Congress for Medical Technology comes to Stuttgart

At the kickoff meeting of the new conference "Medical Device Manufacturing," international experts discuss, among other topics, forward-looking technologies such as 3D printing. Here to see: a generatively manufactured prosthetic foot.

Coinciding with Medtec Europe, Fraunhofer IPA, in cooperation with the trade fair organizer UBM and Landesmesse Stuttgart, will establish a new conference format. The specialist conference "Medical Device Manufacturing" aims to bring together international experts from research and industry and develop solutions for the global market. On April 5th, this new format will be introduced to the professional community, among others, with representatives from BIOPRO, Technology Mountains, and VDMA Medical Technology at a public symposium.

The Medical Device Manufacturing Conference has the best prerequisites to become an internationally renowned conference for medical technology. On the one hand, Baden-Württemberg, with its strong metal and plastics production, is one of the most important locations in the industry across Europe. On the other hand, the proximity to Medtec Europe ensures that the key players from around the world are present. The inaugural meeting for the conference planned for 2018 will take place as part of a public symposium. Afterwards, the Conference Board will convene for the first time to develop the focus areas for the conference and to issue the Call for Papers.

Regulations for Medical Technology in Permanent Change

A topic block of the symposium will deal with the regulatory requirements for medical devices and equipment and their consequences for manufacturing. These are continuously evolving at national, international, and European levels. "Every country wants to optimize its healthcare system while increasing patient safety. With technological advances and political adjustments, nations are constantly changing their regulations," explains Schneider. For manufacturers of medical devices, such modifications cost a lot of time and money.

The symposium will also highlight new, forward-looking technologies in the industry. For example, 3D printing plays an important role in the production of individualized and personalized implants. In this context, experts will discuss how innovative manufacturing processes, such as hybrid methods combining 3D printing and machining, can be utilized in medical technology. The event will bring together representatives from corporate research and academic research, as well as industry associations. Speakers include Roland Zengerle, Chair of the Institute for Microsystems Technology IMTEK at the University of Freiburg, and Faraj Abdelnour, an expert in medical device approvals at the French company AB Certification.