• Login
    • Join
  • FOLLOW:
  • Subscribe Free
    • Magazine
    • eNewsletter
    Checkout
    • Magazine
    • News
    • Opinions
    • Top 30
    • Research
    • Supply Chain
    • Device Sectors
    • Directory
    • Events
    • Resources
    • Microsites
    • More
  • Magazine
  • News
  • Opinions
  • Top 30
  • Research
  • Supply Chain
  • Device Sectors
  • Directory
  • Events
  • Resources
  • Microsites
  • Current / Back Issues
    Features
    Editorial
    Digital Edition
    eNewsletter Archive
    Our Team
    Editorial Guidelines
    Reprints
    Subscribe Now
    Advertise Now
    Top Features
    Superior Subtractive Solutions for Machining Medtech

    Assembly & Automation Experts Share Thoughts on Medtech Trends

    Power Trip: A Discussion of Custom Medical Electronics

    The MDR Transition: An Opportunity for Design Change?

    Preserve and Protect: Sustainability Initiatives for Medtech Manufacturing
    OEM News
    Supplier News
    Service / Press Releases
    Online Exclusives
    Press Releases
    People in the News
    Product & Service Releases
    Supplier News
    Medtech Makers
    Technical Features
    International News
    Videos
    Product & Service Releases
    Live From Shows
    Regulatory
    Financial/Business
    Top News
    Dexcom, RxFood Ally for AI-Based Nutrition, Glycemic Control in Diabetes Management

    Sharon Levita Joins ForSight Robotics as CFO

    PECA Labs Names Three New Board Members

    Astellas, Eko Health Collaborate on Heart Failure Detection Tech

    Sherri Ferstler Joins Tactile Medical as Senior Sales VP
    From the Editor
    Blogs
    Guest Opinions
    Top Opinions
    Superior Subtractive Solutions for Machining Medtech

    Assembly & Automation Experts Share Thoughts on Medtech Trends

    Power Trip: A Discussion of Custom Medical Electronics

    The MDR Transition: An Opportunity for Design Change?

    Preserve and Protect: Sustainability Initiatives for Medtech Manufacturing
    Top 30 Medical Device Companies
    Market Data
    White Papers
    Top Research
    Back to School for Medical Device Cybersecurity Training

    Driving Clinical Trial Excellence to Help Study Teams Run a Faster Relay Race

    Medtech’s Supply Chain: From Disruption to Opportunity

    Are Medtech’s Mega-Deals Gone For Good?

    Will a Skilling Gap Hinder Organizational Readiness for Medtech’s New Age of AI?
    3D/Additive Manufacturing
    Contract Manufacturing
    Electronics
    Machining & Laser Processing
    Materials
    Molding
    Packaging & Sterilization
    R&D & Design
    Software & IT
    Testing
    Tubing & Extrusion
    Cardiovascular
    Diagnostics
    Digital Health
    Neurological
    Patient Monitoring
    Surgical
    Orthopedics
    All Companies
    Categories
    Company Capabilities
    Add New Company
    Outsourcing Directory
    NDH Medical Inc.

    Medbio LLC

    Johari Digital Healthcare Ltd.

    Arthur G. Russell Co. Inc., The

    Providence Enterprise USA Inc.
    MPO Summit
    Industry Events
    Webinars
    Live From Show Event
    Industry Associations
    Videos
    Career Central
    eBook
    Slideshows
    Top Resources
    A One-Stop-Shop, Turnkey Solution Is Paramount for Success

    How Additive and Subtractive Manufacturing Are Revolutionizing the Medical Device Industry

    Medical Device Commercialization: It’s What, Not When, to Transfer to Manufacturing

    How In Silico Simulations Can Slash Medical Device Development Risk

    The Top 7 AI Applications Transforming Medical Device Manufacturing
    Companies
    News Releases
    Product Releases
    Press Releases
    Product Spec Sheets
    Service Releases
    Case Studies
    White Papers
    Brochures
    Videos
    Outsourcing Directory
    NDH Medical Inc.

    Medbio LLC

    Johari Digital Healthcare Ltd.

