NEWS RELEASE: PRIME Project Launches to Strengthen Nitinol Supply Chain
Fort Wayne Metals, Vascotube, EUROFLEX, ADMEDES, and MeKo MedTech form collective to address growing market for pure, consistent, high-performance Nitinol
Five leading companies in the medical device industry have launched the PRIME project – a strategic initiative dedicated to advancing the consistency, scalability, and performance of Nitinol materials. PRIME stands for PRoficient Ingot Material Evaluation and brings together deep technical expertise from every stage of the Nitinol value chain. Founding PRIME members include Fort Wayne Metals, Vascotube, EUROFLEX, ADMEDES, and MeKo MedTech.
Project Goals and Industry Impact
PRIME was created to advance Nitinol materials while strengthening supply chain stability and meeting rising market demands. Through joint testing, real-world validation, and transparent evaluation of new ingot sources, the initiative helps prevent monopolistic dependencies and mitigate future supply risks, essential for the production of critical applications like stents, heart valve frames, and other fatigue-sensitive components. Interest across the industry continues to grow, with plans for expansion underway.
Fort Wayne Metals President Jeremy Rohrs [Photo courtesy of Fort Wayne Metals]
Project Scope and Technical Publication
The PRIME project covers the full process chain — from ingot melting to tube drawing to device manufacturing — and is composed of the following founding members:
- Fort Wayne Metals (melting)
- EUROFLEX and Vascotube (tube drawing)
- ADMEDES and MeKo MedTech (component manufacturing)
Their combined efforts will lead to the production and release of a series of joint technical papers, providing the industry with data from the project with the intent of informing and benefiting the market. The papers will be published and available for download on the official PRIME website upon completion.
MeKo MedTech CEO Jakob Dohse [Photo courtesy of MeKo MedTech]
Further publications and application-specific results are planned to promote industry-wide transparency and knowledge sharing. Currently, ingots, tubes, and components made from Fort Wayne Metals’ melted Nitinol are available for purchase, empowering companies to conduct their own testing and production measures.
To stay informed, visit www.prime-ingot.com or join the PRIME project LinkedIn group.
About Fort Wayne Metals
A leading manufacturer of precision materials used in life-improving medical devices, Fort Wayne Metals is dedicated to making Northeast Indiana and the world a better place. As committed as we are to supporting our customers’ medical technologies, our more than 1,700 employees are just as committed to contributing to community organizations and causes. Whether it’s providing the world with customized material solutions to support the medical device industry or championing efforts that lift up local communities, we are passionate about making lives better. Learn more at fwmetals.com.
About EUROFLEX
EUROFLEX is a globally leading supplier of high-grade semi-finished products and medical components from a variety of materials. The company was founded in 1993 and is part of the G.RAU Group with about 2,000 employees worldwide.
As a leading specialist for solutions made from NITINOL and many other innovative materials, like Stainless Steel, Cobalt-based Alloys, Titanium-based Alloys, Tantalum, Platinum Alloys or Material Compounds, EUROFLEX is the competent partner for many companies in the field of medical technology.
Fast sample production, customer support from the sample to serial production as well as extensive analysis and investigation methods are part of the services of the company group. Learn more at Euroflex.de.
About Vascotube
Vascotube is entirely focused on the custom manufacturing of tubing for the medical device industry, with an emphasis on Nitinol. Our tubing can withstand the highest expectations of our customers. We have gained a lot of attention from customers who require unique OD/WT ratio, highest surface smoothness and tightest tolerances on wall thickness as well as the concentricity of the tubing. Learn more at vasctotube.com
About ADMEDES
ADMEDES is a leading metallic component supplier in the global medical device industry, renowned for its cutting-edge technologies and innovative solutions. Our commitment to business continuity is evident in our state-of-the-art production facilities in Germany, USA and Costa Rica, which are equipped with the latest technologies to ensure uninterrupted high-volume production. Quality is at the core of our operations, with a team of dedicated employees who adhere to stringent quality control measures at every stage of the manufacturing process. Our relentless pursuit of innovation drives us to constantly push the boundaries of what is possible in medical technology. Learn more at admedes.com.
About MeKo MedTech
MeKo MedTech is a trusted contract manufacturer of high-precision components for medical devices. ISO 13485 certified and FDA registered, MeKo produces vascular stents and scaffolds, precision-cut hypotubes, orthopedic instruments, and minimally invasive devices using Nitinol and various other materials. Combining deep material expertise with robust in-house R&D, MeKo offers advanced manufacturing capabilities including laser processing, electropolishing, shape setting, passivation, and coating. Leveraging the same production platforms, MeKo simplifies the path from early-stage prototypes through full-scale production, delivering technical depth, speed, and reliability. This continuity helps MedTech innovators worldwide launch breakthrough technologies to improve lives. Learn more at meko.de.
The opinions expressed in this news release are the author’s only and do not necessarily reflect those of Medical Design & Outsourcing or its employees.
