The invisible weak point - why the closure system determines the success of your restoration

Orthopaedic technology: Velcro & fastening

Perfection in detail

As an orthopaedic technician, you work with high precision every day.
You scan, model, mill, thermoform or manufacture additively. Modern materials, digital processes and skilled craftsmanship intertwine. Always with the aim of improving your patients' quality of life in the long term.

However, all this precision only really comes into its own when an often underestimated detail works reliably: the fastening and closure system.

With orthoses and prostheses in particular, the Velcro fastener used determines whether a fitting remains stable in everyday life or needs to be regularly readjusted. If the connection fails - whether due to weakening adhesion, material fatigue or unsuitable adhesives - this results in additional costs, complaints and, in the worst case, a loss of patient confidence.

Why fastening systems in orthopaedic technology often fail

In practice, the problem rarely lies in the hook and loop fastener itself.
The connection between the hook and loop system and the substrate fails much more frequently.

Typical causes include

• Unsuitable adhesive systems on carbon, PA12 or other 3D printed surfaces
• Inadequate surface preparation
• Materials not matched to medical applications
• Permanent mechanical stress due to movement and moisture

The consequences are known:

• Loss of function: The desired stabilisation or guidance of the orthosis is no longer provided.
• Loss of confidence: Patients immediately notice instability - often regardless of the actual design.
• Follow-up costs: Reworking, repairs or new fabrications are a burden on the workshop's time, budget and resources.

Anyone who invests in modern manufacturing technologies should consistently apply the same standards when it comes to fastening

:

Discovering solutions for orthoses and prosthesesDurable

hold on challenging materials

Carbon fibre composites, thermoplastics and additively manufactured components place high demands on self-adhesive systems. Standard solutions quickly reach their limits here.

Optimised self-adhesive hook and loop systems for medical applications are specially designed for this purpose:

• adhere permanently to difficult surfaces
• function reliably even under dynamic loads
• enable reproducible results in the workshop

Stable adhesion not only reduces complaints, but also shortens assembly time and increases process reliability in production.

Patient comfort as a technical success factor

In orthopaedic technology, support alone is not enough.
Wearing comfort is at least as important.

The quality of a hook and loop system is particularly evident in areas close to the skin or sensitive areas:

Standard hook and loop vs. Velour

fleece

Soft surfaces:
Velour fleece tapes with a particularly fine texture reduce friction and minimise skin irritation - a decisive factor in long-term applications.

Hygiene & material quality:
Suitable textile structures support breathability and contribute to skin compatibility - especially when worn daily.

Quality, origin and regulatory safety

In medical technology, material quality and documentation are inextricably linked.

As a component of a medical device, fastening systems must be documented in a traceable and reproducible manner.

supplies hook and loop systems:

• by the metre or precisely cut to size
• with product-specific material certificates
• as components with product-specific material certificates, which manufacturers can use as an information basis for their MDR documentation

A secure supply chain and consistent material quality are just as important as the technical advice provided in advance.

Typical applications in orthopaedic practice

Specialised hook and loop and fastening solutions are used in a wide range of applications, including a. for use with:

• permanent fixation on carbon and 3D printed components
• internal upholstery and comfort elements
• removable belt systems
• Adjustments, maintenance and aftercare
• Individual customised products with specific geometries

The added value of customised solutions is particularly evident in complex fittings.

The right solution is developed through dialogue

There is no universal hook and loop system for all applications.
The decisive factors are the surface, load, skin contact and service life.

This is why FIXUM relies on:

• application-related advice
• Customised cutting and assembly
• practical selection of suitable hook, loop and adhesive systems

Because a reliable connection is not a matter of chance.

Your next step

Don't rely on assumptions, but on verifiable results.

Request a free sample and test the fastening solutions directly in your workshop - under real conditions.

- connecting materials.
We advise you before it gets expensive.