    Arthur G. Russell Co. Inc., The

    Providence Enterprise USA Inc.
    • Magazine
      • Current/Back Issues
      • Features
      • Editorial
      • Columns
      • Digital Editions
      • Subscribe Now
      • Advertise Now
    • News
    • Directory
      • All Companies
      • ALL CATEGORIES
      • Industry Associations
      • Company Capabilities
      • Add Your Company
    • Supply Chain
      • 3D/Additive Manufacturing
      • Contract Manufacturing
      • Electronics
      • Machining & Laser Processing
      • Materials
      • Molding
      • Packaging & Sterilization
      • R&D & Design
      • Software & IT
      • Testing
      • Tubing & Extrusion
    • Device Sectors
      • Cardiovascular
      • Diagnostics
      • Digital Health
      • Neurological
      • Patient Monitoring
      • Surgical
      • Orthopedics
    • Top 30 Company Report
    • Expert Insights
    • Slideshows
    • Videos
    • eBook
    • Resources
    • Podcasts
    • Infographics
    • Whitepapers
    • Research
      • White Papers
      • Case Studies
      • Product Spec Sheets
      • Market Data
    • MPO Summit
    • Events
      • Industry Events
      • Live From Show Events
      • Webinars
    • Microsite
      • Companies
      • Product Releases
      • Product Spec Sheets
      • Services
      • White Papers / Tech Papers
      • Press Releases
      • Videos
      • Literature / Brochures
      • Case Studies
    • About Us
      • About Us
      • Contact Us
      • Advertise with Us
      • eNewsletter Archive
      • Privacy Policy
      • Terms of Use
    Online Exclusives

    4 Trends Driving Medical Manufacturing in 2021

    Manufacturers across the sector had to manage disruptions last year, but economists say recovery may begin soon.

    4 Trends Driving Medical Manufacturing in 2021
    Emily Newton, Editor-in-Chief, Revolutionized02.16.21
    The medical device manufacturing industry—like most others—is recovering from one of the most challenging years in recent memory. Manufacturers across the sector had to manage disruptions to demand, an unstable supply chain, and new workplace safety practices.
     
    Now, economists say the economy may begin to recover in the second half of the year as vaccine deployment proceeds. Recovering consumer confidence and a more stable supply chain will hopefully provide more predictable economic conditions than those the industry experienced in 2020.
     
    At the same time, changes that arose during the COVID-19 pandemic—like the growing use of innovative materials and the demand for remote medical devices—could have a lasting impact on medical device manufacturing, even as the pandemic begins to subside.
     
    These trends are some of the most likely to shape medical device manufacturing’s future in 2021—and they may also have significant impacts well into the decade.
     
    1. Growing Demand for Remote Medical Devices
    In the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, many healthcare providers began offering telemedicine services to reduce unnecessary in-person visits. Now, many of those providers plan to continue offering these services after the pandemic subsides.
     
    Federal healthcare agencies are also expanding their use of telehealth and telemedicine. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, for example, announced it would make permanent many Medicare telehealth services they expanded in the early days of the COVID-19 crisis.
     
    While telehealth and telemedicine services likely won’t be the norm post-COVID-19, they will be much more common. For medical device manufacturers, this could mean growing demand for devices that can provide data remotely or without an in-person patient visit.
     
    Smart medical alert systems, remote blood glucose monitors, and maternity care platforms are just a few examples of solutions and devices healthcare providers are requesting.
     
    This new demand could provide a major opportunity for businesses that already manufacture remote health devices—as well as those manufacturers who wish to expand their offerings to include remote monitoring tools, platforms, and solutions.
     
    2. Product Launches Shift From EU to U.S.
    On May 21, 2021, the new EU Medical Device Regulation (MDR) will go into effect. The MDR, the successor to the 1994 EU Medical Device Directive (MDD), has been interpreted by many manufacturers as more stringent than the FDA’s current regulatory standards.
     
    For manufacturers whose devices have existing MDD certifications, not much will change. They’ll still have until 2024 to prepare devices for new MDR certifications. Manufacturers seeking to launch new products in the EU, however, may face new challenges while seeking CE marks for those devices.
     
    At the same time, FDA (Food and Drug Administration) deregulation from the past few years has made U.S. approval slightly easier to obtain. In 2019, for example, the agency announced a new set of Class I and Class II devices that would be exempt from premarket notification requirements.
     
    In the past, many manufacturers looking to launch new products often started with the EU market. Now, manufacturers could look to other major markets with regulations that may be easier to comply with when launching new products.
     
    The U.S. may now be one of the best available markets for this purpose—and could lead to a shift away from the EU market to the U.S. for product launches.
     
    Shifting from the EU to the U.S. could also give manufacturers more time to prepare for the upcoming In Vitro Diagnostic Regulation (IVDR), which updates the In Vitro Diagnostic Directive (IVDD). The IVDR is set to come into effect in 2022.
     
    European medical manufacturers have urged the EU to postpone implementation of IVDR in light of the coronavirus pandemic. They argue that due to COVID-19’s disruption, they may not be able to comply if the regulations go into effect on the current planned date.
     
    As of now, however, it seems unlikely that the current deadlines for the IVDR or MDR will be delayed.
     
