Precision Medical Metal Components: Combining Materials and Photochemical Etching

Micro Component Group and Auerhammer Metallwerk combine materials expertise and precision manufacturing within the Wickeder Group. Their capabilities support the development of miniaturized medical metal components, from material selection and prototyping to industrial-scale production.

Ultra-Thin Metal Foils for Sensors and Medical Electronics

Auerhammer produces precision strips and foils from nickel and nickel alloys, titanium, stainless steel and other special alloys. Depending on the material, thicknesses can reach down to 2 µm. Tight tolerances and defined mechanical properties support applications in sensors, diagnostics, electrodes and medical electronics. Corrosion resistance and biocompatibility depend on the selected material.

Across the Wickeder Group, these capabilities are complemented by cladding and high-precision structuring, providing options for custom composite materials and microstructured components.

Photochemical Etching from Prototypes to Volume Production

Micro Component Group uses photochemical etching (PCE) to manufacture intricate metal components. Geometry is defined photolithographically before material is removed chemically. The process enables fine features and clean edges without introducing the mechanical stresses or heat-affected zones associated with some conventional manufacturing methods.

Applications include microneedles, lancets, surgical components, microfluidic structures, filters, meshes, sensor elements, leadframes and precision apertures. Considering material selection and process capability early in development helps align component geometry, edge condition and functional requirements.

For scale-up, the group combines sheet-based PCE for development with micrometal’s continuous reel-to-reel technology for high-volume manufacturing. This maintains the underlying process approach as production volumes increase and can reduce process-transfer risk. Electroforming and laser processing provide complementary manufacturing options.

Micro Component Group and Auerhammer Metallwerk will exhibit together with IVAM at COMPAMED 2026 in Düsseldorf, November 16–19.