Freudenberg Showcases Three Business Groups at Medtec China 2024, Driving Innovation in the Medical Device Industry

For many component manufacturers with a century of heritage, continuous innovation is not only a core theme in their development journey but also the key to confronting future challenges and ensuring survival and prosperity. It is this relentless spirit of innovation that has driven these century-old enterprises to forge ahead through the course of history.

In 2024, the global technology group Freudenberg celebrated both its 175th anniversary and the 30th anniversary of establishing manufacturing operations in mainland China. To mark this occasion, Freudenberg, together with three of its business groups—Freudenberg Medical, Freudenberg Performance Materials, and Nippon Borin Co., Ltd.—exhibited at Medtec China 2024 & The 18th International Exhibition on Design and Manufacturing Technology for Medical Devices, held from September 25 to 27.

Freudenberg Group Presents Three Business Groups at Medtec China

At this exhibition, Freudenberg Group comprehensively showcased its innovative products and technological prowess in the fields of medical devices, precision medical components, and cutting-edge medical materials, injecting strong momentum into the high-quality development of the healthcare industry. To gain deeper insights into the Group’s innovative achievements, VCBeat conducted an exclusive interview withDr. Mark Ostwald, CEO of Freudenberg Medical Group, from his perspective, they jointly delved into Freudenberg Medical Group’s strategic layout in the global healthcare market and shared insights on development trends in the design and manufacturing of medical devices.

Dr. Mark Ostwald, CEO of Freudenberg Medical Group, a company under the Freudenberg Group

Medtec China provides attendees with a comprehensive platform integrating exhibition and trading, learning and exchange, and partnership development. Freudenberg Medical Group has participated in Medtec China multiple times since 2008.

In this regard, Dr. Ostwald stated, “Since our first participation in 2008, Freudenberg Medical Group has gained new insights at each event. This year, the Chinese market plays an even more significant role in our global strategy. To this end, we have dispatched a strong team comprising senior executives and international experts, including specialists in minimally invasive solutions and specialty components from both China and abroad, who will engage in in-depth exchanges with attendees at the exhibition. Furthermore, we have expanded our booth space and allocated more time to engage with Chinese“...met with key partners in the Chinese market to discuss business cooperation matters, including new project development.”

As CEO of Freudenberg Medical Group, Dr. Ostwald shared the group’s latest developments with VCBeat and specially brought applications to the exhibition siteConductive Silicone and Wearable Silicone Components for the World’s First Non-Invasive Sleep Apnea Treatment Device and Wireless Wearable NICU Beltcore products in the field of medical devices.

Non-Invasive Sleep Apnea Treatment DevicesA globally pioneering product that has received approval from the U.S. FDA. The innovative conductive silicone compound developed by Freudenberg Medical meets biocompatibility requirements while enabling the transmission of targeted electrical pulses to stimulate muscle contractions, thereby exercising the tongue to prevent airway obstruction. Furthermore, the entire product development and manufacturing process encompasses silicone molding, including two-shot overmolding, integrated packaging of electronic components, and electronic performance testing.

Wireless Wearable Intensive Care Band for Premature Infants,Utilizing soft, skin-friendly silicone material combined with dry electrode technology, this device is designed to minimize skin damage and infection risks in preterm infants. This skin-friendly silicone belt enables painless monitoring of respiratory and cardiac electrical activity, providing a more comfortable monitoring experience for preterm infants. The wireless design of the monitoring belt facilitates unrestricted contact and touching by healthcare professionals and parents, thereby supporting the healthy growth and rapid recovery of preterm infants. Featuring an integrated design that encapsulates electronic components such as flexible PCBs, the product ensures durability and functionality. Freudenberg Medical Group provided support in terms of process and material expertise.

In addition, Freudenberg Medical Group showcased its comprehensive design and manufacturing capabilities in minimally invasive surgery, catheters, and handheld devices at the event. This included innovative minimally invasive solutions for cardiovascular, electrophysiology, and structural heart disease applications, such as pulsed field ablation catheters, drug-coated balloons, and steerable catheters, as well as conductive silicone composite materials and silicone micro-molding technologies used in smart therapeutic devices with electronic packaging.

