Precision for health: customized solutions for sophisticated medical technology

01.07.2025

Where reliability and precision are required, the demands on technology and processes increase. Such challenges require tailor-made solutions - and this is precisely where Sonplas GmbH comes in. The name is made up of special machines, planning and service and aptly describes the core business: individual special machines. The focus is on two main tasks that Sonplas systems perform: Assembly technology and testing technology. On the installation side, the focus is on the automated assembly of individual components, for example by gluing, welding, screwing or press-fitting using compressed air, plasma or laser. The company also specializes in testing technology. Here, the function of electronic and fluid components is tested: from small electronic components in insulin pumps to complex spray or inhalation systems in which, for example, the spray pattern, flow rate or tightness are tested. The company also uses imaging processes and its own inspection methods for these tasks.

"Sonplas is actually a classic testing machine manufacturer," says Product Manager Luca Schmerbeck. Many companies later also wanted the matching assembly systems. Due to this demand, Sonplas now offers both from a single source and can look back on over 30 years of experience in the development of complex special solutions.

Special machine construction - the basis of modern medical technology

Even if you don't immediately think of mechanical engineering when you think of medical technology, precise automation and testing technology play a central role here - and this is exactly where Sonplas comes into play. Many medical devices contain microscopic components in which liquids or gases are passed through, dosed or filtered in a controlled manner to ensure that everything functions reliably and safely. Even the smallest deviations in the production process - for example in terms of flow rate or tightness - can have an impact on functionality or even patient safety. Components must be precisely manufactured and tested, especially for sensitive applications such as blood analysis, inhalers or insulin pumps. In addition to testing technology, a large number of specialized assembly processes are also used in medical technology - such as bonding, dispensing, welding, cutting, cleaning or screwing.

Customized automation for sensitive medical products

One particularly innovative process in the portfolio is hydro-erosive machining, or "Hero" for short. This process uses a liquid enriched with fine abrasive particles, which is pumped under high pressure through small channels or holes in the workpiece. Schmerbeck explained: "This is basically a liquid file where smaller metal holes or plastic holes can be machined." In this way, flow channels can be precisely calibrated - i.e. adjusted so that the desired amount of liquid flows through precisely and reliably.

Just how important this accuracy is can be seen in the example of the mass spectrometer used in medical technology: this device is used to precisely determine the mass and composition of atoms or molecules and is used to examine blood or drug samples, among other things. The device contains a component with several connections and very small holes. Using the Hero process, these microscopic flow openings can be machined to provide exactly the required resistance. Instead of supplying ready-made standard solutions, the company develops individual systems that are precisely tailored to the respective component and the customer's process - regardless of whether they are individual parts or series production. "When new challenges arise, we find a solution at the very beginning - of the product life cycle or the development cycle," emphasized Schmerbeck. The focus of the working method is not on rigid products, but on dynamic processes and close cooperation with the customer.

Partner for the future

Sonplas' plans are clear: "We want to and can be a long-term partner and problem solver from the beginning of the product to the end." Even though the company is still new in the field of medical technology, it is already clear that Sonplas has great potential, especially thanks to its expertise from other sectors. In the Bayern Innovativ network, Sonplas wants to drive innovation forward - through exchange, cooperation and access to the right partners in a highly networked industry. The combination of technical know-how and solution-oriented thinking makes Sonplas a strong partner for innovative medical technology - today and in the future.