When the smell of bratwurst fills the air and the cool wind has just a bit of moisture in it, you may be traveling between the enormous halls at the Messe Dusseldorf Center in Germany. Anyone who has visited this event in the past knows the sheer volume of attendees and exhibitors, making it difficult to find a company that may be able to aid with an upcoming design or development project.

With this in mind, MPO presents its annual series of Q&A sessions with a number of supply chain companies exhibiting at the show. Perhaps Cirtec Medical will have the answers for your current development idea and help you get to the finish line faster. We spoke with Brian Highley, CEO, at the company to get some additional insights on what Cirtec does and how it may be able to serve you.

Sean Fenske: What technology or service are you emphasizing at Medica/CompaMed this year?

Brian Highley: At Medica/CompaMed, Cirtec Medical is showcasing our end-to-end design, development, and manufacturing capabilities to accelerate time-to-market for Class II and III medical devices. We’ve vertically integrated critical capabilities, including rapid prototyping, component manufacturing, finished goods production, and regulatory support, enabling us to support our customers’ interventional and implantable devices. Our comprehensive framework ensures seamless transitions from early-stage design through clinical trials and commercial production, helping our customers meet market demands faster.

Fenske: What’s the most common challenge customers inquire about and how do you address it?

Highley: Customers often struggle to balance cost, performance, and regulatory compliance across the product lifecycle. Cirtec addresses these challenges by streamlining development through integrated workflows—from design validation and material sourcing to production and final assembly. Early involvement in prototyping and design for manufacturing allows us to identify potential issues, preventing costly delays and optimizing both development speed and budget control. With our expertise, we ensure devices meet the highest clinical, performance, and regulatory standards without compromising timelines.

Fenske: If you could give one piece of advice to companies seeking a manufacturing partner before they make a decision, what would it be?

Highley: When choosing a manufacturing partner, it’s essential to assess their ability to manage the entire product lifecycle, including design control, material sourcing, production, and quality management. A partner with full lifecycle management provides greater traceability, risk mitigation, and streamlined compliance, ultimately contributing to a smoother path to market.

Cirtec has vertically integrated all of these services, which helps give OEMs complete control over quality, costs, and timelines, covering every phase of development—from concept to commercial production.

Fenske: What are the forces driving medical device manufacturers to seek your technology/services over doing it in-house?

Highley: Manufacturers partner with Cirtec because developing in-house component manufacturing, cleanroom production, rapid prototyping, and regulatory management requires significant investment in facilities, equipment, and expertise. With more than 35 years of experience in finished goods manufacturing, we integrate every phase of product development—from components to final assembly—ensuring seamless workflows and reducing production risks. Our vertically integrated services provide traceability, compliance, and operational efficiency, helping customers avoid the complexity of managing multiple vendors while accelerating time-to-market. This approach allows OEMs to focus on innovation while we manage manufacturing and regulatory support.

Fenske: In what ways is your company able to aid in getting a product (project) to market faster?

Highley: Cirtec accelerates market entry by vertically integrating all key processes, from early-stage prototyping to commercial-scale manufacturing. Our in-house rapid prototyping allows for fast design iterations, ensuring products are validated and production-ready early in development.

Our vertically integrated capabilities—including metal machining, complex extrusions, advanced electronics, and thin-film technologies—streamline the transition from prototypes to clinical trials and final production. These capabilities, combined with optimized workflows, minimize handoffs and delays, enabling OEMs to accelerate time-to-market while maintaining the highest quality and performance standards.

Cirtec Medical (co-exhibiting with Vascotube) is located at Medica/CompaMed in Hall 8A, Booth/Stand N26.