Freudenberg Medical Group Showcases Diverse Innovative Products and Solutions in the Field of Medical Device Manufacturing

In recent years, China’s medical device industry has continued to develop rapidly, with its market size surpassing the trillion-yuan mark. According to data from the “Report on the Development of China’s Medical Device Supply Chain (2024),” in 2023, the market size of China’s medical device manufacturing industry reached RMB 1.18 trillion, a year-on-year increase of 10.28%, while the market size of the distribution sector reached RMB 1.36 trillion, a year-on-year increase of 6.25%.

When discussing the Chinese market, Dr. Ostwald stated, “The healthcare market is undergoing rapid changes, and it is projected that by 2024, the growth rate of China’s medical technology market will continue to outpace the global market. The Chinese market is not only vast in scale but also diverse in demand, requiring both high-end innovative products and cost-effective medical devices. To succeed in the Chinese market, we must understand local needs and establish localized production.”

“Despite the challenges, the Chinese market holds immense growth potential. We believe that by rapidly adapting to market changes, building strong local partnerships, and continuously innovating to meet market demands, we can distinguish ourselves in the competitive landscape. Key factors for success in the Chinese market include providing high-quality components, responding swiftly to market dynamics, maintaining stable production, and ensuring sustained investment,” Dr. Ostwald continued.

During the discussions, Dr. Ostwald repeatedly highlighted a specialized production base for precision thermoplastic injection molding located in Shenzhen, China. “As a high-quality partner in the fields of thermoplastic and silicone material molding and extrusion, Freudenberg Medical Group also brings rapid and reliable thermoplastic injection molding technology from its Chinese factory, driving diversified innovation and development in medical devices, with a focus on cleanroom manufacturing of medical devices and components.”

This localized production strategy not only optimizes service to domestic customers but also enhances the company’s competitiveness in the global market. For example, Edwards Lifesciences has presented Supplier Awards to Freudenberg Medical’s Shenzhen operations for two consecutive years, recognizing excellence across multiple evaluation dimensions including quality, cost, delivery, responsiveness, and innovation.

Regarding local investment, Dr. Ostwald stated, “Freudenberg Medical Group is making increasingly steady strides in its investments in the Chinese market. We will continue to accelerate investment in future industries by building an innovative ecosystem and exploring forward-looking emerging technologies.”

Freudenberg Medical Group is increasing its investment in key production technologies, including the adoption of thermoplastics and advanced injection molding techniques, to ensure the rapid delivery of high-precision, high-quality components to customers in the Chinese market and worldwide. In addition to its Shenzhen plant, the company has established a sales office in Suzhou to better serve core customers in the Shanghai region, further advancing its localization strategy.

In terms of supply chain, Freudenberg Medical Group has established robust partnerships with local mold suppliers, leveraging precision molding capabilities to ensure rapid response to the needs of domestic customers. Furthermore, the company continues to train its employees to enhance service skills. As the Chinese market continues to evolve, Freudenberg Medical Group is steadily strengthening its local R&D, manufacturing, and innovation capabilities in China to support the expansion of its localized business.

Building on past achievements and looking to the future, against the backdrop of sustained growth in the global healthcare industry, Dr. Ostwald stated, “The future development of medical devices is trending toward greater intelligence, with equipment integrating electronics and sensors to capture real-time data. Freudenberg Medical Group is at the forefront of integrating printed circuits into catheters. Looking ahead, Freudenberg Medical Group will continue to drive medical devices toward being smaller, smarter, and more precise, in order to address more unmet medical needs.”

At this exhibition, two companies under the Freudenberg Group—Freudenberg Performance Materials and Nippon Bader Co., Ltd.—also showcased their latest technologies and products.

As an innovative partner to global medical device manufacturers,Freudenberg Performance Materials GroupWith over 30 years of expertise in the medical care sector, we have launched a new product—high-performance hydrophilic polyurethane foam—offering a wide range of design options to meet diverse customer needs. This product successfully achieves enhanced exudate management capabilities without compromising softness or aesthetic appeal.

