About JRI Orthopaedics Ltd
Founded in Sheffield, JRI Orthopaedics Ltd specialises in the creation and supply of premium orthopaedic products. With over 60 years of experience and a strong reputation for innovation and quality, JRI supplies products globally, supporting surgeons and healthcare providers with solutions that improve patient outcomes. Operating in a highly regulated environment, JRI adheres to stringent standards, including ISO 13485 and MDR, ensuring full traceability and compliance across its manufacturing processes.
The challenge
JRI Orthopaedics faced an urgent regulatory challenge: complying with new European Medical Device Regulation (MDR) requirements. New rules that came into effect in May 2025, mandate that surgical instruments (Class I, IR, II) that are MDR certified, must be directly marked with a unique device identifier (UDI). The direct marking onto the instrument needs to be in a data matrix code (DMC) format, or bar code capable of being read with a barcode reader. The direct marking also needs to be human readable (space permitting). The UDI mark (e.g. DMC) must also withstand repeated reprocessing cycles, including washing and steam sterilisation in an autoclave.
Looking to supplement older legacy equipment that lacked the capability for precise data matrix marking and with a portfolio of over 3,500 different instrument part numbers, JRI needed a reliable, repeatable solution to laser mark each component accurately and durably. The solution needed to meet regulatory compliance, which requires UDI marking on MDR certified instruments. The UDI DMC marks must be durable and able to survive at least 50 wash and steam sterilisation cycles.
The solution
After evaluating samples from seven potential laser marking suppliers, JRI selected Laser Lines for its superior quality and responsiveness. Laser Lines supplied a Big SMARK with a 20W MOPA laser and integrated vision system designed to deliver consistent, high-quality Data Matrix Codes across diverse materials. MOPA (Master Oscillator Power Amplifier) lasers offer adjustable pulse durations, enabling ultra-short pulses with high energy. This flexibility is critical for medical applications where material integrity matters and where you are marking on sensitive materials. JRI also opted for coaxial vision system (CVS) on the laser, which means operators can see the whole area of what they’re marking through a camera on the laser – essentially a bird’s eye view of what the area would be so they can place UDI text and/or DMC marks on parts with absolute precision.
Why Laser Lines?
JRI supplies a large quantity and variety of parts in different materials and colours, including stainless steel, titanium, cobalt chrome and various plastics, so the solution needed to be future proof as well as being versatile to meet this demand.
Lee Sells, Laser Lines’ Laser sales specialist, said: “We invested significant time in fine-tuning the parameters of the samples created to achieve the best results across a wide range of colours and finishes. This included vibrant shades such as orange, bone, green and blue, as well as various surface treatments like polished and blasted stainless steel. In addition, we worked with premium materials including titanium, cobalt chrome, ensuring a diverse selection of finishes to meet different design and performance requirements.
Key factors in the decision included a best-in-class sample quality compared to global competitors, fast turnaround and technical support during trials and expert guidance. Laser Lines’ team worked closely with JRI to optimise marking parameters for different substrates and colours, ensuring repeatability.
Laser Lines provided strategic counsel and helped with implementation from start to finish. It also provided on-site training for JRI’s team as well as providing ongoing support to lock down processes for future scalability. JRI has completed independent laboratory testing and validated the durability of the UDI DMC marking under worst condition reprocessing wash and sterilisation cycles, validating Laser Lines’ solution.
Ray Salim, Quality Validation Engineer at JRI Orthopaedics, said:“Laser Lines stood out for quality and service. The team listened, understood our requirements and delivered a solution that works. Their technical expertise and willingness to collaborate made all the difference.”
Results
- Compliance-ready UDI DMC Laser marking solution for MDR certified Instruments.
- Improved efficiency and reliability for high-volume production.
- Strengthened partnership with a UK-based supplier for ongoing support.