Scraponomics Episode 117: The Medical Device Manufacturing Boom

“Never before in history has innovation offered promise of so much to so many in so short a time.” — Bill Gates

Despite the large amount of manufacturing that has left Michigan, there are a few industries that are doing well. A notable one is the medical device industry.

Throughout Michigan, there are a number medical device manufacturers that make things like knee and hip replacements. These companies are doing some really amazing stuff, and the devices they make are made with an incredible amount of precision.

The types of metals used to make many of these devices include cobalt, titanium, and zirconium.

We’ve talked about how Friedland manages, handles, and processes the scrap steel turnings and solids that are left over when an automotive manufacturer makes new parts. Well, the same thing happens in the medical device industry, but in this case, we’re handling scrap titanium, cobalt, and zirconium turnings and solids.

Because these metals are of a higher value, sometimes we use a spectrograph in order to make sure the alloys are separated correctly. A spectrograph is device that can detect exactly what’s in a particular metal.

Also similar to the automotive industry, when medical devices are made, the machinery that creates them uses a coolant to help prevent the metals from getting too hot. Because there is residual coolant left over on the turnings, we have to process them before they can be sent to a mill or refinery for re-melt.

The medical device industry is a truly exciting field, and as a spectator helping from the sidelines, you can tell it’s just getting started. There’s certainly a lot that goes into not only the manufacturing end, but also how to handle the leftover scrap material.

Another example of how the scrap-processing industry continues to evolve with time.

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