, endoscopy instruments, defibrillators, blood centrifuges, bone saws, diagnostic devices, and related products.
ODU also offers modular connectors and board-to-board and board-to-cable connectors with medical applications, but one of the primary reasons the company has fared so well as a supplier to the medical device sector, according to Jacobi, is its overall business philosophy. "As a midsized company, we can't compete in terms of commodities with the larger firms," says Jacobi. "Our strategy has been to focus on custom products and to adapt quickly to customer demands while maintaining the highest quality. Device manufacturers demand custom solutions," he adds, "and ODU has made this its specialty—we are a single-source supplier to more than 100 companies worldwide."
To react promptly to market demands and to control quality, ODU has brought in-house the design and manufacture of both the tooling and the equipment necessary to produce the connectors. "Product design, tooling design, and machine design are done concurrently," says Jacobi, who notes that having these activities in-house enhances the information flow among engineers and managers and ultimately results in more innovative products.
ODU's plans for the future include broadening its product range by adding new inserts and small connectors suitable for radio-frequency and fibre-optic applications. "Hybrid devices that combine electrical signals with fibre optics, liquids, and gasses are the wave of the future," says Jacobi. The development of inexpensive disposable connectors for medical equipment is also a priority.
For further information on the company's products or to request its newsletter, contact ODU-Steckverbindungssysteme, Pregelstr. 11, D-84453 Mühldorf/Inn, Germany; phone: +49 8631 61560; fax: +49 8631 615649; E-mail: zentral@odu.de.
Lumonics' Applications Laboratories
Stress Solutions
Industrial lasers have become the tool of choice for many cutting, welding, drilling, and marking applications in the medical device industry. Because they are capable of working in areas that require tolerances of just a few microns while providing a clean, reproducible process, lasers are edging out alternative methods. Lumonics (München, Germany), a global supplier of industrial laser systems, has benefitted from that trend—device-related companies represent roughly one-third of its European customer base—but that's only part of the story, according to European sales manager Helmut Costas. Service is key, he says, and the primary reason for Lumonics' success is related to the company's client-centered strategy. "We don't take a product-oriented approach," says Costas. "Our customers aren't just in the market for a laser—they're looking for application support and turnkey solutions." Lumonics' customer service centre in Unterschleissheim, just north of München, is the most recent example of the company's commitment to providing its customers with "added value."
The purpose-built facility houses several applications laboratories equipped with Xymark, Nd:YAG, and CO2 lasers. One installation includes a glovebox similar to one used for welding pacemakers; another is equipped with a conveyor belt to simulate marking conditions on the plant floor. A testing department with tensile testers, microscopes, and a host of other devices is also in-house. The centre, explains Costas, was designed to enable Lumonics to offer clients total solutions.
"Customers sourcing laser systems have brought us components without knowing the exact formula of the polymer. Well, we simply run tests in our applications laboratory," says Costas. "Sometimes, the customer may not have a clear idea of the specifications that he wants. He may want the product marked, for example, but will it require depth penetration or should it be a colour change? Often, the client isn't sure." In the laboratories, the manufacturer can observe firsthand the various options and determine the most suitable system. "The customer can come to us with a product and a vague idea of what needs to be done, and we can take it from there, from material identification to assembling the best system to meet his needs."
Lumonics chose the Unterschleissheim location because of its proximity to the München airport, which is just a 15-minute drive from the centre. Not only is it convenient for overnight shipping of consumables and replacement parts from the fully stocked warehouse, it also enables customers on a tight schedule to come to the centre without having to fight city traffic. "Yet we're close enough to München," adds Costas, "that customers can easily head into town for lunch or dinner, if they choose." Consider it one more facet of the company's added-value approach.
For more information about Lumonics' products or its new German facility, contact the company at Einsteinstr. 2, D-85716 Unterschleissheim, Germany; phone: +49 89 317070; fax: +49 89 31707262.
