Cannulas, cystotomes, biopsy tools, and other medical devices often require needles formed to exact specifications. Meeting that demand at scale calls for more than operator skill. Intec designs automated bending systems that deliver consistent results across gauges, angles, and production volumes.
The Limits of Manual Bending
Operators working with jigs or semi-automated presses face the same set of problems: inconsistency, fatigue, and time lost to setup. Changing gauge size or bend angle often forces operators to reset equipment. That step interrupts production and adds the risk of scrap. In industries where every part must meet strict validation requirements, even small inefficiencies create real cost. Automated bending replaces operator judgment with controlled, repeatable motion, so every cycle delivers the same geometry.
How the System Works
Intec’s needle-bending machines are built for controlled flexibility. Servo actuators position forming tools with exact offsets, while a vertical drive sets the insertion depth, all of which are managed through HMI recipes. Updating the recipe is enough to shift from a 45° bend at 6 mm to a 60° bend at 4 mm. No tooling change required. Springback can be corrected in real time when raw material temper shifts.
Automation continues beyond forming. Vibratory feeders and robotic pick-and-place deliver needles to a rotary transfer platform that handles sheathing removal, bending, crimping, re-sheathing, inspection, and offloading in one cycle. A programmable logic controller (PLC) enclosure coordinates every motion for high-speed precision.
Prototyping starts with soft tooling to form and measure samples before transitioning to hardened tools for production. Complex geometries that involve multiple bends are handled with recipe-specific tooling, designed to repeat the same motions with exact offsets each cycle. Vision modules can be integrated at the next station to measure bend angles and orientation in-line, giving engineers immediate confirmation that each part meets specification and limiting the need for additional downstream checks.
Built for the Realities of Manufacturing
Medical device manufacturers face constant pressure to increase output while maintaining compliance. Intec’s systems are engineered with that reality in mind. From cycle times tuned to production targets to recipe libraries that support dozens of SKUs, the equipment is designed to minimize downtime and maximize yield. Because design, fabrication, and control integration are all completed in-house, delivery times are short; one recent build moved from engineering to factory acceptance in just 20 weeks.
