Industrial Laser Solutions

Okay Industries acquires Reliance Laser to expand medical laser capabilities

Feb. 21, 2014

The CT manufacturer is expanding its laser cutting, welding, marking, and surface treatment capabilities with its purchase of a company that focuses on laser technology apps for medical market solutions.

Content Dam Ils En Articles 2014 02 Okay Industries Acquires Reliance Laser To Expand Medical Laser Capabilities Leftcolumn Article Thumbnailimage File

New Britain, CT - Okay Industries Inc. is expanding its laser cutting, welding, marking, and surface treatment capabilities with the acquisition of Reliance Laser, Okay announced Feb. 7.

Reliance is a company that focuses on the application of laser technology for medical market solutions. The companies plan to totally integrate operations at Okay’s Medical Products Manufacturing location in Berlin, CT.

Okay Industries is a designer and manufacturer of components and subassemblies for OEMs in the medical, automotive, defense/firearms, and industrial markets. The company has more than 100 years of experience stamping and machining a wide range of metals, including stainless steels, titanium, and Nitinol. The company’s Accu-Blade surgical blades and scissors are known for their precise uniform edge and reduced cut force.

Reliance manufactures medical components for implantable devices and surgical instruments, using a full range of laser technologies including laser tube cutting, welding, marking, and surface treatment.

“This acquisition is the latest example of how we’re evolving our business to deliver solutions that help our customers improve their businesses. As we integrate Reliance’s people, processes and equipment into our operations, we’ll give our customers more options for designing and manufacturing leading-edge products,” said Jason Howey, president of Okay.

Reliance Laser brings Okay a completely new technology that combines a CNC Swiss lathe with laser cutting. The laser Swiss technology’s unique combination of capabilities dramatically reduces cycle time by utilizing the faster of the two technologies with every part feature. These parallel manufacturing technologies also deliver the capability to create features that are not possible to manufacture on a conventional Swiss Lathe. For example, the new equipment can create slots as narrow as 0.0015 in. and small holes with no “tool wear.”

Over the past several years, Okay has added CNC machining, greater engineering capabilities and a stand-alone medical products manufacturing facility to proactively manage evolving customer manufacturing needs. Since 2008, Reliance has been designing and developing equipment and processes for high-volume laser manufacturing of medical device components, fine tuning capabilities as components continue to shrink and tolerances continue to tighten.

____