Medical Device Link.

MARKET PLACE: FRANCE

A rich pool of talent

France is the second-largest producer of medical devices in Europe and accounts for 16% of the total European medical device market, which is valued at €65 billion. The country has some rich centres of excellence and expertise.

Grenoble

Grenoble is the home of Minatec (www.minatec.com), Europe’s largest centre for research, innovation and training in micro and nanotechnologies. The region’s infrastructure has attracted leading microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) companies, institutes and organisations.

Tronics Microsystems (www.tronics.eu) is based in Crolles, France, which is a high-tech area of Grenoble and a major centre for MEMS, microelectronics and nanotechnologies. The company develops and manufactures custom MEMS components and microsystems for a diverse customer base. Its 1350 m2 facility includes 750 m2 of MEMS production, assembly, packaging, test and characterisation space. It currently has an active expansion programme. In September 2008, it purchased MedTech Development LLC, a full service design and development company exclusively focused on medical devices. In December 2008, to bring rapid industrialisation and high volume manufacturing expertise for MEMS devices to the United States market, it announced the formation of Tronics MEMS Inc. in Richardson, Texas, USA.

Besançon

Besançon is a good location for many this April. It is the month that sees the launch of a new trade show: MEDTEC France, which will be held at the city’s Micropolis Exhibition Centre on 22–23 April 2009. Besançon is the hub of one of the highest concentrations of medical manufacturing in France, in a region that boasts expertise in microtechnology. The show is designed to put French and French speaking medical device manufacturers, who do not attend other medical device technology exhibitions in Europe, in touch with a host of suppliers. Exhibitors will be showcasing materials, tubing, pumps and valves, electronic assemblies, automation systems, and numerous other products and services used to manufacture medical devices. There will also be a conference devoted to technical and regulatory issues. Industry experts will explore topics such as recent revisions to the medical device Directives, risk management applied to biologics and new developments in biosensors. For more information, go to www.medtecfrance.com.

Near and not so near

Suppliers exhibiting at the show include leading global companies as well as local ones. Besançon based Laser Cheval (www.lasercheval.fr) designs, develops and manufactures Nd: YAG laser machines, for marking, engraving, welding, cutting and drilling applications. Amsonic SAS (www.amsonic.ch), with headquarters in Switzerland and a facility in Chaponnay, near Lyon, offers a variety of cleaning systems for medical implants and devices and knowledge of US Food and Drug Administration process validation installation and documentation requirements. Assembly and transfer lines supplier, Artechnic France, located in Les Fins (www.artechnic.com), designs and manufactures automatic and semi-automatic assembly machines.

Other exhibitors include Paris based contract research organisation MedPass International (www.medpass.org), which focuses on helping companies determine the most efficient and cost-effective regulatory and clinical development strategies. Moulding and tubing company MS Techniques (www.ms-techniques.com), which is located in Pompey specialises in tailored precise extrusion of soft and stiff tubing, profiles, sheeting and tube working, including shaping, tipping, thermoforming, overmoulding; 95% of MS’ work is in the medical field. See you there!