Spectralytics opens facility dedicated to new product development

Spectralytics, a Cretex Medical company, a laser cutting and processing contract manufacturer serving the global medical device industry, has opened a product development center in Maple Plain, Minn. The new facility is dedicated to helping customers develop concepts, validate designs, design for manufacturability, and build quick-turn biocompatible metal and polymer prototypes.

“With additional equipment and laser technicians, we’ll be able to accommodate two- to five-day lead times for prototypes, depending on the project and material,” said Jim Bartel, president.

The 15,000-sq.-ft. facility includes laser cutting, welding, and ablation machines at multiple wavelengths and speeds; a Class 10,000 clean room; more than 100 stocked materials; and the capacity to handle commercial, high-volume production. Processes include laser machining of components in tube, sheet, wire, subcomponent, and other raw stock shapes; inspection capabilities; and postprocessing services such as marking, annealing, chemical cleaning, passivation, texturing, electropolishing, assembly, and heat shrinking.