Pan-European supply contract

Citation

(2002), "Pan-European supply contract", Anti-Corrosion Methods and Materials, Vol. 49 No. 4. https://doi.org/10.1108/acmm.2002.12849dab.011

Pan-European supply contract

Pan-European supply contract

Medical implant steel specialist, Sandvik Metinox, has won a new contract to supply the Biomet Merck Group with a range of molybdenum alloyed stainless steel products for the manufacture of orthopaedic reconstructive and fixation devices (Plate 3).

Sandvik Metinox, located in Sheffield, is Swedish steelmaker Sandvik Steel's customer service and technical centre for the distribution of Sandvik Bioline implant steels. The contract reportedly was secured on Sandvik Metinox's ability to carry stocks of material and deliver as required to Biomet Merck Group's manufacturing subsidiaries in the UK, Spain, Germany and France.

Plate 3 Replacement knee joint from Biomet Merck using material from Sandvik Metinox

Biomet Merck is a joint venture, between Biomet Inc. (USA) and Merck KG&A of Darmstadt, Germany, for the development, manufacture and sale of biomaterials and orthopaedic products. The company's headquarters are in The Netherlands.

The substantial contract, the total value of which has not been disclosed, covers the supply of stainless steel tube, bar, wire and strip in a range of sizes, certified to Biomet Merck's material specifications and special tolerance requirements where necessary.

Two material specifications are involved, Sandvik Bioline 316LVM and the recently developed Sandvik Bioline High-N. Both are specially produced, high purity medical steels designed for the manufacture of temporary and permanent implants. The Sandvik Bioline 316LVM tube wire and strip products are used by Biomet Merck particularly for the manufacture of trauma fixation devices such as bone screws, spinal systems and compression plates. The Bioline High-N product is supplied in bar form for forging into replacement hip joints.