Medical Device Industry Targets

It hasn't been long since the medical device industry relied primarily on manual labor to manufacture products, but in the last 15 years, the industry has grown at a torrid pace. Aging populations, advances in technology, and corporate competition have fueled the demand for medical device manufacturers to produce low-cost, high-quality products that meet the stringent regulations of the medical community. As a result, technicians that once assembled products manually are being replaced by automated stations.

The removal of the human element provides a wealth of advantages for medical device manufacturers. Not only does automation increase throughput, reduce cycle times and produce repeatable, consistent results, it also increases compliance with FDA standards and regulations.

Of the automation components being applied to medical device manufacturing, actuators have some of the greatest impact, due to their versatility. Whether used for component production of retractable scalpels and syringes or disposable, single-use IVs and catheters, actuators such as grippers, slides and rotaries are the most common driving force of any automated machine. Their ability to provide rigidity, accuracy, repeatability and reliability, combined with low maintenance costs and resistance to corrosion, make them some of the most valuable motion control components in the medical industry.

Recent trends in the industry are for suppliers to develop actuators that boast small size, high speed and high accuracy. These characteristics must be combined with cleanroom rated actuators that can be placed in nearly any environment.

With offices on every continent and in more than 50 nations, DE-STA-CO is one of the few manufacturers of automation solutions that can boast a "local connection" in most areas of need. But without the luxury of a regional availability of components, the need for a simple replacement part can evolve into a nightmare, as companies wait days or even weeks for a component to be assembled and shipped from a manufacturer that might be thousands of miles away.

As the medical device industry continues to evolve, machine builders and device manufacturers are beginning to clamor for modular and flexible automation solutions. This form of automation allows components to be mixed and matched in order to ease the process of modifying a production line. If a manufacturer is set up to produce a recessed needle or blood collection tube of a particular style, size, shape or even color, an unexpected request from a customer in need of products with varying specifications could cost a manufacturer an extraordinary loss of time and money. The resultant inability to fill the order in a timely manner could see the end customer seeking service from another device manufacturer. If the manufacturer is equipped with flexible, modular pick and place systems, it has the ability to exchange various grippers, slides and rotaries on the production line at a moment's notice.

According to Eric Ringholm, director of Pneumatic Automation Products, DE-STA-CO, the development of flexible modular automation systems is already underway at DE-STA-CO, who is not only in the process of releasing rodless cylinders, dual ball rail slides and a full range of cleanroom rated automation products, but electric actuators as well.

DE-STA-CO's new line of electric actuators are being designed to meet the speed, accuracy and size requirements of the medical industry and all products will feature a new "titanium color" hardcoat finish characteristic of the medical industry. DE-STA-CO is currently revamping their entire modular automation component line to include the new hard coat finish to maintain their existing high quality standards while adding cleanroom certifications and aesthetic value.

DE-STA-CO plans to combine the new electric actuators, conveyor systems and pneumatic actuators to form modular automation solutions. Customers will be able to easily design these products together into modular automation assemblies.