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By adding eight Willemin-Macodel 5-axis contour milling machines to its already considerable battery of equipment, Norman Noble (Highland Heights, OH, USA; www.nnoble.com) figures that it can lay claim to being one of the largest providers of single-operation machining to the orthopaedic implant OEM market. The company also recently increased capacity in its Swiss turning and milling department and added resources to its quality inspection department.

Orthopaedic implants represent one of the fastest growing segments of Norman Noble’s business, according to vice president of manufacturing Dan Stefano. “This additional technology and capacity fits our experience in manufacturing for this market, which requires tight tolerances, complex geometries, and unique finishing requirements,” he says.

The 5-axis centers can machine implants by milling and turning them in one cycle from bar-fed stock to a complete six-sided part. Other methods for manufacturing orthopaedic implants typically require additional machining steps that include multiple machining processes. Willemin centres can be programmed to automate the manufacturing process into a single operation, resulting in high output without sacrificing precision or quality, according to the firm.

In addition to expanding its orthopaedic implant manufacturing, in recent years the company has doubled the size of its facilities and made substantial investments in its Swiss turning capabilities and its proprietary laser machining and finishing technologies for stent manufacturing. Currently, the company is undergoing a US$1.7 million expansion of its mass finishing operation to support research and development and automated production.