COGNIMAN partners meet in Ireland

Nothing compares to seeing innovation in action. As part of COGNIMAN’s commitment to hands-on collaboration, we host partner meetings at our use case plant locations to experience what it’s about first hand. This time, Croom Medical welcomed us all to Ireland for an up-close look at their additive manufacturing process.

Croom Medical specialises in manufacturing medical implants, using advanced 3D printing technologies to produce high-precision components for the healthcare industry.

Why automation?What is SINDIT?

While additive manufacturing enables complex implant designs, post-processing remains a challenge. Printed implants require support structures that must be removed and polished to ensure they are safe for implantation. Currently, this is done manually, making it time- and labour-intensive. COGNIMAN is developing a robotic solution to automate polishing, improving efficiency, reducing manual effort and ensuring consistency

Process of implant manufacturing

1. Design & printing – Engineers create detailed implant designs, which are then 3D printed using Laser Powder Bed Fusion (L-PBF), fusing metal powder layer by layer to achieve complex geometries.
2. Post-processing & quality control – The implants are polished manually and tested for strength and precision to ensure a safe implantation.
3. Packaging – The final implants are cleaned, sterilised and packaged to meet strict medical standards.
   

The value of seeing the use case in person

Seeing the intricate post-processing work reinforced the importance of automation in reducing labour intensity and improving efficiency. Witnessing the workflow in person gave deeper insight into how COGNIMAN’s solutions can make a tangible impact.

Thematic workshops

Beyond the plant visit, workshops focused on optimising internal tasks and streamlining workflows within the COGNIMAN project. In an era of remote work, meeting in person was a refreshing change, fostering collaboration beyond the screen.

This visit marked the last of our use case facility tours—now, all four sites have been covered. Take a peek into our picture gallery!