Charles Sternberg, Assistant Editor03.25.21
Global contract manufacturer Lincotek Medical has combined casting and finishing under one roof at its plant in Portland, Oregon. The Lincotek Medical Portland facility historically provided castings for a vast range of customers in the medical industry. With the newly-installed finishing line, the company will move a step further and provide medical device customers with a unique integrated approach, starting from the casting to the finished product – all in one location.
Saving Money and Time
With this investment, Lincotek Medical will be able to provide finished products in a cost-effective process with the shortest possible lead time. The site can be easily scaled up to any potential demand. The global knee replacement market is well established and this new, integrated solution will be of a particular interest in terms of competitiveness and risk mitigation to customers working in this sophisticated sector.
The completed plant layout is now almost ready to go live. All the machines are in place and will be validated in the second quarter of 2021. The new set-up – having the entire process, from design through casting to delivery of a finished part, under a single and integrated production flow – will create advantages for medical device customers, ranging from inventory reduction to best-in-class quality standards, significant reduction of supply chain complexity and increased reliability.
Apart from extending the facility and floor space, two brand new tool-grinding machines have been introduced, as well as an operational three-stage drag finishing system. In addition, Lincotek has invested in polishing and buffing lathes and a laser-marking capability, which complement an existing automated passivation line.
Having established the right base, Lincotek Medical is already implementing the next growth step with a significant automation investment that should be operational by the end of the year, boosting further the company’s casting process. As a result, medical OEMs will benefit from a highly integrated casting supply chain, having best-in-class processes and machine technology at every step.
Francesco Bucciotti, managing director USA, commented, “The past year has been about creating an integrated offer with a true ‘concept to launch’ business model and we are now more than satisfied with our progress. We have made significant investments in technology in our US plants with a capital program aimed at a complete capability upgrade over the next few years. As a result, we are able to create an ever-more seamless and integrated service for our customers.”
Saving Money and Time
With this investment, Lincotek Medical will be able to provide finished products in a cost-effective process with the shortest possible lead time. The site can be easily scaled up to any potential demand. The global knee replacement market is well established and this new, integrated solution will be of a particular interest in terms of competitiveness and risk mitigation to customers working in this sophisticated sector.
The completed plant layout is now almost ready to go live. All the machines are in place and will be validated in the second quarter of 2021. The new set-up – having the entire process, from design through casting to delivery of a finished part, under a single and integrated production flow – will create advantages for medical device customers, ranging from inventory reduction to best-in-class quality standards, significant reduction of supply chain complexity and increased reliability.
Apart from extending the facility and floor space, two brand new tool-grinding machines have been introduced, as well as an operational three-stage drag finishing system. In addition, Lincotek has invested in polishing and buffing lathes and a laser-marking capability, which complement an existing automated passivation line.
Having established the right base, Lincotek Medical is already implementing the next growth step with a significant automation investment that should be operational by the end of the year, boosting further the company’s casting process. As a result, medical OEMs will benefit from a highly integrated casting supply chain, having best-in-class processes and machine technology at every step.
Francesco Bucciotti, managing director USA, commented, “The past year has been about creating an integrated offer with a true ‘concept to launch’ business model and we are now more than satisfied with our progress. We have made significant investments in technology in our US plants with a capital program aimed at a complete capability upgrade over the next few years. As a result, we are able to create an ever-more seamless and integrated service for our customers.”
