TE Connectivity Corporation (TE), a world leader in connectors and sensors, has opened the Propelus Prototype Centre for medical devices at its manufacturing facility in Galway.

The company said that the €5m centre connects TE engineers directly with customers to reduce development time and increase speed to market for medical devices.

TE’s medical business has had a presence in Galway since 1979 and employs c.1,300 people in the region.

The company said that 120 patients are treated every minute with a medical device containing TE technology, and that its  Parkmore West site fulfils close to the complete global demand for minimally invasive catheter metal shafts.

These include coronary stents used to open clogged heart arteries and neurovascular coils which are used in the treatment of brain aneurysms.

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The new centre has advanced engineering capabilities, including build-to-print services, quick turnaround prototype production and 3D printing.

Director of Operations Mark Gill said: “The principle is simple – getting high quality prototypes into customers’ hands as quickly as possible.

“By improving the speed of product development and manufacturing, TE will help customers innovate and iterate advanced treatments at a more efficient pace, ultimately transforming patient care for the better.

“With some of our brightest talent in Galway, customers will be able to co-create with our engineers first-hand to see innovation come to life.”

Gill explained that TE engineers work alongside customers to quickly make customer concepts a reality, enabling them to visit Galway and leave with a physical, functional prototype, along with a detailed commercialisation proposal.

TE can also manufacture the customer’s final device at high volumes in Galway or another one of TE’s global manufacturing facilities and help manage their supply chain.

TE Connectivity has over 85,000 employees, including 8,000 engineers.

Photo: TE Connectivity engineer Neevetha Kalery