Balzers, Liechtenstein, 12 November 2019 – On 31 October Oerlikon Balzers, a leading provider of surface solutions, and the Swiss Medtech industrial association invited member companies to visit the company's headquarters in Balzers. The focus of the symposium was on functional coatings and other new developments in medical technology products, and the agenda included presentations from experts, a visit to the showroom and a tour of the production halls to help attendees visualise these new developments and the coating process.
Thomas Schweizer, Managing Director of the coating centres in Liechtenstein and Switzerland, introduces Oerlikon Balzers to the attendees.
Segment Manager Canet Acikgoz presents medical instruments coated with BALIMED to the participants.
The symposium was an opportunity for decision-makers in the medical technology industry to meet for individual discussions and make new contacts.
The ever-increasing quality requirements for medical technology products are characterised by a noticeable trend towards functional treatments which optimise surfaces through the application of wear-resistant antimicrobial coatings. Against this background, Oerlikon Balzers and the Swiss Medtech professional association invited key decision-makers in business and technology within the Swiss medical technology industry to Balzers.
Swiss Medtech's [INSIGHT] network event “Die gesunde Wahl - medizinische Schichten” (Make a healthy choice with medical coatings) focused on the latest technologies used in innovative medical products, their industrialisation and their clinical applications. The conference was an excellent opportunity for participants to find out about the latest developments in medical technology and make new contacts in the field through extensive networking.
Thomas Schweizer, Head of the Coating Centres in Liechtenstein and Switzerland, welcomed the 35 participants and started the symposium by introducing Oerlikon Balzers, which has become established as the traditional brand for thin-film coatings within the Oerlikon Group. Segment Manager Canet Acikgoz presented the latest coatings from the BALIMED portfolio which have been specially developed for medical applications. Prof. Dr. Katharina Maniura from Empa, a long-standing partner of Oerlikon Balzers in the development of wear-resistant coatings, gave a talk about what “biointerfaces can do for the success of implants”. Dr. Roman Heuberger from the service laboratory and research institute RMS Foundation gave a presentation on “Surface characterisation and testing of the wear resistance of medical surfaces”.
The Managing Director of Swiss Medtech, Peter Biedermann, was delighted with the success of the event: “This symposium once again showed that Switzerland and Liechtenstein are leading locations for medical technology. The high-quality presentations made clear that functionalising surfaces using PVD coatings has become an indispensable part of modern medical technology. As a member company and a highly specialised supplier of surface solutions, Oerlikon Balzers was the ideal partner for this event”.
Oerlikon Balzers’ experience and expertise in the development of application-specific solutions for the medical industry is based on more than 20 years of cooperation with medical experts and university clinics. Through consistent standardised processes, Oerlikon Balzers is able to offer its coating solutions worldwide.
About Swiss Medtec
The Swiss Medtech industry association represents the interests of Swiss medical technology. The aim is to maintain its international competitiveness and innovative strength, to strengthen the domestic market and to promote a quality-oriented, progressive healthcare system. In constant dialogue with partner organisations, public authorities, politics, business, educational institutions and science, the Association exerts national and international influence. Within 14 specialist groups, experts from member companies develop strategies, solutions and positions on industry-relevant topics and develop groundbreaking industry standards.
The association represents the interests of the industry with around 1,400 companies and 58,500 employees. It advocates rapid patient access to innovations and high quality standards. Swiss Medtech also launches specific training programmes and acts against the growing regulation density, for free trade and fair tariffs. Together with its specialist groups and partners, the association is committed to creating favourable conditions and to ensuring that Switzerland continues to be an attractive location for work and research.
www.swiss-medtech.ch
