The trade show floor offers a firsthand look at how market trends shape current design and manufacturing innovations. Attendees at MD&M West 2025 could navigate emerging trendlines, shifting industry demands and competitive strategies.
This year’s forward-looking agenda—packed with topics ranging from integration of AI, machine learning, IoT in smart factories and autonomous manufacturing systems to the application of simulation and optimization of digital twins, advanced materials applications and sustainability—provided both the ways and means to stay ahead in an evolving industrial landscape.
Precision Dispensing and Fluid Packaging
Nordson Medical has been honing its expertise in precision industrial dispensing syringes and valve systems since it was founded in 1963. The Electron Fusion Devices company is based in East Providence, R.I., and was acquired by Nordson Corporation in 2000, complementing Nordson EFD (Engineered Fluid Dispensing) with offerings beyond its niche of solving metal joining challenges for jewelry designers.
In tune with the medical devices development trendline toward smaller and lighter designs, Nordson EFD brought its PICO Nexμs jetting system, a small form factor, 24V, DIN-rail mounted jetting controller that monitors and coordinates jet dispensing through human machine interface at the point of dispense. The system can be mounted to a DIN rail inside the machine cabinet.
PICO Nexμs uses industrial Ethernet protocols such as PROFITNET and EtherNet/IP to establish communication with programmable logic controllers (PLCs). The precision dispensing system consistently applies accurate amounts of adhesives, sealants, lubricants and other fluids used in assembly applications. The product has been certified for PROFINET devices and controllers, and ODVA (Open Device Vendor Association) has confirmed successful conformance testing for the Ethernet I/P protocol.
PICO Nexμs was the winner of Machine Design’s 2024 Edge Award in the Automation & Controls category. An informational product video can be found here.
More highlights:
- Nordson highlighted its G4VPlus enclosure with two PICO Nexμs jetting systems angled to perform a needle-bonding application.
- Nordson showed off its reagent dispensing capabilities on blood glucose test strips via a PROX5 Series automated dispensing system.
- EFD’s
- robotic solution illustrated precision fluid dispensing for hearing aid assembly.
Demonstrating Assembly Line Precision and Flexibility
Supporting its expansion into the U.S. market, PIA Automation’s live precision technology demonstrations showcased the company’s modular assembly lines and process automation. For example, PIA exhibited the development behind “V-RAC,” an assembly module capable of re-adjusting to handle various drug delivery devices efficiently.
The demonstration provided a glimpse into the potential for flexible assembly lines of small- to mid-volume lots. The V-RAC covers assembly of a various range of insulin pens or auto injectors. The module is scalable and reusable, and is cleanroom ISO 7 compatible.
A robotic arm simulates real-world processes, handling devices like an insulin pen. The robot seamlessly picks a device from a tray and maneuvers it through multiple axes, moving up, down and around, simulating a vision control module.
“PIA’s expansion into the U.S. market is a significant step in our global growth strategy and we are proud to bring our proven expertise in automation to U.S. manufacturers to streamline operations, and embrace innovative solutions tailored to their needs,” said Falc Borchard, VP Sales & Applications, PIA Automation North America. “With our modular approach and advanced automation capabilities, we’re setting new standards for efficiency, adaptability and precision in assembly lines.”
Find Hygienic, Self-lubricating Bearings Faster
Among the many causes of bearing failure, lubrication issues are an often-cited reason. Igus—a leading German manufacturer of high-performance polymers and motion plastics, including bearings, energy chains and linear guides—points to a study conducted by a major ball-bearing manufacturer where 54% of all bearings failed due to lubrication issues.
Igus designs and manufactures dry-running, cleanroom-compatible, media-resistant and corrosion-resistant plastic plain bearings and linear bearings as part of an extensive line of components used in medical equipment. These solutions are designed to not only resist dirt, dust and exposure to extreme environments but also eliminate maintenance and extend service life.
Medical device OEMs can find the right precision or plain bearings for a variety of medical devices via the igus iglide online shop. The shop integrates a catalog, webshop and calculation program into a single platform, allowing users to find what they need in a matter of seconds. The more requirements the plain bearing has to fulfill, such as FDA conformity, operating temperatures or loads, the more selective the choice becomes. The system can calculate the dimensions and price on custom-made products in real-time, too.
Lars Butenschön, product marketing manager iglide at igus GmbH, characterized the new igus webshop for iglide plain bearings as a milestone in the company’s service digitalization.
Click here to try out the webshop facility’s competency on iglide plain bearings.
