In Switzerland, It's Business as Usual (and That's a Good Thing)
-Norbert Sparrow
I just spent a few days crisscrossing the western part of Switzerland visiting suppliers to gather material for a Regional Focus section. That feature will appear in the October issue of EMDM. But two things blew me away during the trip that are worth mentioning now: the jaw-dropping beauty of Bern and its Renzo Piano–designed Paul Klee museum—Tyler Brûlé, take note—and the heady business outlook among the companies I visited. This was spirit lifting at a time when most business conversations seem to revolve around whether we are in a severe economic downturn or a full-blown recession.
What's New
Products of the Week
Coated nitinol tubing
A service provider can apply a highly lubricious PTFE coating to kink-resistant nitinol tubing used in cardiovascular medical devices for arterial transfer.
Braided tubing
Reinforced tubing made from such materials as Pebax, thermoplastic polyurethane, and polyamide is available for use in angiography catheters, diagnostic catheters, percutaneous transluminal angioplasty catheters, electrophysiology catheters, connecting tubes, and similar applications.
Fluid control valves
A series of stand-alone multiposition valves for automated fluid switching and laboratory sample injection is designed to offer a wide range of pressure options and simple connectivity to personal computers for laboratory, high-performance liquid chromatography, and fast chromatography applications.
Wire and tubing components
A specialist medical contract manufacturer produces straightened and cut fine-wire and tube components for use in cardiology, neurology, electrophysiology, gastroenterology, peripheral intervention, vascular surgery, and urology procedures.
Laser diodes
High-brightness fibre-coupled laser diodes are suited for use with medical and dental equipment. The compactly designed PLD-series single-emitter laser diodes can provide more than 20 W of reliable output power at a favourable cost per watt, owing to the manufacturer's high production volume and optimized production capabilities.
Special Report
Developments in microelectronics and nanotechnology are fueling advances in drug delivery
Engineering Insight
New-Style Autoexpulsion Valve Improves Performance of Prosthetic Devices
The part was developed by an amputee in partnership with a valve supplier
Using a Natural Approach to Combat Infections
Looking to nature to find a new weapon against infection, researchers at the University of Massachusetts Amherst have developed a novel antimicrobial polymer inspired by organic compounds known as host defense peptides. B
A Million (Color) Impressions
At the Medical Moulding & Extrusion Conference in Cologne, Germany, last month I learned about plasticizers, PVC, DEHP, TEHTM, polyolefins, and more.
Technology News
Industry News
- Single-Chip Platform Enables Devices to Communicate Wirelessly
- Connectors Firm Invests in Overmoulding Equipment
- MEDTEC France Set to Debut in April 2009
- Corrosion-Resistant Coating Developed for Light Metals
- Solvay Introduces Gamma-Radiation-Stabilized Resin
- Polymers Introduced for Thermal Management Applications
- International Titanium Association Awards Industrial Innovation
- Gerresheimer Wilden Expands Production Facility
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