Stryker 3D printed over 2 million Tritanium implants since 2013
Of these, more than one million are cementless knee replacements
When you think that additive manufacturing is struggling, that it won’t make it into production, that implementing it is too hard and CapEx intensive, think of Stryker. The Irish medical products giant has made AM a key part of its growth strategy and it is now reaping significant benefits, both in terms of better products and better manufacturing practices. Stryker reported in its 2022 Comprehensive Report that it has printed over 1 million Tritanium cementless knee replacements since 2013.
In addition, the company just ran a survey on LinkedIn that hinted it has surpassed the million printed parts mark overall. If we consider that Stryker additively produces one Tritanium (its brand for 3D printed products) cementless knee replacements and at least three Trtianium spinal implants then it is clear that the total of 3D printed parts to date surpasses two million.
Stryker is a firm advocate of the benefits and key role of additive manufacturing for healthcare innovation. The company’s customer-centric approach led to multiple product launches in 2022, supporting the needs of physicians, nurses and healthcare providers. Specialization continues to be key to developing solutions and the company is maximizing its portfolio by working across our divisions in areas like personalization, provider and patient safety, and digital, robotics and enabling technology.
Stryker’s Medical division was strengthened by integrating the recent Vocera acquisition, to provide connected solutions that enhance healthcare provider communications and workflow. Stryker also opened several innovation centers worldwide to serve customers’ technology needs, including a new facility in Ireland to advance its additive manufacturing leadership, a Mako Education Center in Japan, a Global Technology Center in India; and an R&D Lab in Australia.
The company implements additive manufacturing not just to make better products but also to make products better. Especially in terms of sustainable manufacturing practices. In 2022, Stryker became a member of the Additive Green Manufacturing Trade Association, which helps to educate the public and industry on the sustainability benefits of additive manufacturing.
Manufacturing products requires materials, energy and water, and often generates waste as a byproduct. Stryker recognizes the need to focus on sustainable design as a strategic priority and integrate sustainability into our products and packaging. The company has made progress in multiple areas and these include using additive manufacturing, which results in fewer emissions and less waste. In contrast to subtractive manufacturing, in which a manufacturer creates a product by cutting away at a block of material, AM produces less waste, allows for greater product customization and provides novel design features.
In 2022, Stryker conducted an LCA of the Triathlon tibial baseplate product to identify environmental impact hotspots of the AM process and focus on improvement efforts. The results of the LCA (shown in the image above) revealed that AM has environmental benefits over subtractive manufacturing that go beyond waste reduction. Tibial baseplates created using AM also have lower contributions to ozone depletion, global warming, smog formation and fossil fuel depletion, compared to our conventionally manufactured counterparts.
