Growing on 3D design

In the tradition-steeped Plant III of GF Georg Fischer in Schaffhausen, Switzerland, today’s Mühlental commercial center, Medipack AG (Medipack) has become one of the world’s leading system suppliers of medical packaging. Established in 1977, the second-generation family business headed by Reto Artusi has grown to 150 employees, meeting the strict quality requirements of ISO 9001:2008 and ISO13485:2003 with clean room production and serving the global market as one of the few manufacturers in this branch. Since 2002, the comprehensive business model has been based in its entire production depth on digital 3D models, which are developed using Solid Edge® software, the 3D/2D computer-aided design (CAD) system from Siemens Digital Industries Software.

Digital development platform

In the packaging of medical products such as catheters, hip and knee replacements, metal rails and other implanted devices, client-specific solutions are always expected to meet high aesthetic demands, along with those for stability and sterility. In order to meet the steadily increasing requirements with respect to purity, product conditions and traceability for the raw material, Medipack also produces the polyethylene terephthalate glycol (PETG) foils used for the thermoforming in house. “Each year we receive several hundred inquiries about packaging,” reports Georg Oesterreicher, head of engineering and design at Medipack. “The interested parties send us 3D models of their products and receive an initial proposal for a customer-specific solution from us free of charge.”

The original product models are always imported as STEP files using Solid Edge: “This works from any third-party system and is completely sufficient,” says Stefan Hässig, design engineer at Medipack, “because the client models must never be changed.” New packages are developed from them, often double-sterile packaging consisting of inside and outside blisters for use directly in the operating room. Blisters must offer support and stability, often accommodate several sizes and components and meet the requirements of plastics engineering with respect to radii and draft angles.

“With material thicknesses of tenths of millimeters, the thin wall command of Solid Edge is critical for thermoforming areas,” says Oesterreicher. “This function was one reason why we decided on Solid Edge in 2002.” The integrated functions of the 3D system allow users to appropriately visualize the finished, simplified package design. Thanks to 3D PDF, viewers can turn and rotate the model without using special equipment and examine it from all sides.