Your next surgeon might be a robot, and Ecolab Inc. wants to make sure it washed its hands.
The St. Paul-based manufacturer unveiled the Advanced Design Center on Wednesday. The state-of-the-art facility, located in Eagan, is focused on developing sterile barriers for robotic instruments used during surgery.
Catherine Draper, vice president of strategic initiatives, global healthcare at Ecolab, said advancements in medical equipment call for unique capabilities in what was once a straightforward environment.
"There's a complex geometry of shape," Draper said of robotic-assisted surgery and advances in imaging technology that turned what were once basic surfaces into complex apparatuses.
"Tools have to move around the room and the patient safely, but we don't want to restrict the procedure," she said.
The 22,000-square-foot facility is equipped with hardware and diagnostic equipment that allows engineers to turn an idea into a production-ready prototype in a matter of hours, instead of weeks.
When it's fully operational, the facility will be staffed by a team of 15 employees, mainly engineers, while another five to 10 employees will have a flexible schedule.
Draper said Ecolab looked globally for the best location to place the center. But it chose Eagan because it allowed the company to leverage production through the hundreds of companies in the region that are members of the Golden Valley-based Medical Alley Association, as well as its close proximity to other Ecolab facilities.
Wayne Denmark, director of supply chain engineering at Ecolab, said medical-device companies need to implement their technology quickly, but Ecolab's production can't always scale at the same pace. The ADC fills this gap by including a cleanroom that mimics a full-scale production environment. This allows engineers to work out the kinks of producing new products on a first run basis without disrupting the larger manufacturing process.
The facility was designed with an emphasis on hosting clients the company serves from around the world. A large viewing area allows customers to see their products being made,
However, if they're unable to a visit in-person, a Microsoft Surface Hub screen and a HoloLens allow for virtual collaboration.
"It's a practical way to have a working relationship with customers," said Engineering Manager Jorge Herrera.
