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Now in its fourth year, the Engel med.con event in Shanghai has become a networking rendez-vous for China's plastics manufacturers working in the medical technology arena, according to the Austria-based maker of injection molding systems. More than 50 medtech experts participated in the event this year, held in late May at the company's technical center in the Xinzhuang Industrial Park in Shanghai.

Norbert Sparrow

June 27, 2014

3 Min Read
Engel event in Shanghai highlights evolving medical manufacturing marketplace

Now in its fourth year, the Engel med.con event in Shanghai has become a networking rendez-vous for China's plastics manufacturers working in the medical technology arena, according to the Austria-based maker of injection molding systems. More than 50 medtech experts participated in the event this year, held in late May at the company's technical center in the Xinzhuang Industrial Park in Shanghai. In addition to learning about market opportunities and trends, attendees were able to see Engel machines in action and discover how integrated systems can benefit companies operating in a rapidly evolving medical manufacturing landscape.

engel-med-con-300.jpgAlthough China's medical technology industry lags well behind North America and Europe, it has been growing at a rapid pace, with production for the domestic market taking on increasing importance. China's medtech market has recorded an average annual growth rate of more than 11% from 1975 to 2011, says Gero Willmeroth, President, Sales and Service, Engel Machinery (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. "In addition, the government's health insurance initiative is bearing fruit. As this allows for basic healthcare coverage, the domestic market is becoming more attractive," says Willmeroth, who adds that many suppliers nevertheless continue to focus on exports. Growth in domestic demand for advanced medical technology is also driven by increasing affluence in the coastal regions, he adds, "where people invest more in their personal healthcare."

As part of med.con 2014, Engel emphasized demos of integrated molding systems that can deliver cost-effective solutions in a country where labor costs have been rising. In particular, Engel showcased how petri dishes can be manufactured economically under cleanroom conditions using a victory 300 machine with associated robotics from automation partner Hekuma. A second demo involved the molding of an LSR product with a fully automated system designed to operate 24/7.

"Automation is increasingly becoming an integrated process component that enables high product quality levels, greater process reliability and, in some cases, completely new products and functions," says Willmeroth. "The tele-tronics and automotive industries are setting the tone for process integration and automation in Asia," he says, adding that many of the quality and technology requirements in the automotive industry are already at European levels. "The medical technology industry has seen similar developments," says Willmeroth. To support this development—and it is worth noting, as reported in PlasticsToday earlier this month, that China overtook Japan to become the world's largest market for industrial robotics in 2013—Engel established an automation center at its Shanghai facility recently.

While China's homegrown medtech industry has made great strides, Willmeroth points to the fact that few companies currently surpass 1 million RMB in turnover and that the market is largely populated by small firms. As a result, the level of technological sophistication spans a broad range, from companies that can rival their international peers to very basic levels of expertise, says Willmeroth. To support domestic industry and to "gain [deeper knowledge] of the medical market in China at the local level, Engel has expanded its medical specialist teams at the Shanghai site," says Willmeroth. "They work closely with the business units in Austria and link Engel's global project experience with country-specific industry trends." Engel's success with this strategy is validated by the strong competitiveness of its customers, the company adds.

Norbert Sparrow

Norbert Sparrow is Senior Editor at PlasticsToday. Follow him on twitter @norbertcsparrow and Google+.

About the Author(s)

Norbert Sparrow

Editor in chief of PlasticsToday since 2015, Norbert Sparrow has more than 30 years of editorial experience in business-to-business media. He studied journalism at the Centre Universitaire d'Etudes du Journalisme in Strasbourg, France, where he earned a master's degree.

www.linkedin.com/in/norbertsparrow

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