Adhesive Components Manufacturer to Open Its First European Facility in Ireland
Acutek Adhesive Specialties (Inglewood, CA, USA), a US-based manufacturer of pressure-sensitive adhesive components, has announced plans to open its first European operation just outside Galway, Ireland, in Corrnamona. Scheduled for its unveiling early next year, the manufacturing plant reportedly will provide the same full range of pressure-sensitive adhesive converting services already supplied by its US counterpart.
Services to be carried out at the 1325-m2 facility will include custom printing, die-cutting, and laminating, as well as assembly and packaging. A Class 100,000 cleanroom will be installed to ensure products meet stringent international standards.
"The whole idea of outsourcing has really come into its own in Europe in the last couple of years," says Karen Kline, vice president of sales and marketing. "Previously, many European companies believed that they had to do [all the work] themselves." By utilizing the services of a subcontractor like Acutek, says Kline, European device designers can expand their design options and have more time to devote to the actual development of their products.
For more information, contact Acutek Adhesive Specialties, 540 N. Oak St., Inglewood, CA 90302, USA; phone: +1 805 2557265; fax: +1 805 2555623; E-mail: karen@acutek-ca.com.
Parylene Conformal Coating
Centre Opens in Ireland
A dedicated conformal coating facility has been established in Dublin to serve the country's medical device and electronics markets. Alpha Metals (Ireland) Ltd. initially will apply parylene coatings to printed circuit board assemblies used in telecommunications systems, but the USP Class VI material also has numerous potential applications in the medical device field.
The coating is deposited by means of vapour condensation, a process that ensures uniform and complete coverage of the substrate. The polymer can be grown pinhole-free at thicknesses down to 1 µm on complex shapes and substrates. According to the company, a 15-µm coating is sufficient to provide mechanical and barrier protection. Medical applications include coating devices such as pacemakers, stents, catheters, guidewires, and seals.
For more information, contact Alpha Metals (Ireland) Ltd., Unit 52, Airways Ind. Est., Dublin 17, Ireland; phone: +353 1 8421172; fax: +353 1 8421361.
Power Conversion Plug-Ins Available for Immediate Delivery
A supplier of external power conversion products to medical device OEMs now offers immediate shipment of its most popular items from off-site warehouses to customers worldwide. The Express Lead-Time programme inaugurated by Ault Inc. (Minneapolis, MN, USA) applies to 10 North American unregulated wall plug-ins as well as six European models manufactured by the company.
The initiative is in response to customer requests for the immediate delivery of products suited for a broad range of common power applications, says Greg Harris, vice president of business development. "This programme gives us a true industry-leading advantage with high-quality, low-cost product solutions and virtually no lead time," he says.
The company, which is certified to ISO 9001, supplies external power supplies, battery chargers, switch mode power supplies, and transformers to medical device, computer peripheral, telecommunications, and data communications OEMs.
For additional information, contact Ault Inc., 7300 Boone Ave. N., Minneapolis, MN 55428, USA; phone: +1 612 4931900; fax: +1 612 4931911; E-mail: info@aultinc.com.
Alloy Developed for Implants
An alloy designed for use in fracture-fixation and implanted orthopaedic devices has been developed by Carpenter Specialty Alloys (Reading, PA, USA). The electroslag remelted BioDur 734 material, a European version of the company's BioDur 22Cr-13Ni-5Mn alloy, is being marketed as an alternative to the Orton 90 and Rex 734 alloys.
BioDur 734 is a nitrogen-strengthened, austenitic stainless steel that compares favourably with BioDur 316 LS stainless steel, according to the company. It adds that better corrosion resistance and higher annealed strength are among the advantages of the new grade.
The nominal chemical composition of the alloy, which meets ISO specification 5832-9, is 20.5% Cr, 9.5% Ni, 4.0% Mn, and 2.0% Mo, with iron accounting for the balance. It is supplied in annealed cold-drawn wire and bar in standard sizes ranging from fine wire to 33 mm round. Other sizes are available upon request.
For more information, contact Carpenter Specialty Alloys, Carpenter Technology Corp., PO Box 14662, Reading, PA 19612-4662, USA; phone: +1 610 2082197; fax: +1 610 2083172.
