The nuts and bolts of medtech
Ian Bolland spoke to Jeremy Scholefield, director of strategic business at TR Fastenings about the company’s role in the medical device supply chain.
The company has been involved in the medical industry for over a quarter of a century. It has 32 locations worldwide, including seven manufacturing sites with three technical & innovation centres based in the UK, US and Sweden, whilst working with some of the most recognised brands within the industry.
Explaining when the company comes into the process, Scholefield explains: “It’s important for us to get involved very early on with our customers, whether it’s at the design stage or the conceptual stage and then it’s working through to supply the products to the point of use.
“For example, when the purchasing manager has a bill of materials and requires a quotation for fastenings, we often see specifications that aren’t clear, or we have to ask many questions to finalise the exact details. It’s much better if we can work early on in the design stage.”
The company is involved in other industry sectors including automotive and the experience with these other sectors has led to the development of specific materials and products that can be applied in medtech and vice-versa.
COVID-19 triggered a dramatic upturn in demand for fastenings and components that were essential for medical devices needed on the front-line, especially during the first wave as countries grappled with dealing with the new, deadly organism.
“The medical companies needed product immediately. We mainly supported them with stock items, as they were unable to wait for the usual manufacturing lead times for special parts, although we did fast-track production of many components due to the critical timelines needed.”
The fastenings and components are typically used in ventilators, medical beds and furniture, ultrasound machines, imaging equipment, defibrillators, incubators and volumetric pumps among others.
In supplying the nuts and bolts for medical devices, Scholefield provides some insight as to what materials are used, with steel and stainless steel proving to be the most popular.
He added: “There are also plastic components, such as cable management, PCB stand-offs and various other clips that can be used for holding or mounting tubes and cables on to the units. Our branded sheet metal fastenings are used in many of the outer casings or internal chassis of the medical devices. Additionally, brass inserts can be pressed into plastic giving a secure joint.
“We supply a broad range of products, helping the customer assemble whatever application they are putting together.”
In today’s world, it is important to offer the customer the concept of reusability and recyclability as part of their decision making process.
Scholefield explained TR’s approach to material use and sustainability, saying: “From the plastics point of view, our products can often be reused or recycled and there’s an element of regrind within the raw material used to make the plastic components.
“Steel products can also be recycled by scrapping and melting down. So, sustainability is a factor with all of the products that we supply.
“We use a trusted global network of approved suppliers for any product that we don’t manufacture, because it is difficult for any fastener company who supplies such a wide range of products to make everything they sell. Typically, our manufacturing sites make about 33% of what we sell.”