    3. New Materials and Designs
    Over the past few years, medical devices have become more complex both in design and materials used. As a result, many manufacturers have also begun searching for ways to cut down on material costs and speed up the manufacturing process.
     
    For example, surging syringe demand amidst the COVID-19 vaccine rollout was a major win for manufacturers of plastic pre-filled syringes. These plastic syringes are typically less costly and quicker to manufacture than pre-filled syringes made of conventional materials, like glass.
     
    Similarly, we may see manufacturers use more innovative materials and experiment with product design to reduce manufacturing costs and improve device safety in 2021.
     
    Materials like parylene and similar polymers, which are commonly used as coatings for electronic devices, are also effective for biomedical applications. They provide unique benefits—for example, providing extra resistance against bio-corrosion for devices that must be in contact with skin or bodily fluids.
     
    Experimentation with advanced materials like parylene could drive better and more cost-effective product design in the medical manufacturing sector.
     
    4. Robotics and Automation
    The COVID-19 pandemic did no favors to the already tight medical manufacturing labor market.
     
    Now, more than ever, manufacturers are looking to increase their adoption of robotics and automated solutions as a way to spare skilled workers from tedious manual labor. Doing so also helps manage growing labor costs and new difficulties in recruiting medical manufacturing workers.
     
    In some cases, automation has also helped manufacturers adjust to rapidly shifting demand. For example, one manufacturer of syringes partnered with a manufacturer of automated solutions to streamline and handle the syringe manufacturing process during the COVID-19 vaccine rollout.
     
    Collaborative robotics (“cobots”) may also be essential to future industry success. Many manufacturers are benefitting from new, AI-based technologies like machine vision—which uses a computer algorithm to help analyze visual data—to provide highly accurate metrology.
     
    These Trends May Reshape the Medical Manufacturing Market in 2021
    After the economic slowdown and uncertainty of 2020, the medical device manufacturing sector may be on track for a year of recovery. The lingering effects of COVID-19 could reshape how the industry performs its work in the short term, and may accelerate the push toward automation and new materials.
     
    Long after the pandemic is over, the sector may also need to respond to new consumer and provider needs that remain in place—like the growing demand for telemedicine and demand for remote medical devices.


    Emily Newton is the editor-in-chief of Revolutionized. She’s always excited to learn how the latest industry trends will improve the world. She has over four years of experience covering stories in the science and tech sectors.
    Suggested For You
    Web Industries Inc. Web Industries Inc.
    NTK Cutting Tools USA NTK Cutting Tools USA
    JK Medirise-Disposable Medical Device Company JK Medirise-Disposable Medical Device Company
    WuXi AppTec Medical Device Testing WuXi AppTec Medical Device Testing
    DDL Inc. DDL Inc.
    sfm medical devices GmbH sfm medical devices GmbH
    Teleflex Medical OEM Teleflex Medical OEM
    Anjon Medical Technologies Anjon Medical Technologies
    BMP Medical - Delivering Custom Plastics Manufactured Solutions BMP Medical - Delivering Custom Plastics Manufactured Solutions
    Rootstock Software Rootstock Software
    IBC Coatings Technologies IBC Coatings Technologies
    High Tech Turning Co. Inc. High Tech Turning Co. Inc.
    Breakthrough Device Designation Granted for New Neuromodulation Platform Breakthrough Device Designation Granted for New Neuromodulation Platform
    Hyperfine Names Paykel, Teisseyre to Executive Leadership Roles Hyperfine Names Paykel, Teisseyre to Executive Leadership Roles
    Accu-Tube Appoints Matthew Haddle as CEO Accu-Tube Appoints Matthew Haddle as CEO

    Related Buyers Guide Companies

    • Web Industries Inc.

      ...
      Blake Phillips, Marketing Specialst 11.18.22

    • NTK Cutting Tools USA

      ...
      Melissa Singher, Senior Product Coordinator 11.18.22

    • JK Medirise-Disposable Medical Device Company

      ...
      Ketan Munjani, Marketing Manager 11.17.22


    • WuXi AppTec Medical Device Testing

      ...
      Tim Xi, Marketing Manager 11.11.22

    • DDL Inc.

      DDL Inc.

      DDL has been in medical device package, product and material testing industry for almost 20 years. We strive to offer the most effective business practices while employing a staff of technical experts.
      Chris Murphy, Marketing Manager 11.11.22

    Loading, Please Wait..

