Contax, the production automation system specialist is exhibiting on stand B603 at MDT/Medtec at the NEC.
Contax, the production automation system specialist is exhibiting on stand B603 at MDT/Medtec at the NEC on 14-15 February 2007. At the Show, Contax will be demonstrating its collaborations with leading medical equipment suppliers and profiling a series of automation solutions. These will include automated systems for micro assembly, dispensing, conveyoring, curing and packaging.

Contax works with a series of world-class suppliers to offer its customers the best available solutions.

At MDT/Medtech, Contax will be specifically highlighting the following: Ismeca Exhibiting on the adjacent stand to Contax, number C601, Ismeca offers bespoke automatic assembly systems.

Part of the Komax Group, Ismeca's modular systems cover a wide variety of processes and specific medical device assembly applications including specialty and safety syringes, inhalers, valves and regulators and test and diagnostic kits.

Optel Vision Optel provides solutions for packaging line security inspection.

These include a bar code verification system; packaging integrity tool; and inspection systems specifically for barcodes, blister packs and packaging labels.

mta Automation mta offers a wide range of solutions for micro-dispensing, micro-soldering and assembly.

Its medical dispensing applictions rely on combining adapted micro-dispensers and automated robots.

For example, its recently launched Dual Dispensing Valve is ideally suited to applications that require two materials to be mixed accurately with high repeatability.

This could be used for epoxy resin based adhesives, where both the resin and hardening agent need to be blended efficiently.

By combining technologies from different sources, Contax can develop a complete solution.

Guidant Corporation, a world leader in the design and development of cardiovascular medical devices partnered with Contax to automate key steps in the manufacture of pulse generator products.* The equipment used in the automation solution included an RC500 robot from mta with advanced volumetric dispensing capability.

Contax also specified a Shuttleworth transport and indexing system.

The selection of a curing tunnel was also crucial as it had to provide both temperature and humidity control.

Caltherm was selected as the manufacuturer of choice, partly due to their proven track record, but also their willingness to adapt their design to meet Guidant's specific needs.

The Guidant process engineer commented, 'We obviously had a very detailed understanding of the process required, but Contax brought the wide ranging knowledge of the automation systems available.

They were able to take our requirements and then mix and match equipment - customising kit where necessary - to ensure that it met our demanding criteria'.

Continued Mike Rapson, Managing Director at Contax, 'By combining an in-depth understanding of the medical device arena, with expert technical knowledge and world leading systems, we are able to offer companies like Guidant the best possible solution'