MPO Movers

MPO’s Most-Read Stories This Week—Nov. 16

A listing of the most popular items from the past seven days.

November 16, 2024

Managing Editor

There was a hint of international flavor to the top website favorites this past week.

The start of the world’s largest medical trade fair in Düsseldorf, Germany, attracted significant digital traffic along with the real-world congestion the show generated from its 5,800 exhibiting companies and roughly 80,000 visitors. Five spheres at the four-day event (Nov. 11-14) examined innovations in clinical use and outpatient treatment like robotic applications for neurosurgical brain procedures and orthopedic surgeries; and a drive system that can be fitted into most hospital beds. In addition, the Innovation Institute demonstrated its expertise in built-in sensors and functions in automobiles for safe/healthy driving, exhibiting vehicles such as the VW ID.4, the VW Tiguan, and a vintage Melkus sports car as well as a racing simulator.

Germany’s fellow EU member hundreds of miles to the northwest was of interest to MPO loyalists as well. Freudenberg Medical’s official opening of its new expanded facility, in Carrick-on-Shannon, Co. Leitrim, Ireland, generated significant pageviews this past week. The expansion adds 16,500 square feet to the Carrick-on-Shannon facility, bringing the total site footprint in Co. Leitrim to 157,000 square feet.

Besides the overseas dispatches, website visitors were most interested in acquisitions announced by Cardinal Health and Medical Device Components (MDC). The former enticed digital visitors by sharing its intention to buy a majority stake (71%) in GI Alliance for about $2.8 billion in cash, and Advanced Diabetes Supply Group for approximately $1.1 billion in cash.

Minimally invasive medical device component provider MDC, meanwhile, generated its own cyber excitement with the purchase of nitinol-based medical component manufacturer Lighteum. The deal combines MDC’s expertise in platinum group metals and micromachining with Lighteum’s capabilities in nitinol processing, which cover laser cutting, laser welding, heat shaping, and electropolishing.

Artificial intelligence was a traffic champ too, as evidenced by the pageviews produced by an online exclusive about the technology’s role in medtech innovation.