Statement by Joachim Schäfer, Managing Director of Messe Düsseldorf, previewing COMPAMED 2014

Medical technology continues to be one of the fastest-growing industries worldwide. However, the demand volume is increasing less through quantitative expansion, even in emerging markets, and more driven by targeted investments in modern systems and procedures. The winners are therefore especially the innovation-driven medical device manufacturers. Those who do not neglect their own research and product development and can clearly highlight the added benefits of new device generations and procedures have the best cards in the market.

This also grants suppliers an important role as key partners in product development, manufacturing, and services within the medical technology industry. Their capabilities are impressively demonstrated each year at their leading market and communication platform, COMPAMED – High tech solutions for medical technology. Whether it concerns new materials and related processes for their processing, miniaturization of components, development of modern user interfaces for medical devices, sterile packaging, or even complete contract manufacturing, it is often the know-how of COMPAMED exhibitors that forms the starting point for major advances in medical technology.

COMPAMED itself is also making significant progress. More than 700 exhibitors and a booked area of over 12,800 square meters mark a new top value for COMPAMED 2014 (November 12–14), continuing the success story since its inception in 1992.

In conjunction with the parallel event MEDICA 2014, the world's largest medical trade fair (approx. 4,500 exhibitors / November 12–15), the entire value chain of medical technology is addressed – from individual components to quality assurance procedures, finished end products, and related services for the entire product lifecycle (e.g., financing, aftermarket, spare parts handling). This coordinated trade fair and thematic combination is unique worldwide and attracts increasing numbers of industry professionals.

Of the 132,000 visitors who attended MEDICA and COMPAMED in 2013, more than 17,000 were particularly interested in the specialized profile of the supplier fair COMPAMED. While MEDICA is primarily visited by medical practitioners, the core visitors of COMPAMED are mainly engineers, developers, and buyers from the medical technology industry (exhibitors of MEDICA).

Currently, the most trending innovations in trade fair novelties include micro-system technology solutions for mobile diagnostics, monitoring, and therapy systems. Regarding compact, body-worn measurement technology, so-called "wearables" and "smart textiles," specialized providers are focusing on how to best integrate the necessary technology into clothing. Numerous challenges need to be addressed: the carriers must remain stretchable without losing contacts, and they should also be sufficiently robust for cleaning and maintenance.

The technical prerequisites for this are now fulfilled by tiny sensors, flexible and stretchable substrates made of silicone, polyurethane, polyimide, or textiles capable of accommodating large-area electronic assemblies, as well as miniaturized connection technologies, energy-efficient communication electronics, and powerful energy storage devices that can, among other things, be wirelessly recharged.

A classic topic at COMPAMED is new materials. Notable current trends include innovative applications of high-performance ceramics. Whether it concerns knee joint components, socket inserts, or ball heads – ceramic material is now indispensable in implant medicine. Advantages such as good tissue compatibility, low wear, high resistance, and a low allergy risk are primarily worth mentioning. As an alternative to transparent materials based on glass or polymers, ceramics are also gaining attention, as impressively demonstrated by exhibitors at COMPAMED. Some companies offer ceramics with extremely high transparency while maintaining the same strength as sapphire glass. A high refractive index combined with a competitive price-performance ratio gives such innovations a promising market outlook, for example, in the manufacturing of fine lenses for endoscopy.

An exciting combination of material and process technology is 3D printing, which has now also reached medical technology. One relevant application field already involves patient-specific drill templates used in knee or hip surgeries. At the last COMPAMED, the European project "ArtiVasc 3D" was also discussed, which aims to develop and produce implants for soft tissue via 3D printing. These could serve as medical tissue replacements or as test systems for pharmaceuticals and cosmetics. Although it currently seems like "science fiction," it involves, among other things, artificial support structures for blood vessels and arteries. Finding the right material that can be processed via 3D printing and used at reasonable costs remains a significant challenge. It will be interesting to see how research institutes and solution providers have approached this by COMPAMED 2014.

The trade fair offerings at COMPAMED (in halls 8a and 8b) include the following focus areas: components (e.g., electronics, parts, hoses, filters, pumps, valves), materials/substances, micro- and nanotechnology, production (e.g., assembly, automation, manufacturing technology, process technology, packaging), as well as testing and inspection systems.

In addition, two forums provide relevant insights into medical technology supplier trends. The COMPAMED HIGH-TECH FORUM (Hall 8a) of the IVAM Microtechnology Network focuses this year on laser and photonics applications, printed electronics, and innovative manufacturing processes in high-precision areas. Additionally, a USA session offers an outlook on the development of the local market for medical technology.

The COMPAMED SUPPLIERS FORUM of the trade magazine DeviceMed (Hall 8b) features current developments along the entire process chain, discussed by experts from companies and organizations. Mechanical and electronic components are as much a topic of the presentations as new materials and all kinds of contract manufacturing.

The COMPAMED and MEDICA events can again be visited this year with a single trade fair ticket at no extra cost.