In regulated sectors such as medical devices, prototyping can no longer be treated as a standalone milestone on the road to market. It has become a strategic asset, one that directly influences product reliability, regulatory compliance and long-term production continuity.
This is the perspective shared by Eletech, where prototyping is conceived as the first concrete step towards industrialisation. The goal is not simply to deliver a functional prototype, but to build a robust, industrial-ready foundation that enables customers to accelerate development, reduce risk and ensure product viability over time.
This approach was also discussed at CES 2026 in Las Vegas, where the role of AI and advanced engineering in reshaping industrial product development was a central theme. During a panel organised by the Italian Trade Agency (ITA), Marco Ferrari, CEO of Eletech, highlighted how bridging the gap between a promising prototype and a real industrial product requires both deep engineering expertise and access to solid manufacturing capabilities, such as those provided by the Elemaster Group.
Prototyping as an industrial asset
At Eletech, prototyping means industrialising the concept design. Initial ideas are transformed into solutions that can realistically be produced at scale through DFx assessments, structured testing activities and early identification of design and manufacturing risks.
The outcome is a pre-engineered, pre-tested and partially pre-certified core, rather than a blank starting point. For medical device manufacturers, this translates into tangible advantages: reduced time-to-market, lower development costs and significantly mitigated technical and regulatory risks.
Compliance embedded from the earliest stages
In medical device development, compliance cannot be addressed at the end of the process. It must be embedded into the design from the very beginning.
For this reason, Eletech integrates regulatory considerations already during prototyping. Prototypes are tested not only for functional performance, but also for alignment with applicable standards such as IEC 60601, in accordance with ISO 13485 requirements. This results in validated building blocks that simplify and accelerate certification and regulatory approval.
Design maintenance and sustaining
Once a product reaches the market, new challenges emerge. Component obsolescence, supply chain disruptions and geopolitical factors can all threaten production continuity. Given the short lifecycle of many electronic components, availability issues can quickly put entire products at risk.
Eletech addresses these challenges through dedicated design maintenance and sustaining services, focused on keeping products viable over time. By continuously monitoring component availability and market dynamics, risks are identified early, allowing alternative components or design optimisations to be introduced without compromising functionality or performance.
A key differentiator lies in the integration with the Elemaster Group’s supply chain organisation. Direct relationships with component suppliers enable early detection of shortages, long lead times or obsolescence, allowing Eletech to act proactively and prevent production disruptions.
Extending product lifecycle in practice
A recent project for a major medical customer in Germany illustrates the value of this approach. Faced with obsolescence issues across 15 electronic boards, Eletech and the customer defined a seven-year production horizon and implemented a structured “make or buy” strategy.
Components with insufficient availability were redesigned, while others were sourced and stockpiled through alternative channels when necessary. The result was a controlled balance between redesign costs and inventory investment, leading to a measurable extension of the product’s lifecycle.
A long-term partner for complex electronics
Beyond component availability, design sustaining services deliver broader benefits. They extend product lifespan, reduce operational risk and allow customer engineering teams to focus on innovation rather than ongoing maintenance. Eletech also supports industrialisation, test systems and production, ensuring that design changes remain fully aligned with manufacturing processes.
By combining advanced prototyping, regulatory expertise and long-term sustaining, Eletech supports customers throughout the entire product lifecycle. The result is not only faster market access, but products that remain reliable, compliant and competitive for many years.