INDUSTRY FOCUS MEDICAL & PHARMACEUTICAL
EFFICIENT PRECISION: THE ALL-ELECTRIC
ADVANTAGE IN MEDICAL
DEVICE MANUFACTURING Fanuc explains how its all-electric ROBOSHOT injection moulding machine has been designed to meet the stringent demands faced by manufacturers of medical devices
T
he UK medical devices sector supports a thriving manufacturing base, with over 3,000 companies operating in
the space. The UK is particularly strong in the manufacture of orthopaedic, imaging, diagnostics and cardiovascular devices. Injection moulding machines are essential in the manufacture of plastic medical devices. However, when specifying an injection moulding machine, medtech manufacturers need to ensure that any potential supplier fully understands their process and priorities; will discuss the total cost of ownership (TCO): and the benefits of equipment that uses less energy, creates less waste, reduces contamination and consistently delivers a quality product. Understanding the challenges faced by
manufacturers of medical devices, Fanuc examines the priorities that will ensure you select the right injection moulding machine for the application:
1: HYGIENE One of the key priorities for medtech manufacturers is adherence to cleanroom standards. With hydraulic injection moulding machines, whenever a mould change takes place there is a chance of contamination occurring. Added to this, particulates can escape through seals, for example. So, consider an all-electric version, such as the FANUC ROBOSHOT.
2: STABILITY In order for a process to be validated and certified, it needs to be consistently stable. Being able to maintain key parameters with repeatable precision gives confidence to a medical device manufacturer that their parts are being produced to a high standard in a consistent manner. This is also relevant when moving moulds from one machine to another. Ideally, a mould would be left in the machine to reduce the risk of destabilising any of the key parameters required for validation. But in a busy production facility with multiple machines running, this is not always possible. The ROBOSHOT uses the latest electric
servo technology with up-to-date machine calibration. This means that when moving moulds the process will remain consistent.
3: ENERGY EFFICIENCY The medical devices sector in the UK is dominated by large multinational companies and it can be difficult for firms to break into their supply chains. One factor in this is stringent carbon targets which must be met not just by the multinationals themselves, but by every company they deal with throughout their supply chain. Selecting an injection moulding machine that meets the highest sustainability ratings will not only result in lower energy bills but may also increase the likelihood of securing contracts. All-electric injection moulding machines use up to 70% less energy than their traditional hydraulic counterparts. In addition, the simplified mechanical complexity of all-electric moulding machines makes for fewer process steps and less energy loss. Of additional benefit,
according to FANUC, its ROBOSHOT consumes 10-15% less energy than other all-electric machines.
Parts are produced to a high standard in a consistent manner
44 DESIGN SOLUTIONS JULY/AUGUST 2025 FANUC UK
T: 024 7605 3130
www.fanuc.eu/uk/en
SENSING SOLUTIONS
Sensors and measurement technology are increasingly being used to improve quality and efficiency in the medical technology, pharmaceutical industry and biotechnology sectors. As a provider of measurement solutions for such areas, Micro-Epsilon has worked on a range of projects. For example, stents are critical in the
treatment of cardiovascular diseases and, to ensure their functionality, precise adherence to the diameter is crucial. Optical micrometer sensors from Micro-Epsilon perform diameter checks and wire inspections of the stents during and after production. In addition, the thickness of medical
technology products can be measured using confocal chromatic sensors. These measure the wall thickness of transparent materials such as tubes, membranes and balloons from one side, and deliver accuracy in the micrometer range. Uniform wall thickness is essential for the durability and function of tubes. The sensors measure the thickness without contact. Micro-Epsilon’s compact confocalDT sensor
series meanwhile is suitable for various measurement applications in medical technology. These have fast measuring rates, which are specially designed for dynamic measurement tasks. Dynamic control of the exposure of the CCD line in the controller continuously adapts to the colour and reflectivity changes of the measuring object, optimising the measurement accuracy. Draw-wire displacement sensors are used
for position monitoring, for example when moving patient couches. These are suitable for measuring displacement, distance and position with a measuring range of up to 50,000mm. Characterised by simple, quick and flexible installation, these are suited for use in hard-to-reach place. Another example is the use of the
ACS7000 colour measuring system. During pharmaceutical tablet production, different concentrations of active ingredients influence the tablet colours. The ACS7000 precisely detects subtle colour differences, which enables the composition of the active tablet ingredients to be continuously checked during production. colorCONTROL ACS7000 is one of the most
advanced inline colour measuring systems in the world. The measuring system not only recognises reference colours by comparison, but also identifies individual colours clearly from their coordinates in the colour space. This is suitable for applications where colours and shades must be examined on-the-fly and to very high accuracies.
Micro-Epsilon
www.micro-epsilon.co.uk
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