Pipe Bending Benefits in Medical Device Manufacturing

Medical device manufacturing – specifically medical gas equipment – grows at more than 7% annually, according to Global Market Insights. An expanding and aging population around the world depends on advances in patient monitoring and diagnostic equipment, requiring original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to increase production.

To maintain profitability, OEMs look to contract manufacturers with in-house expertise to meet demands. Medical gas equipment requires systems for dispensing and transferring a variety of chemical compounds. Axenics recommends stainless steel pipe bending for gas delivery systems – a time- and money-saver for our medical device customers.

CNC pipe bending

Rather than cutting and welding metal tube to fit into a production design, we use a high-precision Horn Metric CNC Pipe Bender, which produces stainless steel pipe bends ranging from ¼” to 2” in diameter. We custom design and fit tubing into your production spaces using this process. Removing metal cuts and weldments from the process reduces production time, material and labor costs.

Shaping tubing with a CNC bender does not alter the temperature of the steel, so its characteristics remain unaltered. Whereas welding using high temperatures to join metals can alter their makeup and ultimately weaken them.

Pipe bending benefits

• Joints and other pricey fixtures are eliminated from assembly by using a CNC tube bender.
• As the pipe remains a single piece with no fittings or welds, it provides a cleaner overall transfer system.
• The possibility of a leak is virtually erased as there are no welds or fittings in a bent pipe.
• Pipe bending maintains the integrity of the steel. Wall thinning that sometimes occurs with weldments is also eliminated.
• It’s aesthetically pleasing. Bending stainless steel results in a smooth, clean finish.
• Pipe bending means there are no sharp corners or joints to trap gases.

It’s important to note that tube bending does not always eliminate the welding process. Depending on the design of your system, the joining of pieces of steel tube via welding may be necessary, which is why Axenics employs a team of expert orbital welders.

That said, tube bending with the CNC bender is a highly-repeatable, fast process. Therefore, while welds may be necessary to complete your system, production time is still lower than cutting/welding every angle of your delivery system.

Stainless steel benefits the medical device industry

Axenics regularly works with clean, pure stainless steel 300 series. It offers:

• Corrosion resistance
• Good formability
• Strength
• Manufacturing precision
• Reliability

Stainless steel is easily sanitized, unlike copper for example, so stainless steel is preferred in medical delivery system production. Stainless steel also features a passive layer that protects it from some airborne contaminants.

Precision engineering of medical device components is a primary focus for Axenics. Utilize our production team and in-house experts to expand your production or take on a big job. Our customers rave about the benefits of stainless steel precision tube bending as a solution to fit complex gas delivery systems into a tight space. Let us prove the many benefits of precision tube bending on your next project.

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