Accumold will be exhibiting at the MD&M West show in Anaheim, CA, USA 12-14 April 2022, and will be showcasing examples of the impossibly small and intricate parts that it has developed for medical device OEMs on Booth 2836.

(31st March 2022, Ankeny, Iowa, USA) Accumold will be exhibiting at the MD&M West show in Anaheim, CA, USA 12-14 April 2022, and will be showcasing examples of the impossibly small and intricate parts that it has developed for medical device OEMs on Booth 2836.

Accumold is a high-tech manufacturer of precision micro-molded plastic components with part geometries from 5 cm to less than 1 mm in size, processes including insert molding, cleanroom molding, and two-shot molding. Accumold uses PEEK, Ultem, LCP, and most engineered thermoplastics, and serves markets including micro-electronics, medical, micro-optics, sensors, and other emerging technologies.

It is undoubtedly fair to say that one of the key sectors driving innovation in the area of micro molding is the medical device industry. Demand for minimally invasive curative and diagnostic procedures is growing exponentially, and because of this, medical device manufacturers have been designing (and seeking to manufacture) smaller and smaller components, with thinner walls, and complex and minute features. Couple this with the overarching demand from patients and healthcare providers to rationalize the costs associated with medical treatment, and medical device OEMs are constantly on the lookout for cost-effective and efficient manufacturing processes.

Aaron Johnson, VP Marketing & Customer Strategy ay Accumold says, "In the area of micro molding, it is all about heritage. Since 1985, Accumold has been pioneering the art and science of micro molding, and is rightly today acknowledged as the world leader when it comes to the manufacture of extraordinarily small plastic parts that require extreme precision — typically measured in microns. Micro molding in the medical device sector, however, is often not straightforward. In the area of material usage, for example, micro medical devices often require the integration of different materials, such as thermoplastics, biocompatible metals, and silicones. Micro manufacturing solutions often lean towards the use of complex secondary assemblies and overmolding techniques, all of which require an innate understanding of the processes — especially a knowledge of the bonding and compatibility of different materials — and the use of state-of-the-art manufacturing technologies. For any medical device OEM seeking to work with such exacting technologies and procedures, it is vital that they locate and work with experienced micro molders that are aware of, work with, and are experienced in trouble-shooting the implications of tool design, material choice, and the numerous processing complexities that exist in the area of micro molding. We would love to discuss your requirements on site at MD&M West, so come along to booth 2836."

Accumold has partnered with countless leading medical device manufacturers across the world, and with each the company operates strategically to ensure that the product development process is as efficient as possible. Accumold's over 30-year association with micro molding and micro manufacturing gives the company the edge, being as it is not just the most experienced micro molder in the world but also the largest. This affords customers the reassurance of working with a robust and secure company that can provide efficiencies that lead to affordable pricing, and also one that has the capacity and infrastructure to ramp up to full mass volume manufacture. Accumold is also ISO 13485 accredited, the stringent and internationally recognized quality management system for medical devices.

Johnson concludes, "One key area of focus is the regulatory environment which is becoming more and more important for medical device OEMs, and this requires a partnership with a micro molder that has an understanding of the issues at play. Much of the focus today is on the chameleon-like 510(k) approval process, which seemingly changes week to week. In general, the FDA has toughened up in the area of product approval, and has started to request information from medical device OEMs never previously required. This has meant that the percentage of first-round 510(k) submissions requiring more information has gone up dramatically, with a knock-on effect in terms of time-to-market delays and expense. Engaging a micro molder with an innate understanding of the vagaries of the 510(k) process will save enormous amounts of time and money."

Accumold has a reputation for consistent, repeatable production quality, and the ability to scale volumes from prototypes to millions and even billions of parts. Specifically for the medical device sector, the company works as an enabler, and is able to take on the challenge that many medical product designers have these days, namely finding a product development partner that can make their ever more ambitious, innovative, and complex designs a reality.

www.accu-mold.com