20-Feb-18, MedTech Intelligence
From manufacturing medical devices and dental implants to bioprinting organs for transplant, 3-D printing is on the verge of revolutionizing healthcare in the coming years.
With the 3-D printing market for medical devices alone expected to grow to USD2.47 billion by 2023 (CAGR 18%), the Asian region is already seeing a strong rise in investment in medical applications for the technology.
Image: MedTech Intelligence
Among the most active Western players in the Asian region is Materialise, a Belgium-based 3-D printing firm that has made inroads into China, Japan and Singapore. The company entered the Chinese market through a JV with Golden Laser, a laser-cutting firm based in Wuhan. The partnership aims to manufacture 3-D-printed medical devices for use in heart surgeries.
At the same time, Materialise began a collaboration with Beijing’s Fuwai Hospital, the largest Class III hospital devoted to cardiovascular disease in the Chinese capital.