Extruder Manufacturer Expands
European Base
The maker of extrusion and related downstream equipment Davis-Standard Corp. (Pawcatuck, CT, USA) has announced that its recent acquisition of Betol Machinery (Luton, UK) lays the foundation of a European hub for the US-based company. The purchase reportedly makes the firm, now known as Davis-Standard Ltd., one of the leading global suppliers of extrusion equipment to the medical device industry.
Davis-Standard will continue to manufacture certain Betol extruders, but it will also introduce its own Thermatic machines, which are currently produced in the United States. A line of conical and parallel twin-screw extruders, incorporating a screw design that delivers higher output per revolution than competing models, will be manufactured at the Luton plant as well. The range of machinery for the medical sector provided by Davis-Standard includes systems that incorporate bump tubing technology for both single- and multilumen tubing, vacuum baths, pullers, and servo cutters. All of the systems can be specified for cleanroom use.
The company invites its European customers to observe firsthand its machine and screw design technology at the Luton, UK, facility. Davis-Standard's fully staffed technology centres in the United States and now Europe have been specifically designed to enable extrusion personnel to analyze polymer processing characteristics under laboratory conditions. According to vice president Al Hodge, "Whether it's improvements in extrusion stability, output capacity, regrind feeding, additive mixing, or melt temperature reduction, Davis-Standard technology centres are staffed to provide complete and accurate process analysis."
For further information, contact Davis-Standard Ltd., 187 Camford Way, Sundon Park, Luton LU3 3AN, UK; phone: +44 1582 570501; fax: +44 1582 597363.
In Brief
Systems Manufacturers Form Alliance
Malvern Instruments Ltd. (Malvern, Worcs, UK), a developer and manufacturer of particle analysis systems, has announced a strategic alliance with TOA Medical Electronics, a Japanese manufacturer of automated laboratory systems including particle analyzers, blood cell counters, flow cytometres, and urinalysis systems. The partnership encompasses distribution agreements and makes possible future collaboration and cooperation by the two companies in the field of particle analysis. According to the terms of the agreement, Malvern Instruments will distribute TOA's Sysmex CDA-500 particle analyzer in France, Germany, Sweden, Finland, Norway, Denmark, and the UK.
For more information, contact Malvern Instruments Ltd., Enigma Business Pk., Grovewood Rd., Malvern, Worcs WR14 1XZ, UK; phone: +44 1684 892456; fax: +44 1684 892789; E-mail: janr@malvern.co.uk.
EU-Commissioned Project Examines
Kinking Properties of Medical Tubes
An international project funded by the EU Commission is aimed at developing harmonized test methods for the kinking properties of medical tubes. 
Objectives of the project include identifying the most adequate kinking parameters and verifying the practicality of the test methods on a wide range of medical tubes. Partners in the endeavor are the Danish Technological Institute's Medical Devices Technology division, Cordis Europa N.V., Astra Tech A.B., and Maersk Medical a/s. The four partners have collaborated on five tasks, which include information retrieval, theoretical analysis, and mathematical modelling of the kinking phenomenon. Both a short-term test conducted in a tensile test machine (pictured) and a long-term test based on fluid flow reduction have been developed.
For more information, contact DTI Medical Devices Technology, Gregersensvej, DK-2630 Taastrup, Denmark; phone: +45 43504277; fax: +45 43507244.
Materials Supplier Increases Product Range,
Changes Name
Pall Corp.'s Biosupport and OEM Membranes Group (Port Washington, NY, USA), a supplier of media for diagnostics and molecular biology, has changed its name to Pall Specialty Materials (a division of Pall Corp.) to signify the group's access to a wider array of materials for a broader range of applications. New product offerings include materials for venting and filtration that can be used in industrial and health-care environments. Materials are supplied in flat sheets or as rollstock.
For more information, contact Pall Specialty Materials, 25 Harbor Park Dr., Port Washington, NY 11050, USA; phone: +1 516 4843600; fax: +1 516 4843637; E-mail: custsvc@pall.com.
