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 Christophe Dube, director of sales, EMEA, at Elevaris Medical Devices, will provide insights on whether you are the right fit to collaborate.

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

Christophe Dube: We’re at CompaMed this year with two primary offerings for our customers. First, our CDMO business offers a broad range of metal forming capabilities to medical device manufacturers. For example, we specialize in laser technology, micro-machining, and EDM technology needed to produce today’s surgical devices. Additionally, we are one of the largest manufacturers of made-to-spec needles, engineered with highly precise grinding technologies from standard bevel grinds to specialized designs. We also offer a portfolio of both sterile and non-sterile, CE-marked needles available via distributors, kit packers, and assemblers.

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

Dube: Issues such as supply chain resiliency, cost, and capacity remain common challenges, and we can and do deliver on those priorities for our customers. However, given the pace of product advancement, new challenges emerge daily. We like to think of ourselves as the company that can help organizations solve emerging issues such as manufacturability, tolerances, and performance, in addition to the more common challenges they’ve faced over time.

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

Dube: Get to know your suppliers. Visit the factory. Understand how they interact with each other and with you. Considering the technical and regulatory burdens facing medical device manufacturers, you want to get it right.

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

Dube: We have core knowledge and a product perspective that medical device manufacturers won’t find elsewhere. In addition, we focus on efficient development and production solutions. From inception to commercialization, we listen intently, collaborate purposefully, and move nimbly. We combine tailored development services with high-quality, cost-effective manufacturing processes to ensure we deliver their products on time and on budget.

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

Dube: Better than industry-standard rapid prototyping, Elevaris Medical Devices offers the XLerator live prototyping program, where the team invites customers to share their facility and utilize a development environment within the company’s manufacturing space. Elevaris provides a complete team of technical support, including project engineers, process development engineers, manufacturing technicians, and machine operators. The offering also includes access to all the company’s manufacturing process technology and inspection capabilities.

The benefits of this approach are significant. With live prototyping, customers experience:

• Direct connection to CDMO engineers and direct access to the technology and development process, helping them understand the viability of the project and its potential delivery earlier in the development program
• Complete visibility into the manufacturing process, helping them understand design opportunities and constraints more quickly
• An expedited product development timeline, streamlining processes and condensing wait times
• Reduced development cost
• Accelerated time to market

Elevaris Medical Devices is located at Medica/CompaMed in Hall 8B, Booth/Stand M25.