NTM Joins Governor Walz and the Minnesota Trade Office for MedTech Trade Mission to Europe
This November, NTM was honored to join Governor Tim Walz, the Minnesota Trade Office, and a select group of Minnesota businesses on a weeklong trade mission to Europe. Designed to highlight Minnesota’s global leadership across industries, including the Minnesota manufacturing community, the mission brought together delegates from the MedTech, clean energy, higher education, and agriculture sectors — all committed to fostering international collaboration and expanding business opportunities.
As a second-generation, woman-owned manufacturer based in Fridley, Minnesota, NTM was proud to represent our state’s strength in precision tooling, magnetic workholding, and custom carbide solutions. The trip took us to Zurich, Düsseldorf, and Berlin, where we met with distributors, manufacturers, hospital administrators, startup founders, and global leaders shaping the future of MedTech.
Innovation, Partnership, and the Power of Presence
We kicked off the trip in Zurich, Switzerland, with a welcome reception hosted by Ecolab, a fellow Minnesota-headquartered company with a global reach. From the start, the energy was electric. Governor Walz and the Commissioner of the Minnesota Trade Office addressed the full delegation — a diverse, forward-thinking group united by the shared goal of strengthening Minnesota’s international footprint.
As the only tooling manufacturer selected for the MedTech track, NTM joined a specialized cohort focused on hospital technology, medical devices, and healthcare innovation. Over the next several days, we visited cutting-edge companies and institutions, including:
- A virtual care startup pioneering holographic booths for rural doctor visits
- A facility using 3D-printed bio-polymers for bone regeneration
- A hospital developing a “SmartBed” system that monitors vital signs without disruptive alarms
- A startup building robotic assistance for real-time patient response
- Charité Hospital’s simulated OR suite, designed for clinical trial readiness and surgical training
These experiences underscored the growing need for precision, safety, and efficiency in global healthcare — areas where NTM’s Ultra Precision Magnetic V-Blocks already play a supporting role.
Medica Trade Fair & Berlin Insights
From Zurich, we flew to Düsseldorf to attend the Medica Trade Fair, one of the largest medical industry events in the world. The Minnesota booth was buzzing all week, representing the Mayo Clinic and serving as a hub for European businesses to learn more about doing business with our state.
Conversations at Medica ranged from distribution partnerships to clinical applications of NTM’s magnetic workholding technology. We were able to share how our V-Blocks — proudly made in Minnesota — support precision in hospital manufacturing labs and research institutions alike.
The trip wrapped in Berlin, where we attended panels with medical professionals, a Mayo Clinic neurosurgeon, and Governor Walz. One standout moment was a reflection from Berlin’s Vice Mayor, who shared how deeply she values democracy and international cooperation, especially remembering when the Berlin Wall came down.
We also took time to explore the city — from the Memorial Park to a boat tour through Berlin’s historic canals — and ended the week with a deeper appreciation for the power of both innovation and human connection.
What Comes Next for Minnesota Manufacturing?
NTM’s commitment to precision tooling, customer partnership, and continuous innovation doesn’t stop at the border. This trip was about more than showcasing products. It was about learning, listening, and growing — and positioning NTM to better serve global customers who value quality and reliability.
We’re especially grateful to the Minnesota Trade Office and DEED for this opportunity, and proud to represent our state on an international stage. We returned from Europe inspired, energized, and ready for what’s next.
To learn more about our Magnetic V-Blocks, Stubby® Boring Bars, or custom carbide tooling solutions, visit our online store or contact our team at sales@ntminc.com.