    Trending
    • A New Approach To Post-Market Surveillance
    • Diabetes Innovation: MIT Engineers Unveil Implantable Device With Oxygen Factory
    • Danaher Names New Environmental And Applied Solutions Company Veralto
    • FDA Clears LiveMetric's Wearable Blood Pressure Monitoring Tech
    • Cochlear Implant Study Underway At Mayo Clinic
    Breaking News
    • Dexcom, RxFood Ally for AI-Based Nutrition, Glycemic Control in Diabetes Management
    • Sharon Levita Joins ForSight Robotics as CFO
    • PECA Labs Names Three New Board Members
    • Astellas, Eko Health Collaborate on Heart Failure Detection Tech
    • Sherri Ferstler Joins Tactile Medical as Senior Sales VP
    View Breaking News >
    CURRENT ISSUE

    September 2023

    • Superior Subtractive Solutions for Machining Medtech
    • Medical Device Industry Experts' Thought on Assembly & Automation
    • Power Trip: A Discussion of Custom Medical Electronics
    • The MDR Transition: An Opportunity for Design Change?
    • View More >

    Cookies help us to provide you with an excellent service. By using our website, you declare yourself in agreement with our use of cookies.
    You can obtain detailed information about the use of cookies on our website by clicking on "More information”.

    • About Us
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms And Conditions
    • Contact Us

    follow us

    Subscribe
    Nutraceuticals World

    Latest Breaking News From Nutraceuticals World

    GOED Releases Sustainability Report for Omega-3s Industry
    ABC’s Journal HerbalGram Celebrates 40th Anniversary
    Curcumin May Be As Effective as PPI for Indigestion
    Coatings World

    Latest Breaking News From Coatings World

    Sherwin-Williams Introduces High-Flexibility Body Filler
    Axalta’s Brian Berube to Retire
    Masco Corporation Names Richard Westenberg VP, CFO
    Medical Product Outsourcing

    Latest Breaking News From Medical Product Outsourcing

    Dexcom, RxFood Ally for AI-Based Nutrition, Glycemic Control in Diabetes Management
    Sharon Levita Joins ForSight Robotics as CFO
    PECA Labs Names Three New Board Members
    Contract Pharma

    Latest Breaking News From Contract Pharma

    Valneva Signs $32M IXIARO Supply Pact with U.S. Government
    Charnwood Molecular Rebrands to Charnwood Discovery
    Pierre Fabre, Vernalis Enter Oncology Drug Discovery Alliance
    Beauty Packaging

    Latest Breaking News From Beauty Packaging

    Groupe Pochet Celebrates 400th Anniversary
    Ulta Beauty Launches Initiative to Spark National Conversation About Joy
    Mary Kay Unveils New Treatment to Diminish Visible Effects of Pollution & Aging
    Happi

    Latest Breaking News From Happi

    Lipoid Kosmetik’s Mountain Tea Pro Wins BSB Innovation Award
    Attitude’s 'Paper Beats Plastic' Campaign Takes Over Los Angeles
    L'Oréal Invests in Chinese Biotech Company
    Ink World

    Latest Breaking News From Ink World

    Cooper Watson Acquires Tower Products
    The Durst Group Awarded Eight 2023 PRINTING United Alliance Pinnacle Awards
    Weekly Recap: Wikoff Color, HP, INX VC Top This Week’s Stories
    Label & Narrow Web

    Latest Breaking News From Label & Narrow Web

    Bost to 'unwrap the future of flexible packaging' at open house
    IDENTCO brings new automated wire marking system to Mexico
    Maan Engineering chooses Vetaphone for linerless labels
    Nonwovens Industry

    Latest Breaking News From Nonwovens Industry

    Weekly Recap: Soft N' Dry Seeks to Expand Private Label Roll Out, Albis Completes Work on Line
    Lenzing Earns EU Ecolabel at Indonesian Plant
    Albis Completes Work On Extra Wide Carding, Blending Line
    Orthopedic Design & Technology

    Latest Breaking News From Orthopedic Design & Technology

    Bone Health Technologies Adds Two New Board Directors
    MicroPort Orthopedics Announces Agenda & Speakers for Its Global Medial-Pivot Symposium
    Study Reveals Discovery of Unique Vertebral Stem Cells
    Printed Electronics Now

    Latest Breaking News From Printed Electronics Now

    First Solar Breaks Ground on $1.1B, 3.5 GW Louisiana Manufacturing Facility
    HID to Showcase Future-Proof Solutions at GITEX 2023
    Weekly Recap: Mergers and Acquisitions, IEC’s IME Standards Top This Week’s Stories

    Copyright © 2023 Rodman Media. All rights reserved. Use of this constitutes acceptance of our privacy policy The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Rodman Media.

    AD BLOCKER DETECTED

    Our website is made possible by displaying online advertisements to our visitors.
    Please consider supporting us by disabling your ad blocker.


    FREE SUBSCRIPTION Already a subscriber? Login