Exactech started with a dream shared by orthopaedic surgeon Bill Petty, MD, biomedical engineer Gary Miller, PhD, and organizational culture advocate Betty Petty, MA. They wanted to make a difference in the quality of care provided to patients suffering from injuries or joint diseases like arthritis.
In 2016, Exactech confirmed the purchase of two Arcam Q10plus machines to expand its in-house manufacturing capabilities. This investment will advance Exactech’s long-term commitment to additive manufacturing technology. “Integrating the Arcam Q10plus technology into our operations will bring numerous benefits to our already robust manufacturing systems,” said Raymond Cloutier, Exactech vice president of engineering & development for spine. “In 2010, Exactech became the first company to receive FDA clearance for a 3-D printed orthopaedic implant and has since received multiple additional clearances for other implants. We will now be able to leverage this knowledge and experience to enhance the design of our hip, knee, extremities and spine implants, reduce product development lead times and further supplement supply.” The Arcam Q10plus is Arcam’s latest Electron Beam Melting (EBM) machine that has been designed specifically for cost-efficient production of orthopaedic implants. Studies have shown that build times can be reduced up to 25 percent with improved surface finishes, compared to previous generations of EBM systems.6 “Exactech was the first company in the U.S. to mass-produce medical implants using additive manufacturing. We are happy to see their confidence in our EBM technology and in the Arcam Q10plus as a volume production system for the medical device industry. We truly look forward to partnering with Exactech to grow production of their joint restoration products,” said Arcam Chief Executive Officer Magnus René.