The Medica/CompaMed trade fair is one of the largest exhibitions of medical devices, healthtech, and wellness products in the world. In addition to the finished device OEMs, a significant number of supply chain partners that support those companies also exhibit at the event. Combined, visitors can typically find anything they are seeking, from drug delivery innovations to hospital beds to component fabrication service providers. Regardless of where someone is in the care chain, the event should prove useful to all.

Unfortunately, because so many companies are showcasing their products and capabilities at the event, it’s nearly impossible to meet with every organization that might add value. Therefore, MPO has spoken with several exhibitors who are prepared and capable of serving medical device manufacturers looking for new or specialized partners to address the challenges they are currently facing or expect to face on future projects. The following “From the Booth” feature with Keith Kiernan, chief commercial officer at Freudenberg Medical, will offer insights on whether you are the right fit to collaborate.

Sean Fenske: What technology or service are you emphasizing at Medica/CompaMed this year?

Keith Kiernan: Freudenberg Medical has just announced the acquisition of Fuji Seiko and the expansion of our metals business. This strategic acquisition strengthens our global hypotube supply chain and enhances our technical expertise in metallurgy and micro-scale metal tube manufacturing. We also just celebrated the grand opening of our second manufacturing site in Costa Rica—a 50,000 sq. ft., state-of-the-art facility dedicated to the assembly of high-volume minimally invasive catheters for electrophysiology as well as vascular and structural heart therapies. Lastly, we will be previewing new coating technology at CompaMed, but you must stop by our booth to learn more.

Fenske: What’s the most common challenge customers inquire about and how do you address it?

Kiernan: One of the more common challenges customers inquire about is how Freudenberg Medical can improve their product or part design. Our customers look to us for everything from design challenges, DFM, and scalability to regulatory requirements and speed-to-market solutions. Our team excels at troubleshooting complex issues and offers deep expertise in molding, assembly, and precision manufacturing.

Our sister company—Freudenberg Technology Innovation—is an invaluable resource to our customers to solve technical issues with thorough, in-house testing and analytical capabilities, or provide digital twin technologies for part design and silicone 3D printing for prototyping in early development stages.

Fenske: If you could give one piece of advice to companies seeking a manufacturing partner before they make a decision, what would it be?

Kiernan: Bring your manufacturing partner into the pilot project discussions as early as possible. With expertise in material selection and design for manufacturability, the right partner can help steer you toward the ideal materials to avoid additional cost and supply chain risks over the long run. With early involvement, a good partner can also advise on the best manufacturing process for a specific application (e.g., what might look like a molded process could be an extrusion).

Fenske: What are the forces driving medical device manufacturers to seek your technology/services over doing it in-house?

Kiernan: Our global footprint is one reason OEMs seek out our support. We have operations in medtech hubs around the world so we can be close to our customers. In addition, we offer vertically integrated capabilities to simplify our customers’ supply chain—from primary technologies such as molding and extrusion, to finished device assembly, medical coatings, and metals expertise. This is all supported by industry-leading manufacturing processes, including NPI (new product introduction) and program management, our seven-step T.I.M.E. program for injection molding excellence, our proprietary GROWTTH program for lean manufacturing, and other sustainability initiatives.

Fenske: In what ways is your company able to aid in getting a product (project) to market faster?

Kiernan: Freudenberg Medical has a globally standardized program management/NPI process that allows us to take our customers’ products to market as efficiently and effectively as possible. Our vertically integrated model combines material science, advanced manufacturing, and in-house design and development, all within a single organization. This structure enables faster decision-making, improved quality control, and reduced program risk. In addition, this process is duplicated at any of our locations around the globe to give the customer a consistent one-stop-shop experience.

Freudenberg Medical is located at Medica/CompaMed in Hall 8B, Booth/Stand H01.