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, Frank Leipold, director of sales—EMEA at Integer, 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?
Frank Leipold: Integer, a leading medical device outsource manufacturer, recently acquired US BioDesign assets to help expand our cardio and vascular capabilities to include complex braided biomedical structures for medical devices. Adding this technology to our existing breadth of capabilities will help us partner with our customers to enhance patients’ lives in new ways.
 
Fenske: What’s the most common challenge customers inquire about and how do you address it?
Leipold: Customers are looking to deliver their innovative products faster and more predictably by simplifying and de-risking their supply chain. Integer has the ability to manufacture everything from components like marker bands and extrusions to finished packaged devices and implants. This vertical integration allows the customer to better control quality, reduce lead time, and minimize the supply chain risk. Integer also has the scalability and sustainability to support a customer’s entire product lifecycle.
 
Fenske: If you could give one piece of advice to companies seeking a manufacturing partner before they make a decision, what would it be?
Leipold: Despite what you see at trade show booths and on websites, not all contract manufacturers are equal. When selecting a manufacturing partner, it is important to take the time to meet the potential partner’s technical experts and tour their facilities. Diligence is required to ensure the contract manufacturer’s engineering team, facilities, and culture have the potential to act as an extension of a company’s business.
 
Fenske: What are the forces driving medical device manufacturers to seek your technology/services over doing it in-house?
Leipold: Medical device companies’ focus on the assembly of core therapies creates an opportunity for medical device outsourcers that have off-the-shelf products and core competencies in access and delivery products such as guidewires, introducers, delivery systems, and catheters. There is also an opportunity for medical device manufacturers to partner with contract manufacturers and developers on critical complex subassemblies, allowing manufacturers to focus their resources on final assembly.
 
Fenske: In what ways is your company able to aid in getting a product (project) to market faster?
Leipold: Integer is uniquely positioned to provide design services, process development, and design for manufacturability early in the development process, while simultaneously planning for a seamless transition to high-volume production at an agreed upon target price. This understanding of both R&D and operations facilitates a smooth transition to production, which saves both time and money. With more than 700 engineers, a global R&D team, and a global manufacturing footprint of over two million square feet, Integer has a track record of accelerating time to market—from highly engineered subassemblies to complex finished devices. Helping a product get to market quicker is one of the many ways Integer partners with customers to enhance the lives of patients worldwide.
 
Integer is located at Medica/Compamed in Hall 8B, Booth/Stand P02.