SOUTH WINDSOR, Conn., Aug. 14, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Oxford Performance Materials, Inc. (OPM), a leading advanced materials and additive manufacturing (3D printing) company, is pleased to announce that it has been named the "Best Global Company for 3D Healthcare Innovation" by The New Economy Awards. The New Economy Awards, presented by The New Economy Magazine, identify and celebrate innovative companies that are breaking new ground in the areas of technology, energy, business and strategy.
OPM received The New Economy Award for the company's development of additive manufacturing techniques with the ultra-high performance polymer poly-ether-ketone-ketone (PEKK). OPM's ability to print patient-specific functional and biocompatible prosthetic implants is proving to be disruptive technology in the healthcare industry. In February 2013, OPM received FDA 510(k) clearance for its OsteoFab® Patient-Specific Cranial Device, and became the first and only company with FDA clearance to manufacture 3D printed polymeric orthopedic implants.
"We are honored to receive The New Economy Award for healthcare innovation," said Scott DeFelice, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of Oxford Performance Materials. "The rising cost of healthcare is a global issue that cannot be ignored. Hospitals are adopting our OsteoFab implant lines over metals and other polymer options because 3D printed PEKK implants are the only solutions that combine low cost, biocompatibility, radiolucency, and bone-like behavior. For the surgeon, OPM products are easier to implant, modify and observe, and studies have shown that our OXPEKK® formulation is osteoconductive – meaning bone grows onto the surface of our implants – and this leads to better fixation to the patient's own bone."
OPM technology is also designed to reduce the overall "cost of ownership" to the customer, by decreasing operating room time, hospital length of stay and procedure complications. In addition, OsteoFab customers do not pay a premium for the 3D printed implant.
"What is exciting about our technology is that additional complexity does not necessarily increase manufacturing cost," added Severine Zygmont, President of OPM Biomedical. "As a result, we believe that additive manufacturing has the potential to not only improve patient outcomes, but fundamentally provide improved healthcare in orthopedics on a global scale – for developed and developing countries. These are disruptive changes that will allow the industry to provide healthcare to more people at a lower cost."
To read an interview with DeFelice on OPM's disruptive technology, please visit: http://www.theneweconomy.com/technology/interview-printed-prosthetics-to-disrupt-healthcare-industry
Please visit the following link to view a video interview with DeFelice and The New Economy's Kumutha Ramanathan: http://www.theneweconomy.com/technology/replacing-body-parts-with-3d-printing-how-one-company-is-bringing-hope-to-patients-across-the-globe-video
About Oxford Performance Materials Inc.
Oxford Performance Materials (OPM) is a recognized leader in 3D printing and high performance additive manufacturing (HPAM™). OPM has developed a range of advanced materials technology focused on a high performance polymer poly-ether-ketone-ketone (PEKK), and delivers enterprise level, functional end-use products to the biomedical, aerospace and industrial markets as the first company to successfully apply additive manufacturing solutions to PEKK. A pioneer in personalized medicine, OPM became the only company to receive FDA clearance to manufacture 3D printed patient‐specific polymeric implants for its cranial prostheses line in February 2013, and its Biomedical division received a second 510(k) for its patient-specific facial implants in July 2014. OPM's Aerospace & Industrial division has been fulfilling critical development contracts for parts in a range of aircraft applications in commercial, defense, and space with its proprietary OXPEKK® materials technology. For more information, please visit: http://www.oxfordpm.com/
About The New Economy
The New Economy is a quarterly magazine looking at technology and innovation in its wider business context. In print and online, The New Economy is committed to the very highest standards of journalism across print, video and online. An in–house team of writers works together with experts from technology think tanks, public and private sector organisations and academics from esteemed educational and research centers around the globe. They bring readers news, deep analysis and clear and precise reportage of emerging technological and corporate strategies, and innovative approaches to business together with submissions from an acclaimed list of contributors. The New Economy Awards set out to identify and celebrate companies who are achieving success and breaking new ground across technology, energy, business and strategy. For more information, please visit: http://www.theneweconomy.com/