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Medical manufacturers need increasingly sophisticated packaging

 COMPAMED 2008, High Tech Solutions for Medical Technology (19th to 21st of November), should have no problem consolidating on the record participation numbers in 2007, with 450 exhibitors from 30 different nationalities, and to continue its growth trend in the two new halls of the Trade Fair Centre in Düsseldorf (Halls 8a and 8b). Here, the suppliers will be exhibiting a comprehensive spectrum of high tech solutions for use in the medical technology industry – everything from new materials, components, preliminary products, packaging and services to complex micro systems and complete contract manufacturing. Thanks to synergy effects with MEDICA, the world’s largest medical trade fair, COMPAMED provides an important stimulus to innovation in the medical industry. Because here, the leading manufacturers (MEDICA exhibitors) meet the leading suppliers (COMPAMED exhibitors). The target audience of COMPAMED includes production managers, heads of research and development, and anyone involved in planning the manufacture of medical products. Out of the 137,000 professional visitors to MEDICA and COMPAMED 2007 as an overall event, almost 13,000 were interested in the range of issues covered by COMPAMED. 

The broad range of business activities of the COMPAMED exhibitors encompasses the materials sector, technical-production issues, aspects of quality control, and innovative procedures for concrete application areas. At COMPAMED 2007 a novel oxygen sensor, which enables the exact measurement of breathing, was introduced for the first time to the professional world. The sensor allows doctors to diagnose the early stages of lung and heart diseases in new born babies.

In addition to the development of single components, the tendency for suppliers to take on the role of contract manufacturers for complete medical technology devices and products was once again strongly in evidence. 

Services related to medical products are another topic of growing importance. Consequently, test laboratories, which test, among other things, the biological safety of components, will be participating in COMPAMED again in 2008. In this way medical technology and product manufacturers can be absolutely positive that their products (implants for example) are body-friendly.

Suitable packaging for medical products are also becoming steadily more important. Roughly 10 percent of the exhibitors at COMPAMED are dedicated to this topic in all its diversity. The exhibits will include films and packaging, which are designed for sterile products and customized solutions, made from various plastics, and suitable for small series or special shapes. The leading suppliers have been especially active in upgrading their packaging for use in the medical technology industry. In order to be in a position to offer their customers germ- and particle-free products, the first suppliers have moved their packaging production systems for the medical industry into special, hermetically sealed clean rooms.  

As the main event in this sector, COMPAMED has become more than just a product show. Under the title “High-tech for Medical Devices”, a forum program with high-ranking participants will address the issue of product development trends. One of the focal points of this COMPAMED forum, which is organized by IVAM, the professional association for microtechnology, is concerned with high-tech components for improving medical products. As part of the forum and at no extra cost, suppliers are given the opportunity of presenting their product solutions in a technical lecture at a central point in Hall 8a. Parallel to this, IVAM has organized a collective stand dedicated to the product market for manufacturing, microtechnology, nanomedicine and new materials. As a result, experts can find here at a single glance everything to do with medical technology manufacturing, micro-technical components and systems, clean room technology, process technology, nanomedical applications, surfaces and material analysis.

The commitment shown by IVAM and the companies in relation to COMPAMED is no wonder. According to recent studies by IVAM, medical technology is by far the most important target sector for microtechnology companies in Europe. It ranks even higher than sensor, measuring and control technology, the automobile industry, and mechanical engineering (which occupy second to fourth place as the most important target sectors).  

The product range at the COMPAMED trade fair (in halls 8a and 8b) includes the following branches: Parts/ modules/ components, drive systems, tubes, filters, pumps, valves, equipment and technology for manufacturing medical devices, raw materials, adhesives, processing and treatment, testing systems and testing services, packaging, as well as services.

COMPAMED’s independent profile is also highlighted by the Internet portal COMPAMED.de (http://www.compamed.de). As a 365-day portal, it contains updated information from the sector as well as a broad palette of on-line services. COMPAMED exhibitors can organize their participation almost entirely over the internet – from registration to hotel booking for the staff working at the stand. Moreover, in keeping with the idea of Web 2.0, you can interactively design your on-line show rooms, for example, by keeping readers up-to-date on your new products and company news.

The number of visitors to the site is testimony to the appeal of COMPAMED.de. With 87,000 visits and 580,000 page impressions, the Internet portal, which is addressed to a highly specialized target group, managed to improved its audience figures again in 2007. 

This year, it will once again be possible to visit MEDICA and COMPAMED with a single trade fair ticket and with no extra charge.