MARKETPLACE: FIRST LOOK
The company has also introduced enhancements to the
G05 system, which will satisfy the most rigorous global safety
requirements. In addition to designing ergonomic improvements
and a new man-machine interface, engineers have placed a special
emphasis on the reduction of noise generated by conveyors and
pallets.
Mikron Automation
Boudry, Switzerland + 41 32 843 1111
www.mikron.com
Sensor connector for blood glucose
monitor features reduced footprint
Hirose Electric Co. has developed a sensor connector for a
customer’s blood glucose monitor that reduced connector volume
by 75% and the PCB footprint by 55% compared with previous
versions. The supplier also was able to increase performance to
more than 10 000 mating cycles, improve PCB retention with a
more robust design and decrease the overall bill of materials cost
of the end product. Depending on customer requirements, the
company is able to design connectors that achieve as much as
100 000 mating cycles,
according to Rick van
Weezel, Vice President of
Sales and Marketing.
The connector
design incorporates
an automated ejection
mechanism for the blood
sensor, which allows a
more hygienic approach
to strip removal. Users can simply push a button to self-eject the
strip without the need to handle it. Reduced height and weight
satisfy customer demand for a compact product that can be easily
concealed and carried. Hirose also enhanced the connector with
a robust PCB retention design to ensure durability and increase
the product's life cycle. Because the device accepts multiple types
of blood sensor strips, customers are able to continue using their
preferred size of monitoring strip.
Hirose Electric GmbH
Ostfildern, Germany + 49 7114 560 021
www.hirose.com
Year Milestones
2001: Vesta Invests in Robotic
Manufacturing Solution
Faced with the pressures of increasing costs
and demand, Vesta’s engineering team devel-
oped a fully automated robotic manufacturing
solution. Since its installation, the robot has
produced over 50 million medical device com-
ponents, with yield rates exceeding 99.55%,
while delivering price reductions of 35%.
2010: Vesta Expands to Accommodate Growth
Vesta recently expanded its Wisconsin and California locations, gaining 75,000 more square
feet of manufacturing space to accommodate growing global demand for its medical device
manufacturing services. All Vesta facilities are ISO-registered and HEPA-filtered for optimal
silicone molding, silicone and thermoplastics extrusion and assembly.99.55%, while delivering
price reductions of 35%.
VISIT THE EMDT TIMELINE AT: www.emdt.co.uk/emdt-timeline
