BONEZONE Magazine

Orthopedic inventory management is inherently challenging, thanks to unpredictable surgical demand, SKU variations and field inventory that’s shipped from warehouses, sits in reps’ trunks and is stored on hospital shelves. Surgeons want to know that everything they need for a procedure is on hand, so surgical facilities often want implants in every available size, with extra screws and instruments just in case, to ensure that surgeries aren’t delayed due to missing supplies.

Effective cleaning processes ensure orthopedic devices meet quality and safety standards before they enter the operating room, and validating those processes confirms that cleaning methods remove manufacturing contaminants, a key part of gaining regulatory approval before product commercialization. It’s a straightforward process in theory, but oversights do happen. A review of best practices is always warranted, especially as orthopedic devices and manufacturing projects grow in complexity.

Design for Manufacturing was a hot topic of conversation at this month’s OMTEC conference. During the opening day R&D symposium, Ken Trimmer, Senior Director, Packaging and Engineering Standards at Stryker, moderated a panel discussion about applying DFM principles early during development projects to accelerate product timelines and minimize costly redesigns.

Orthopedic R&D teams must embrace digital technologies and personalized care to remain competitive in the industry, said one of Stryker’s top engineering leaders.

Last week, orthopedic product development professionals filled an education room at OMTEC® 2026 for the conference’s R&D Symposium, three successive panel discussions on ways to improve how devices are designed, developed and brought to market efficiently and effectively. The engaging and informative panelists detailed the essentials of design for manufacturing (DFM), navigating the complexity of today’s R&D teams and using AI-powered data to gain a competitive advantage, which is covered here.

Sandvik signed an agreement to divest its Additive Manufacturing business unit to Mimir, a global investment firm based in Sweden. Additive Manufacturing, which is reported in business area Machining, manufactures metal powders used in areas such as additive manufacturing, metal injection molding and hot isostatic pressing. For instance, Osprey Ti-6Al-4V-ELI (Grade 23) is typically used for medical implants as well as for aerospace and chemical processing applications.

Cretex Medical, provider of contract medical device manufacturing and engineering services, acquired select assets and capabilities of Holland Molds in Wadena, Minnesota. Known for its quality and dedication to satisfying customer needs, Holland is a provider of sophisticated tooling for plastic injection molding. The transaction closed on June 10, 2026.

GlobalMed Logistix (GMLx), a specialized logistics partner to the medical device industry, plans to open a new facility in Salt Lake City, Utah, establishing a bi-coastal distribution and logistics network purpose-built for the medtech industry, including orthopedics. The move marks GMLx’s first major expansion since becoming a standalone company earlier this year with the backing of strategic healthcare investor Water Street Healthcare Partners.

Medical Component Specialists, provider of precision medical components, proudly announces that Chris Hester has joined the company as its President and Chief Executive Officer. Hester’s appointment marks a milestone in the company’s 2026 leadership team expansion and signals an era of forward momentum, capacity scaling, and international growth.

Kapstone Manufacturing, a division of Kapstone Medical, will become the first U.S.-based medical device CDMO+ to integrate the DLyte 100Pro dry electropolishing system in-house. The system arrives at Kapstone’s ISO 13485-certified Charlotte facility in Q3 2026 and will operate alongside the company’s metal additive manufacturing line.