HEALTHCARE AND MEDICAL DEVICES
GI PORTUGUESE EN
NEERING AND
TOOLING
ENGINEERING & TOOLING FROM PORTUGAL A Cluster supporting Healthcare Industries.
The Portuguese Engineering & Tooling Industry coordinated by Pool-Net represents a cluster which is highly internationalized and in constant evolution, helping companies to turn ideas into quality products. Exporting more than 90% of production to over 120 countries, the Portuguese Engineering and Tooling Cluster has been considered a worldwide benchmark - based on its model for cooperation, collaborative technology, innovation and internationalisation. The Portuguese Engineering and Tooling Cluster includes a wide-ranging chain of stakeholders. It is an Open Business, Science and Technology Community (which includes companies, universities and R&D and Innovation Centers) and represents an extensive value chain and a multi-sector industry working with intensive knowledge based and multi-disciplinary networks. Our cluster is vital for the promotion of structural-economic development as the critical development path of most industrial products is an integral part of our approach. The integration of capabilities promotes expertise in design, engineering and prototyping, manufacturing of moulds, special tools and jigs, injection and assembly of products and components, closing the loop from design to final product.
THE BRAND “ENGINEERING&TOOLING FROM PORTUGAL”
The brand “Engineering “ & Tooling from Portugal” embodies know-how, technology and innovation, quality and reliability, social responsibility, networking and competitiveness – the main attributes that characterize the Portuguese Engineering & Tooling Industry. The brand “Engineering & Tooling from Portugal” promotes a distinctive ability to offer an integrated chain of competences of the Portuguese Engineering & Tooling Industry, supporting the development of any product in the global market.
The Portuguese Engineering & Tooling Cluster is a comprehensive network of engineering, manufacturing and service providers and scientific and research and development institutions serving the value-added chain of medical technology. Our sustainable approach to Healthcare and Medical Devices OEMs is based on our strong engineering and product development competences but also a clear focus on network innovation, more specifically with regard to:: 00Active-and non-active implants 00Medical devices 00Diagnostics, control of patient monitors 00Hospital hardware The Portuguese Engineering & Tooling Industry is internationally famous for its know-how, high levels of investment and training as well as its integrated approach to problem-solving. This Cluster has also developed a strong collaborative spirit involving co-operation and networking between companies and research institutions. These factors give our industry a highly competitive edge to serve the most demanding and innovative of niche markets, such as those of Healthcare and Medical Devices OEMs.
HEALTHCARE AND MEDICAL DEVICEST
DESIGN PROTOTYPING ENGINEERING MOULD PRODUCTION PRODUCTION SERVICES Promoting healthcare culture
Pool-Net aims to foster stakeholder integration as service providers to the Healthcare and Medical Devices Industry. This niche market has above-average growth expectations due to an innovative product portfolio as a consequence of an increase in R&D Healthcare investment. To promote improved knowledge of the Healthcare and Medical Devices Industry, PoolNet has held several workshops and missions on the evolution of the medical devices industry which has allowed our cluster members to raise their awareness of this specific market. Initiatives have included visits to several American medical device OEMs to witness first-hand the trends and opportunities in the Healthcare Industry. Our Cluster operates in selected markets and technological niches such as implants, surgical instruments, prosthetics, orthotics, medical devices (diagnostics, control of patient monitors, ventilators, defibrillators, anesthesia machines, incubators, pacemakers, etc). Our integrated approach has also allowed us to close the loop from design/ prototyping to final product in order to serve the Healthcare and medical Devices Industry.
The Positioning of the Portuguese Engineering & Tooling Industry in the Healthcare and Medical Devices Industry The complexity of the development of medical devices often requires multidisciplinary knowledge (electronics, biotechnology and mechanics, among others). The Portuguese Engineering & Tooling Cluster requested a study entitled “The Medical Devices Industry - New Challenges and Opportunities in Industrial Markets” from a specialized body. The challenges identified in this study in the Medical Devices value chain are in line with the key points of our added value chain, more specifically with regard to:
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The Portuguese Engineering & Tooling Industry operates in the following key areas of Healthcare in product development for metal and plastic parts:
The Portuguese Engineering & Tooling Industry speeds up product development by using fast, accurate and advanced collaborative engineering software (CATIA, Pro/Engineer/CIMATRON, MPI, Unigraphics, Cosmos, Moldflow) from the first stage of design to the final approval of manufactured parts.
Research and development of new products (Design)
1.1 Implants 1.2 Anesthetic and respiratory devices 1.3 Medical devices and electro medicine devices 1.4 Prosthetics 1.5 Orthotics 1.6 Surgical instruments 1.7 Technical aids for the disabled 1.8 Hospital hardware 1.9 Optics and Ophthalmology The key design advantages offered by the cluster are its accumulated expertise and highly-qualified, in-house design teams working in partnership with Healthcare R&D experts to develop concept research, styling and product design, 3D modeling (CAID), visualization and realistic imaging, renderings and product graphics as well as digital mockups.
