Protolabs (NYSE: PRLB) today announced it plans to acquire Amsterdam-based 3D Hubs, an online manufacturing platform that provides engineers with on-demand access to a global network of approximately 240 manufacturing partners. The transaction creates a comprehensive digital manufacturing offer for custom parts, expanding Protolabs’ breadth of capabilities as well as adding a broader offering of pricing and lead-time […]
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SafKan Health wins FDA clearance for ear-cleaning headset
Tucson-based startup SafKan Health this week announced FDA clearance for its automated ear-cleaning device, OtoSet. Developed to clean impacted earways, OtoSet has irrigation and microsuction technology built into an automated and wearable device. According to the American Academy of Otolaryngology, excessive or impacted earwax is present in 1 in 10 children, 1 in 20 adults, and […]
Protolabs stock takes a hit despite beating The Street for Q2
Shares in Protolabs (NYSE: PRLB) dropped by nearly 9% today on news of second-quarter medical device sales that would have been worse had it not been for orders that came in response to COVID-19. The Maple Plain, Minn.-based rapid manufacturing company reported profits of $12.6 million or $0.47 per share, on sales of $106.58 million for the three […]
UPDATE: Medtech contract manufacturers make it work during a pandemic
From coping with wild fluctuations in demand to keeping workers safe and customers satisfied, these medical device industry suppliers have managed to adapt amid COVID-19 and an uncharted business environment. Medical device contract manufacturers are finding ways to keep business going during the coronavirus pandemic. Medical Design & Outsourcing recently conducted another round of an informal survey of […]
How medtech contract manufacturers are managing during the coronavirus pandemic
From invoking their business continuity plans to marshaling their pandemic teams, medical device contract manufacturers are finding ways to keep business going during the coronavirus pandemic. Medical Design & Outsourcing conducted an informal survey of manufacturers and other companies that serve the medtech industry. Here’s some of what we learned. Get the full story on our […]
University of Minnesota researcher touts makeshift $150 ventilator to treat coronavirus
The University of Minnesota is touting makeshift ventilators made from $150 in parts as potential solutions amid the shortage of equipment at healthcare facilities during the COVID-19 outbreak. According to a report in the Star Tribune of Minneapolis, researchers tested the prototype on a pig, keeping the animal breathing for an hour and confirming the possibility of […]
Here’s some recent medical 3D printing news
Innovation in the medical 3D printing space continues to accelerate. Here are some of the top stories that got our attention at Medical Design & Outsourcing and MassDevice over the past year. June 2019 Digital manufacturing company Protolabs (Maple Plain, Minn.) rolls out metal 3D printing production capabilities. Materialise announced FDA clearance for its Mimics Enlight — a […]
Protolabs shares fall on Q4 results
Shares in Protolabs (NYSE: PRLB) dropped by 12.4% today on news of weak fourth-quarter demand. Sales met analysts’ expectations, but profits fell sharply compared with the fourth quarter of 2018. The Maple Plain, Minn.-based rapid manufacturing company reported profits of $15.19 million or $0.63 per share, on sales of $111.89 million for the three months ended Dec. 31, […]
10 women in medtech manufacturing you should know
Women account for nearly one-third of employees in the manufacturing industry, where men have historically held the majority of jobs, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. The situation includes manufacturers and other outsourcers serving the medical device space. The lack of diversity is even more apparent farther up the corporate leadership ladder. According to a report […]
How fast is Protolabs growing? Turns out it’s really fast
Quick-turn manufacturer Protolabs has an enviable problem: It needs hundreds of qualified advanced manufacturing workers, and it needs them fast. When Protolabs CEO Vicki Holt started with the Maple Plain, Minn.-based company five years ago, it had 750 employees. Now it has 2,700, with plans to add 650 more this year. Most of Protolab’s growth […]
These headphones can clean your ears
Tucson-based startup SafKan has developed a pair of headphones that can professionally clean a patient’s ear in just 35 seconds. Winner of Protolabs’ Cool Idea! Award, SafKan is working on meeting customization requirements during the pivotal beta program stage for its device, OtoSet. The headphones have disposable silicone nozzles that spray a warm saline solution against the walls of the ear canal […]
