Even a gold standard needs an update from time to time
Siemens Healthineers is one of the world’s leading suppliers of medical technology. The company develops and sells solutions for laboratory diagnostics – and has been a close partner of BIT for over 40 years.
One of these solutions is the Hematek 3000 system, a laboratory instrument for the fully automated staining of blood and bone marrow smears for microscopic examination. The instrument was originally developed by Bayer and later acquired by Siemens and has been regarded as the gold standard in diagnostics for more than 25 years.
But even proven standards have to move with the times: more modern technology, an up-to-date design, and competitive manufacturing costs were required. Siemens therefore commissioned BIT to give the Hematek a face-lift. The problem was that Siemens hardly had any design documentation left for the device. So anyone who wanted to modernise it first had to understand how it worked in the first place.
Reverse engineering: a core competence of BIT
BIT began with a comprehensive reverse engineering process: in-depth analyses and investigations of the existing device laid the foundation for rethinking it from the ground up. Added to this was another, unusual challenge: for regulatory reasons, no software was to be incorporated; otherwise, Siemens would have had to apply for a completely new type approval. The risk of potentially being unable to bring the new device to market was too big. Therefore, BIT had to solve complex processes using purely electromechanical solutions.
The result: a completely new plastic housing, fully redesigned electronics and mechanics, new features – and a reduction in material costs of almost 50 per cent. All achieved within 12 months.
Our services at a glance:
- Design for Manufacturing
- Final Assembly and Integration
- Seamless transfer from R&D
40 years of partnership
Anyone who works with a Tier 1 player such as Siemens Healthineers knows that the standards for quality, processes and documentation are high – and rightly so. BIT brought something to the table that no corporation can buy: the agility of a well-coordinated team that takes responsibility. And one that delivers even within the tightest constraints.
The project was challenging, the timeline was tight, and the technical hurdles were enormous. Yet it is precisely in moments like these that a partner’s true capabilities are revealed. Particularly noteworthy: the complex housing design was not only conceptualised and designed at breakneck speed but also realised as a manufacturable solution within the tight timeframe. A highlight that left a lasting impression on the entire team. Today, the product is being successfully manufactured in large volumes.
“BIT and Siemens Healthineers are looking back on a more than 40 Years successful partnership. I experience this cooperation as a true team approach with a forward-leaning attitude and absolute commitment to ‚deliver‘ – be it physical or on project goals. Thanks to our joined focus on quality, we have been able to serve our customers extremely well and through this could establish a solid and respected market position in many diagnostic segments.”