Developing the idea (Engineering)
This integration of capabilities into a single database ensures that communication between doctors, scientists, engineers and marketing executives fosters communication flows so that any changes at any stage, even during manufacturing are quickly incorporated into part design and product development. This network and the use of versatile digitalization of geometric models, complex surfaces or integrated software collecting data from CAT (computerized axial tomography), is also a vital tool in the production of prototypes and solid models, allowing major savings during the later stages of tooling and production.
HEALTHCARE AND MEDICAL DEVICEST
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Experiencing the idea (Prototyping) The success of the Portuguese Engineering & Tooling Industry also lies in solid CAE and rapid prototyping competences and the use of different technologies to create solid models directly from a CAD database. Our cluster uses the most advanced technologies such as:
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Reverse Engineering / Rapid Prototyping, (in order to translate CAT scan data into typical 3D CAD formats, finite element meshes, or SLA, SLS or typical FDM rapid prototyping applications) allows technicians to produce models of the human body efficiently and accurately.
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Custom Manufacturing of Titanium Implants, (in great detail and with a high level of geometric complexity using bio-compatible materials).
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The use of Laser micro-machining systems, along with systems for the manipulation and assembly of high-precision and viewing systems are powerful tools for the micro-manufacture of medical devices.
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Development of Medical devices.
These prototypes are used to test a product’s technical feasibility as well as functional and physical aspects. The Portuguese Engineering & Tooling Cluster also has extensive skills in rapid tooling using similar technology to rapid prototyping to produce prototype moulds for short runs of the final injection moulded product.
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Perceive the idea (Tools and mould production) Portuguese Engineering & Tooling Industry reinvest more in technology The Portuguese Engineering & Tooling Industry reinvests more in technology and new equipment than most of its overseas competitors, placing our cluster ahead of the technology curve in high-precision tool cutting. Our industry works daily with tightly controlled processes using state-of-the-art software and technologies (5 axis HSM, laser cutting, wire electrical discharge machining and grinding centers) and special materials (Titanium and HRSA alloys and polymeric composites). The use of state-of-the-art measurement equipment such as 3D CMM machines and video measuring machines ensures the dimensional and geometrical conformity of plastic and metal parts. Our industry also has considerable experience in quality control practices, having invested energy and resources in ISO certification.
Other advanced technologies we specialize in include: Micro-Moulding Metal-injection moulding Powder-injection moulding In-mould assembly applications Metal-based laser cutting (3D and 2D), bending and welding service Machined parts Forming In-mould labeling (IML) and In-mould decoration (IMD)
Gas-assisted moulding Multi-material moulding Co-injection moulding Overmolding (tissues, metal inserts) Liquid silicone rubber/liquid injection moulding Water injection technology
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Production services (Delivering the idea) From their origins in mould building, Portuguese companies have built multitiered organizations, ranging from design to mould testing, to meet client demand for integrated solutions. The Portuguese Engineering & Tooling industry follows international customer needs and in the last two decades has set up state-of-the art injection moulding, forming and metal-based laser cutting and assembly facilities. One of the main aims of the Portuguese Engineering & Tooling Cluster is to promote among our injection moulding stakeholders, the setting up of certified clean rooms thus closing the loop from design to final product, helping international customers speed up time-to-market.
A warm invitation to learn about our capabilities which serve the Healthcare and Medical Devices Industry There is no better way to appreciate the capabilities of Portugal’s Engineering & Tooling industry than a personal visit. Companies and technical organizations such as POOL-NET – The Portuguese Tooling Network, CEFAMOL – The Portuguese Association for the Moulds Industry and CENTIMFE – The Portuguese Technological Center for the Mouldmaking, Special Tooling and Plastics Industry - extend a warm and permanent welcome to all those interested in getting to know the cluster better.
WE ARE GLOBAL PARTNERS The Portuguese Engineering & Tooling Cluster has a complete range of solution providers for the Healthcare and Medical Devices Industry who can streamline innovation, help customers find solutions, while building reliability, precision & efficiency, with trust & commitment as core values.
Come and meet us!!!
Pool-net - Portuguese Tooling Network Edifício OPEN Zona Industrial, Rua da Bélgica, Lote 18, PO BOX 78 2431 - 903 Marinha Grande, Portugal GPS coordinates: 39º 43’ 18,6 N
8º 55’ 46,29 O
E-mail: info@toolingportugal.com WEB: www.toolingportugal.com Phone : +351 244 570 420 Fax : +351 244 570 421