4-Way Partnership May Revolutionize AM Time-Lines

Four leading medical device manufacturers have announced a partnership to provide customers with an end-to-end solution for medical device additive manufacturing (AM or 3D printing).

The four companies include EOS, Orthopaedic Innovation Centre (OIC), Precision ADM, and Tecomet. According to the companies, the partnership will allow them to give customers a full range of services including “front-end engineering and design services, 510k approval pathways, device and machine validation, pre-clinical testing, and commercialization.”

Each company will contribute its respective strengths and knowledge in order to “deliver a seamless, turnkey solution for medical device additive manufacturing,” and, in turn, reduce the product development lead-time for original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) while also reducing “time-to-market and overall risk.”

Finally, the companies noted that this will give OEM companies the most “recent manufacturing innovations.”

EOS provides manufacturing solutions via industrial 3D printing technology. OIC has a diverse and knowledgeable team of experts that provides a wide range of services to the medical device industry including, per the press release, “standardized and custom device testing, material analytics, clinical research, and device failure analyses.” Precision ADM provides engineering and manufacturing solutions that utilize 3D printing as a core technology. Tecomet has over 16 facilitates across the globe that it uses to design, develop, and manufacture orthopedic, robotic assisted, and minimally invasive surgical products.

OTW spoke with Chuck Hansford, Director Advanced Development, with Tecomet, regarding the partnership. Hansford told us, “About 18 months ago, while attending a Medical conference, it occurred to me that Additive Manufacturing in the Medical space wasn’t growing. Projects drag on for years before production starts or the project is eventually dropped. On average it can take 3-7 years for an implant, additive manufactured, to get to market.”

Hansford continued, “After multiple conversations with customers and industry experts it became clear that the Medical Additive industry lacked a total ‘End to End’ solution. My observation took into account, the organizations that focus on frontend ‘Designing to the Process,’ those that focus on growing parts, and those that focus on post-processing; however, although these efforts are sustaining the growth of additive in this industry, they are all operating individually not collaboratively and just are maintaining the current demand.”

Hansford explained, “This initiative is a total solution that will benefit our customers and set the standard for industry success. Key to this partnership are the strengths and the industry expertise of each organization which delivers a seamless, turnkey solution for medical device Additive Manufacturing. Simplifying the process for the customer, from ideation through product launch, is our overall goal.”

“The partnership includes a full range of services including:

1. front-end engineering and design services,
2. 510k approval pathways,
3. device and machine validation,
4. pre-clinical testing, and
5. product commercialization.”

“It works based on a central point of contact from the group.”

“Opportunities may originate from any of the four organizations. Once an opportunity is generated a Project Manager will be assigned. In most cases the Project Manager will be from Tecomet or Precision ADM, as Contract Manufacturers, it will be our responsibility to own the customer relationship. Initially members of each company will be included to understand the scope of the project, and then will be brought in as needed during the life of the project. The intent is to reduce development time, shorten production lead-time and help the customer get to market faster.”