Optinova AB Announces Expansion
Medical tubing extruder Optinova AB (Godby, Finland) is expanding its production capabilities. Upon completion, the company's new 1250-m2 facility will feature a 1000-m2 cleanroom for extrusion and postprocessing as well as a sales and marketing office. The company produces small-diameter transparent and radiopaque tubing in PTFE, thermoplastic fluoropolymers, polyurethanes, and other materials. Tubing types that are available include multilumen, striped, coextruded, braid-reinforced, and heat-shrink.
For more information, contact Optinova AB, Industrievägen 5, FIN-22410 Godby, Finland; phone: +358 18 32900; fax: +358 18 329200.
Günther Heisskanaltechnik Earns ISO 9001 Certification
Günther Heisskanaltechnik GmbH has been awarded ISO 9001 certification. The company manufactures hot-runner systems for the plastics processing industry, supplying 45% of its product line to the worldwide market.
For more information, contact Günther Heisskanaltechnik GmbH, Sachsenbergstr. 3, D-35066 Frankenberg/Eder, Germany; phone: +49 6451 50080; fax; +49 6451 500850.
Films Manufacturer Widens Product Range
Kalle Pentaplast GmbH (Montabaur, Germany), a global manufacturer of polymer-based rigid films and a member of Klöckner-Werke AG (Dulsburg), plans to add high-quality films that offer high optical clarity, good barrier properties, and temperature resistance to its product line. The cyclo-olefin (COC) raw materials will be marketed under the name Topas in cooperation with Ticona GmbH (Frankfurt, Germany). Applications include pharmaceutical blister packaging films, lenses, and medical and laboratory devices.
For more information, contact Kalle Pentaplast GmbH, PO Box 1165, D-56401 Montabaur, Germany; phone: +49 2602 915130; fax: +49 2602 915179.
Component blueprints on-line
Designers, engineers, and other personnel working with power transmission and motion control devices for medical products will find an extensive catalogue of component-selection software at http://www.warnernet.com. One unique feature of the site, maintained by Warner Electric International Inc. (Villars-Ste.-Croix, Switzerland), is the inclusion of component blueprints that can be imported directly into a CAD file.
The site also includes application-driven software for the sizing and selection of such components as wrap spring clutches, brakes, and linear motion control devices. The programme guides visitors through the company's product line based on user-specified application parameters. During the selection phase, the software supplies complete dimensional drawings of the products and calculates the system inertia as well as the required drive selection. When an optimal solution has been found, an application data sheet can be printed for reference or faxed directly to the company.
New Look for IEC
The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC, Geneva) recently unveiled some new features on its Web site located at http://www.iec.ch. In addition to allowing users to download templates and forms, the IEC site contains a revised on-line catalogue that regroups all of the search options on one page. IEC documents can be searched by publication number, technical committee, or topic, among other criteria. The on-line version of the IEC's Bulletin typically contains more in-depth information than the print edition and includes useful links.
Patent improvement
Patent and trademark information is now available at the click of a mouse through MicroPatent (Chiswick, UK). The company, whose Web site can be found at http://www.micropat.com, announces that document requests can be delivered to a PC or printer within minutes at a cost of US$4.95. Once located, patents can be downloaded using either the Adobe PDF format or PatentImage Viewer software. The patents database is updated weekly.
Praise for Pall
A broad-based filtration and separations company with customers worldwide, Pall Corp. (Port Washington, NY, USA) has also received a great deal of attention for its on-line presence.
Its Web site, http://www.pall.com, has been named the world's best business-to-business site by the Business Marketers Association and the company recently received the Web Marketing Association's WebAward for the best diversified business site.
Pall's site is constructed around six major content areas. Users have the option of accessing application-specific information, viewing applications in seven major industry groupings, investigating environmental solutions, or perusing product catalogues.
According to the company, the primary reason the site has been so successful—registering a 250% increase in traffic each month for the past year—is because the emphasis has always been on making difficult applications easy to understand.
Does your company have a must-see site? If so, send a press release to Web Sightings, European Medical Device Manufacturer, Vogelsbergstr. 13, D-65205 Wiesbaden, Germany, or fax the information to +49 6122 51090.
