Who is BIOPROTECE S.A.?
BIOPROTECE S.A., a leading implant manufacturer in Argentina for over 25 years, focuses on high-quality orthopaedic implants. The company has a team of eighty-six people, including a dedicated 3D printing team. BIOPROTECE S.A. uses in-house forging for superior material control and eliminates the need for stock storage through an efficient order-to-delivery model. In addition to serving B2B clients (marketers of implants, orthopedics), BIOPROTECE S.A. It also supplies other leading implant manufacturers in Argentina (B2B).
Why Adopt Metal Additive Manufacturing to Produce Implants?
Manuel Nelson, Manager of 3D Printing Division, explains “We started with a five-axis machining centre”. However, in 2013, the increased demand for customized implants in Argentina exposed the limitations of traditional CNC machining - slow, expensive, and limiting competitiveness. In words of Manuel “to produce custom implants, machines had to be reprogrammed and production schedules changed. Stopping a machine for three days to produce custom parts proved to be inefficient. Partnering for 3D printed implant designs offered a partial solution, but a delivery time of 5 months remained unacceptable for oncology patients”.
Therefore, BIOPROTECE S.A. made a strategic investment in enhancing its metal 3D printing capabilities. Following considerable factors, the company has decided to collaborate with Eplus3D.
Why Select Eplus3D as the Partner?
Manuel mentioned the invaluable guidance provided by Eplus3D engineers in selecting the optimal printer model. “We met with the managers who have made the decision to invest in the new printer. Eplus3D engineers gave us a recommendation on which machine to buy,” the manager highlighted. Transparency regarding costs, including filter consumption, played a crucial role in the decision-making process of knowing the pros and cons to evaluate which machine to purchase.
In the end, BIOPROTECE S.A. acquired the EP-M260 Metal 3D Printer, renowned for its cutting-edge metal powder bed fusion (MPBF) technology. This industrial-grade printer boasts optional power settings of 500W or 700W, coupled with a versatile range of printing layer thicknesses (20 - 120 μm), thereby ensuring enhanced efficiency in producing high-performance, complex structure metal parts.
Both teams jointly conducted the EP-M260 installation.
Speeds Up Implant Production, Increases Market Share
“Previously, simple implants, such as Temporomandibular Joint Reconstruction, with high volumes took a week to produce with CNC machining. Now, thanks to metal 3D printing, we can deliver these parts overnight”. Manuel emphasized.
The EP-M260 metal printer not only delivers immediate advantages but also extends its benefits to company´s ongoing development and fostering on implant innovation. Currently, BIOPROTECE S.A. relies on titanium as its primary material for manufacturing two pivotal 3D-printed implants the trabecular titanium spine line (PLIF, TLIF, ALIF; XLIF; ACIF) and the uncemented hip replacement. Furthermore, the company offers tailored implant customization services, underscoring its commitment to meeting diverse client needs. These strategic initiatives have firmly positioned BIOPROTECE S.A. as a leader in the industry, enabling it to thrive within an ever-evolving changing market.
Implants printed by BIOPROTECE S.A. with EP-M260
Revenue Increase supported by Innovative Technology
The integration of advanced metal 3D printing technology has allowed BIOPROTECE S.A. achieve a 35% increase in market share. The company produces up to 30% of its implants using the latest 3D printing methods.
"We are renowned as the swiftest custom implant manufacturer in Argentina," declared Manuel proudly. Furthermore, the implementation of 3D printing has substantially reduced response times for emergency implants, underscoring BIOPROTECE S.A.'s commitment to efficiency and innovation in addressing critical healthcare needs, said Manuel.
Our Plans for the Coming Years
In response to rising demand and the need to expand its material range, BIOPROTECE S.A. is implementing an expansion of its metal 3D printing production capabilities. The Manager of the 3D Printing Division explained, " The purchase of the next printer is planned for 2024, likely an EP-M260 or an EP-M150. Occasionally, our clientele requests components crafted from alternative materials, necessitating outsourcing, which presents a significant logistical challenge. Our vision entails acquiring a secondary printer that can accommodate these less commonly used materials within Argentina."
Implants printed by BIOPROTECE S.A. with EP-M260
This strategic expansion demonstrates BIOPROTECE S.A.'s unwavering dedication to delivering premium-quality parts, enhancing patient outcomes, and driving innovation in the realm of medical implants. The ongoing collaboration with Eplus3D reinforces this commitment, furnishing healthcare practitioners with cutting-edge solutions and extending benefits to an expanded patient demographic.