Under the Freudenberg GroupNippon Baelin Co., Ltd.It showcases stretchable nonwoven fabrics for transdermal drug delivery products, as well as composite products of nonwoven fabrics and films. Japan’s PTL Corporation has been dedicated to the development of products in this field for many years, specializing in the production of stretchable nonwoven fabrics. It provides products and solutions characterized by high extensibility, thinness, softness, and impermeability to adhesives. Some of its representative products have completed regulatory filings with the U.S. FDA and China’s NMPA.

As a multinational corporation with a century-long heritage in China, Freudenberg Group has not only established its Asian headquarters in Shanghai but also built more than 70 production and sales bases across the country, implementing a series of localization strategies. Additionally, the Group employs approximately 7,200 people in China.

Against this backdrop, the Freudenberg Group has not only established a Technology Innovation Department in China but also forged extensive partnerships with the National Innovation Center of Yangtze River Delta (IC-YRD), renowned universities, and leading local innovative enterprises. By actively promoting localized R&D collaboration, the Group aims to build a more open innovation ecosystem and explore new opportunities in industrial technology research and development.

Notably, the Freudenberg Group achieved remarkable performance in 2023, with its operating profit, sales revenue, and R&D investment all reaching historical highs. Meanwhile, the group has experienced rapid growth over the past decade, nearly doubling its sales revenue and operating profit, with compound annual growth rates of 6% and 7.7%, respectively. R&D investment has nearly tripled compared to ten years ago, registering an annual growth rate of 9.4%.

Wang Jiayu, Representative of the Freudenberg Group in Chinaalso publicly stated: “China is a very important market for us. By participating in this exhibition, we aim to gain clearer insights into the growth opportunities in China’s healthcare market, which will strengthen our confidence in advancing our localization strategy. In the future, Freudenberg will continue to adhere to a customer-centric approach, focus on innovative R&D, collaborate with more upstream and downstream partners, and tailor more localized products and solutions to meet the needs of the Chinese market, thereby empowering industry development.”

Freudenberg is a global technology group that delivers long-term benefits to customers and society through forward-looking innovation. In collaboration with a wide network of partners, customers, and research institutions, Freudenberg jointly develops cutting-edge technologies, high-quality products, and services for 40 different market segments and thousands of applications, including seals, vibration control components, technical textiles, filters, cleaning technologies and products, specialty chemicals, medical products, as well as battery cells and fuel cells.

Continuous innovation, customer orientation, diversity, and team spirit are the cornerstones of the Freudenberg Group. For 175 years, the pursuit of excellence, trustworthiness, initiative, and responsible conduct have been the core values that Freudenberg has strived to uphold. In 2023, the Freudenberg Group employed more than 52,000 people in nearly 60 countries and regions worldwide, achieving sales of €11.9 billion.

Freudenberg Medical Group is an innovative partner specializing in the design, development, and manufacture of medical and pharmaceutical equipment, tubing, and components. With 11 manufacturing facilities worldwide and a workforce of over 2,800 employees, Freudenberg Medical Group offers a comprehensive product portfolio ranging from complex catheters, hypotubes, specialty needles, balloons, and coating solutions for minimally invasive devices to precision mold components and biopharmaceutical tubing.

Freudenberg Performance Materials is a global leader in the manufacture of innovative technical textiles, with products serving a wide range of markets and sectors, including apparel, automotive, architectural interiors, construction materials, medical care, energy, filtration, footwear and leather goods, and specialty products. In 2023, the company generated revenues exceeding €1.4 billion, operating 32 production sites across 14 countries and regions, with a workforce of more than 5,000 employees. Freudenberg Performance Materials places significant emphasis on social and ecological responsibility, regarding it as a cornerstone of its business success.

Nippon Paelion Co., Ltd., established in 1960, is a leading enterprise in the nonwoven fabrics industry and has grown into a corporate group with more than 20 consolidated and equity subsidiaries across seven countries and regions. The Nippon Paelion Group has expanded its automotive interior business globally, with production bases located close to customers in Japan, China, the United States, Thailand, Mexico, and Germany. In addition to holding strong positions in the markets for battery separators, medical products, and filtration products, the Group has established joint ventures in Asia with Freudenberg Performance Materials and Freudenberg Filtration Technologies.