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Special Report: Live from Singapore!
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Probably one of the most amazing
aspects of Singapore from a business perspective is how the country takes such
an integrated approach to developing what it
calls an "enterprise ecosystem." In other words, development is well
planned, in advance, to the tiniest detail. Case in point: the newly built
casino. It
is part of a huge project that includes new highrises, housing, and
lots of green parks, all tied together in a kind of a circular theme. Graceful
grass-covered skyways swoop over large oval-shaped courtyards and fountains.
The project centerpiece: the majestic "Singapore Flyer" — a
modern version of
a Ferris wheel with space-age pods in which you sit to observe the skyline
as it sweeps slowly by. The
flyer incorporates aspects of feng shui principles of balance —
as it travels its giant arc, the financial
district displays as if it were always going "up." This symbolizes
and supports the country's explosive growth and its go-getter attitude. Ever
mindful
of
its
citizenry,
Singaporeans are charged
$100
to
enter
the casino, a clever way to discourage them from succumbing to gambling additions,
while foreigners
can enter for free. (You can even put yourself or a relative on the
no-gambling
list; those on it are denied access to the casino.)
The Singapore Flyer in the distance is a large observational wheel.
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In the spirit of promoting overseas growth, International Enterprise Singapore,
a governmental agency, does a number of press events throughout the year for a variety of industries. This tour is focused on exclusively on MedTech Mfg. It invited
three of us U.S. journalists to check out the lay of the land, especially
in regards to what Singapore offers in the way of medical-device manufacturing.
The organization is promoting the country as the "gateway
to Asia," linking international OEMs with Asian suppliers. Singapore
has many distinct advantages, including: English is the most widely spoken
language; the World Bank ranked
the country as "easiest to do business with" four times in a row;
there are strict laws on IP protection with very clear and enforceable copyright
laws;
medical-device manufacturers are sticklers on quality, following
all of the
applicable up-to-date
international
standards including ISO, CE, FDA, and others. In addition, it is cheaper
to fly goods out of Singapore than China; Singapore has a topnotch
airport,
seaport,
and
a highly-skilled
labor
force; and it partners with institutions such as MIT and Harvard Univ. for
R&D and implementing advanced manufacturing.
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Apple Rubber offers expanded line of medical-grade
elastomer seals and O-rings.
 In addition to popular Silicone, Apple Rubber now offers custom O-rings and seals made from medical-grade elastomers such as Viton® fluoroelastomer (FKM) and EPDM rubber. Ideal for medical applications, such elastomers feature improved chemical resistors, excellent heat resistance (400°F/200°C), and low permeability to gases. Capabilities at Apple Rubber include complete engineering support, manufacturing, quality assurance and a Class 10,000 ISO Class 7, certified cleanroom.
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The two medical device manufacturers
we visited today could not be more different in how they do business and innovate.
Really striking was how much darn FUN
everyone was having. We first toured Racer
Technology, an injection molding and contract manufacturer that targets
high mix (complex parts), low-volume production (in the thousands, not the
millions). You have never seen a company like this in your
lifetime.
It has
high-end,
high-tech
tool rooms, assembly operations, R&D, design, and prototyping operations
all taking place in what looks like an eclectic museum or even someone's
house.
The atmosphere is cheerful and fun. CEO Willy Koh strikes one as having a
brilliant mind — he is always on the lookout for the next product or
the next area
in which to best manufacture a component. Thus, the company also owns units
in Indonesia, Taiwan, and China. It has multiple patents, and one of the investors owns the patent on the Trek 2000 thumbdrive. A few of its customers we are allowed to mention
include Boston Scientific and Drager. It can do CNC prototyping in a little as a week and product development in as little as 9 months. Products Racer provides include
machined drive components, high precision production mold fabrication;
and cold formed fasteners to name just a few.
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Fast doesn't mean simple
Proto Labs created The Protomold Torus to demonstrate interesting, complex features that can be designed into your parts for an assortment of different purposes. "The Torus" comes with an informational user key that describes the features and mold-making techniques used to produce those features.
Request one today!
Boker’s 2010 Washer Catalog
Boker's free 2010 Washer Catalog features over 24,000 non-standard flat washer sizes with ODs of 0.080" to 5.140"; numerous IDs and thicknesses; 2,000 materials; and no tooling charges. ISO 9001:2008 Registered.
www.bokers.com/mee
Prototyping White Paper
Whether you're a newbie, expert or in-between, our Prototyping Processes white paper will help you choose the best process for your project. It's packed full of excellent info on strength, finish, material properties, and more. Register for free white paper download.
Medical Molding
Precision plastic components for Medical OEM projects require more than tight tolerances and consistent quality. They often require manufacturing in a clean environment and a solid understanding of the application or related standards. Learn More
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