Business Cover Story
TOMORROW’S
World
WITHIN AN INDUSTRY WITH AN IDENTITY THAT COULD EASILY BECOME FRAGILE, ONE IRISH FIRM IS POSITIONING ITSELF FOR ESCALATED GROWTH THROUGH AN INNOVATIVE APPROACH TO TO MEDICAL DEVICE MANUFACTURING.
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ounded in 2006 by Dr David Gillen to harness the potential of laser technology for highly accurate micromachining and processing, Blueacre Technology is one of the leading pioneers within the medical device manufacturing sector. Before setting up Blueacre, Dr Gillen worked with semi-conductor manufacturing companies after completion of a PhD in Physics. Seeing firsthand how laser technology was being administered, he quickly saw an opportunity to apply his own technology to medical device manufacturing. Over the last 12 years, his firm has developed specialist expertise in lasers, micromachining, vision systems and software interfacing, working with customers to solve the most demanding engineering challenges. “Medical device manufacturing requires three key elements: accuracy, precision and repeatability,” explains David Gillen. “As precision engineering becomes more common, laser technology is the process of choice for designers of micro-devices, or devices containing micron-scale features, in enabling exacting requirements to be achieved.” However, in the same way that being a great butcher is not just about having the sharpest knife, so laser technology on its own does not guarantee superior results. “All the other elements of our processes, such as how parts are presented and handled, inline inspection, machine vision and traceability, need to combine with the technology to meet our medical device customers’ stringent requirements,” David explains. “The main difference between conventional and laser machining is that the laser is a non-contact process. It depends on the laser light interacting at an atomic level with the workpiece, breaking chemical bonds and turning solid material into a plasma. This plasma, which consists of an ionised gas, is ejected from the surface of the workpiece and captured by an extraction system.” Governments around the world are identifying the medical technology sector as one of the key drivers of future industrial prosperity. However, if the medical device manufacturing industry is to foster further growth, additional steps will be required
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15/04/2019 14:54
