Upstart Shop Benefits from Small Changes
Amendia opened in 2008 and benefited from well-trained, well-established operators and engineers and knowledgeable suppliers but faced challenges that were handled through small changes with the Swiss machining department.
In the Swiss area of the shop floor, four Nexturn SA-20e Swiss machines, two SA-20b machines and one SA-32e crank out hundreds of lumbar and cervical screws per day, along with other components needed for the implant system.
Amendia in Marietta, Georgia opened in 2008 with a focus on designing and building spinal implants and instrumentation. The upstart benefited from well-trained, well-established operators and engineers and knowledgeable suppliers. Even so, a young company can face challenges, and a good way to handle this is through small changes in tooling. In the case of Amendia, the challenges they faced came from the Swiss machining department.
The implantable-grade titanium was strong and light but also tended to hard work for the Swiss machines, especially in the case of pedicle screws. This was handled by bringing in a N105 carbide broaching tool from Horn USA that has a more gradual process. As a result, the quality of the finished parts has improved. The process also has more adjustability and saves setup time.
Chris Felix writes more about how little tweaks like learning how to use the best tool can bring advantages to a business in PM column, “Medical Shop Increases Tool Life with Hex Broaching.” Read the entire article here.
