5 Questions for Accumold at Medica/CompaMed 2019

Once again, I find myself wandering the many halls of the Medica and CompaMed trade events. Between checking out the latest and greatest from the medtech elite, discovering new firms displaying their first products at the show, or catching up with those I’ve met before, I took a moment to reach out to representatives at several companies exhibiting at the medical device gathering this year. Hopefully, these questions provide useful information for anyone unable to meet with them at the event or those who are not headed to Germany this year. With that in mind, Aaron Johnson, VP of marketing and customer strategy at Accumold, shared the following insights to help you determine if the firm is a potential services partner for you in 2020 or beyond.
 
Sean Fenske: What technology or service are you emphasizing at Medica/CompaMed this year?
Aaron Johnson: The interest in miniaturization shows no sign of slowing. Accumold will be on-display, demonstrating the enabling power of micro injection molding. If your challenge is to do more in the same space, or more in less, come see first-hand how Accumold’s 35 years of experience might benefit your next project.
 
Fenske: What’s the most common challenge customers inquire about and how do you address it?
Johnson: The common challenge is size. Micro injection molding may seem simple on the surface, but those who have ventured into the process quickly find there is a steep learning curve. We often find our customers are not looking to step into micro molding and are more interested in finding a good integrated partner to add their expertise.
 
Fenske: If you could give one piece of advice to companies seeking a manufacturing partner before they make a decision, what would it be?
Johnson: Look for the total cost of ownership! It’s easy to compare piece part price from one to another, but there is way more to the equation. The best strategy is to look for the scalability and sustainability of your partner. Medical device OEMs loath nothing more than unexpected change. Make sure your partners are fully equipped to be a good partner, not just for today, but for the life of the project.
 
Fenske: What are the forces driving medical device manufacturers to seek your technology/services over doing it in-house?
Johnson: There is a driving trend that says, “The smaller the better.” The advantages of miniaturization can be quite profound—less invasive, more features, more cost effective (just to name a few). This trend has put a lot of pressure on the supply chain to perform at a level it’s not commonly equipped or experienced to do. Most of Accumold’s customers mold themselves. They just don’t have, or don’t want to have, that expertise in-house.
 
Fenske: In what ways is your company able to aid in getting a product (project) to market faster?
Johnson: At Accumold, our goal is to move at the speed of our customers. We invest heavily in our own resources to ensure we can deliver the highest quality at the fastest pace. We also spend significant time and effort at the Design for Manufacturability (DFM) phase to start the project in the best direction. Remember, measure twice, cut once!
 
Accumold is located at Medica/Compamed in Hall 8B, Booth/Stand G21.