In the medical device industry, e-Manufacturing with laser-sintering can add significant value. Medical devices are complex, high value products. They have to meet customer requirements exactly. These requirements do not only stem from the operator’s personal preferences: legal requirements or norms that differ widely between regions also have to be complied with. This leads to a multitude of varieties and thus small volumes of the variants offered. Medical devices are subject to short innovation cycles. This results in shortened product life cycles. Sales demand is hard to anticipate. Changes in reimbursement policies or natural disasters can further add to the unpredictability of market demand. Laser-sintering technology is perfect for manufacturing prostheses or implants. In this case, the patient's individual anatomy is the key factor. Meeting the patient's specific anatomic needs reduces not only the length of time spent in hospital, but also the risk of problems normally caused by ill-fitting implants. This reduces healthcare costs. A flexible mode of manufacturing that, for example, produces hundreds of individual dental crowns in one batch, offers a continuous competitive edge. Laser-sintering is capable of this.

Medical Apps - Interview