Partnership covers exterior and CMF design through precision mockup production

Mass-production feasibility to be assessed from early development stages

Model Solution CEO Yoo Hyung-min (left) and Roen Surgical CEO Kwon Dong-soo pose for a photo at the MOU signing ceremony for next-generation medical robot development cooperation, held Monday at Model Solution's Bucheon facility. [Model Solution]
Model Solution CEO Yoo Hyung-min (left) and Roen Surgical CEO Kwon Dong-soo pose for a photo at the MOU signing ceremony for next-generation medical robot development cooperation, held Monday at Model Solution's Bucheon facility. [Model Solution]

Model Solution, a comprehensive solutions company under Hankook & Company Group, has agreed to collaborate with Roen Surgical, a leading domestic surgical robot specialist, on hardware development for next-generation surgical robots.

Model Solution said Wednesday that it signed a memorandum of understanding with Roen Surgical on Monday for cooperation on next-generation medical robots.

Under the agreement, the two companies will combine Roen Surgical's flexible surgical robot technology with Model Solution's hardware development expertise and precision manufacturing engineering capabilities. They plan to focus initially on hardware development cooperation, including exterior and CMF (color, material and finish) design planning and precision mockup production.

Roen Surgical was founded by Kwon Dong-soo, a mechanical engineering professor at KAIST, and develops flexible surgical robots that operate through the body's natural passages. Its AI-based kidney stone surgical robot, Jamenix, has been designated as South Korea's 17th innovative medical device and has received 510(k) clearance from the US Food and Drug Administration.

Surgical robots are high-precision medical devices with a direct bearing on patient safety, requiring advanced robot control technology alongside ergonomic instrument design that medical staff can operate intuitively, strict hygiene standards and consistent production quality.

Failing to thoroughly assess mass-production feasibility during the planning and design phase can lead to costly design revisions during commercialization, making it critical to work with a partner that can factor in manufacturability from the earliest stages of development.

The collaboration draws on Model Solution's precision manufacturing infrastructure built up over years in the medical device sector. The company holds ISO 13485 certification — the international standard for medical device quality management systems — and operates Class 7 cleanroom production facilities along with a manufacturing and quality control framework that meets international regulatory and reliability standards.

"Model Solution has accumulated extensive experience successfully turning the innovative technologies of global tech companies and promising startups into fully realized hardware products," said Model Solution CEO Yoo Hyung-min. "We will serve as the ideal development partner to ensure that Roen Surgical's innovative technology is realized as high-quality hardware that delivers maximum value in clinical settings."

Meanwhile, Model Solution recently announced plans to expand its ODM (original design manufacturer) business in beauty devices. The company aims to broaden its customer base by supporting cosmetics brands and beauty startups that lack in-house device development teams, covering everything from product planning through development and manufacturing.


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