Even after decades of success helping innovators prototype and manufacture the next generation of products in a diverse range of industries, each year Potomac still evaluates how we can develop even more market specific products for the biotech, microfluidics, EV Battery, microelectronics, aerospace, and consumer markets. 2023 is no different. For the year ahead we are moving to where the hockey puck will be next in order to build upon our core competencies that make new customer products viable.
What’s Next in 2023?
Potomac’s internal R&D group focuses on developing market-driven products that solve the specific problems our customers are facing in bringing new products to market. Not only do we purchase the most advanced new hardware and software, we also develop tools in-house that push the envelope of manufacturing innovation.
Our R&D team continually expands our toolbox with unique inventions and processes that give us a competitive manufacturing edge in the marketplace. Our engineers also optimize recently acquired advanced lasers such as a high pulse repetition rate Coherent Excimer and a high power Fiber Laser from Trumpf with modifications specific to our microfluidic, EV battery, aerospace, and biotech market segments.
Prototype to Production
Potomac’s entire mission is to take a customer idea from prototype to high volume production. For example, since we can manufacture an entire microfluidic device, we are cognizant of the many steps that go into making the final product and how to scale to as many as 3 million devices per year.
Automated systems are key to these high production quantities and our goal in 2023 is to increase number of parts coming out of our factory with the highest quality yields in the industry at the fastest turnaround. Close partnerships with our customers allow qualification of our production processes to ensure those goals are met time and again.
Making “Fail Fast” a Reality
Potomac Technician Raif manufacturing parts in the lab!
Many of the startups we serve are venture-funded bringing reality to the Silicon Valley term “Fail Fast”. Our rapid lead times allow customers to quickly test new ideas and those that fail are quickly discarded as they innovate new options.
Our venture-led clients tell us that they are now able to develop new products in 3 – 6 months instead of the normal 2 – 3 years. Being first to market is always important in high tech but also being able to ensure that market launch is successful with a fully optimized product almost always lead to high market share.
The Latest and Greatest Innovations
Potomac has always been at the forefront of innovation and today we’re manufacturing new products that are leading the world to solve challenges that impact us all. Sustainability is at the forefront of everyone’s mind and innovation is again central to finding better batteries for EV’s,
In the ever-evolving realm of microfluidics, the pivot from traditional materials to advanced alternatives is becoming increasingly evident. These “labs-on-a-chip” devices, pivotal in biological research, diagnostics, and drug delivery, owe their efficacy to the careful selection of materials and manufacturing methodologies. Historically, Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) has dominated the microfluidic landscape. Its biocompatibility, flexibility, and innate transparency…
Silicon wafers serve as a fundamental component in various technologies, and Potomac Photonics is leading the charge in their manufacturing and optimization. This industry front-runner has made significant strides in refining techniques for precise feature creation and hole drilling in silicon wafers, which includes wafer dicing and detailed patterning for diverse applications. Central Role of…
Generated by Microfluidic Organ-On-A-Chip Devices For decades the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has depended upon results from animal trials to prove the safety and efficacy of pharmaceuticals. Yet the methodology is far from reliable. Only 10% of the drugs that move from animal testing to human clinical trials succeeds. Such low yields from a…
Potomac’s entire mission is to take a customer idea from prototype to high volume production. For example, since we can manufacture an entire microfluidic device, we are cognizant of the many steps that go into making the final product and how to scale to as many as 3 million devices per year.
