The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) Annual Meeting 2025 in San Diego proved once again why it’s the most influential event in the global orthopaedic calendar.
It was a week filled with groundbreaking technologies, world-class collaboration, and invaluable face-to-face conversations, and Kirkstall Precision Engineering, as part of Medical Precision Group (MPG), was proud to be in the heart of it all.
From major robotic surgical advancements to augmented reality and AI-driven tools, AAOS 2025 was a window into the future of orthopaedic innovation. And for us, it was an opportunity to reconnect with valued partners and forge exciting new relationships.
Precision engineering meets orthopaedic innovation
As leaders in medical device manufacturing, Kirkstall Precision Engineering’s role in the evolving orthopaedic landscape is becoming more vital than ever. At this year’s AAOS, Adam Thornton, CEO of Kirkstall Precision, and Chris Spencer, Director of Operations at MPG, immersed themselves in the cutting edge of the industry; meeting with long-time collaborators, discussing the next generation of surgical solutions, and exploring how Kirkstall can continue supporting OEMs and medtech innovators globally.
Adam Thornton, CEO, Kirkstall Precision commented that: “AAOS 2025 has confirmed what we already knew, the future of orthopaedics is being built now. The technologies on display and the conversations we had reinforce our commitment to delivering world-class precision manufacturing solutions for the next era of surgical excellence.”
Strengthening partnerships old and new
AAOS 2025 offered the perfect backdrop for meaningful face-to-face interactions. Our team met with both long-standing clients and emerging innovators, strengthening our commitment to excellence in precision manufacturing for orthopaedics.
We were delighted to connect with:
Tyber Medical, a leading innovator in rapid development and scalable manufacturing of FDA-cleared orthopaedic implants.
Ortho Development Corporation, whose focus on designing and manufacturing high-performance orthopaedic devices aligns perfectly with our own quality-first ethos.
DJO Surgical, part of Enovis™, renowned for its focus on surgical solutions that enhance patient mobility and recovery.
In addition to nurturing existing collaborations, Adam and Chris initiated conversations with Pixee Medical, creators of the new Knee+ NexSight AR system, and Globus Medical, whose ExcelsiusFlex™ navigation system caught the attention of many. These discussions hinted at exciting joint opportunities in the future.
“We know that strong partnerships are what push innovation forward,” said Adam Thornton. “What stood out at AAOS was the shared commitment across the board to not just improve outcomes but to rethink how we manufacture and collaborate.”
A front row seat to the future of orthopaedic technology
AAOS 2025 showcased the cutting edge of surgical and digital advancements. We saw first-hand the momentum building around robotic-assisted surgery, AI-powered platforms, augmented reality integration, and additive manufacturing, all areas where Kirkstall Precision and MPG can contribute meaningful value.
Event highlights included:
Johnson & Johnson MedTech’s VELYS™ system reached a milestone of over 100,000 total knee replacements and reinforced the importance of intelligent system integration.
Stryker’s fourth-generation Mako surgical robot made waves by becoming FDA-cleared for hip revision procedures, broadening the scope of robotic-assisted surgery.
Pixee Medical launched Knee+ NexSight, an augmented reality system helping surgeons perform total knee arthroplasty with greater precision.
ModMed demonstrated how AI can streamline clinical workflows, reduce administrative load, and personalise patient communications.
Globus Medical impressed with ExcelsiusFlex™, enhancing surgical precision and flexibility for total knee arthroplasty.
For companies like Kirkstall Precision, these innovations reinforce the need for exacting manufacturing, agility in prototyping, and close client collaboration, all areas we’re proud to lead in.
Chris Spencer on his takeaways from AAOS 2025
Reflecting on the event, MPG’s Chris Spencer remarked:
“AAOS 2025 has reminded us that the future of orthopaedics lies at the intersection of collaboration, digital transformation, and uncompromising quality. The conversations we had weren’t just about what’s next, they were about how we get there together, with trust and shared purpose.”
“As a group, we are actively scaling our organisation to provide even greater capabilities for our global customers and partners. Through ongoing investment in people, technology and infrastructure, we’re building the platform needed to support innovation and meet the growing demands of the orthopaedic sector, both now and in the future.”
Why events like AAOS matter
Being at AAOS 2025 was about learning from the best, listening to our clients, and being part of a wider movement to raise the bar in orthopaedic care.
We don’t take lightly the trust our clients place in us to manufacture critical components for life-changing procedures. Whether it’s bone screws, alignment tools, surgical assemblies, or bespoke instrumentation, we know that behind every product is a patient, and behind every patient is a story.
Kirkstall Precision is proud to be a founding company within the Medical Precision Group, a growing family of organisations united by a shared mission to deliver quality, consistency, and customer-first thinking to the global medical device sector.
With momentum building from AAOS, we’re looking ahead to a busy and impactful 2025. New partnerships are being formed, innovations are being explored, and our investment in world-class machinery and talent continues to grow.
If you met with us at AAOS, thank you. If you’d like to learn more about our orthopaedic capabilities or explore collaboration, we’d love to connect.
Known and trusted throughout the medical industry
The communication between your technical team and our R&D team is great. I also feel your speed as a business to address functional prototypes has been superb… rapid prototyping is more than just fulfilling the order at pace, it involves real partnership between Kirkstall’s technical machining team and the design engineer to find the best fit between desire and reality, and for the business needs, to do this as fast as possible”
Founder/CEO
UK based orthopaedic OEM
Innovating for a healthier, active future.
Looking ahead, the demand for high-precision medical devices will only grow as the population continues to age and seek active lifestyles. Meeting this demand requires a marriage of medical insight and engineering innovation.
Kaleidex is proud to be at this intersection, partnering with orthopaedic surgeons, medical device companies, and healthcare providers to deliver the tools that make modern surgeries possible. Whether it’s an IM Femoral Alignment Jig for a knee replacement or any number of other surgical instruments, our focus remains on driving innovation and reliability in medical manufacturing.
The result of this focus is tangible in people’s lives. A grandmother can dance at her granddaughter’s wedding because her knee replacement was guided with utmost accuracy. A middle-aged marathon enthusiast can run again after a well-aligned joint repair. A young athlete can have confidence that surgical hardware will support their return to play.
These success stories start with a vision of improving quality of life and are realized through precise execution at every step, from design, to manufacturing, to the skilled hands of a surgeon.
Medical devices like the IM Femoral Alignment Jig play a pivotal role in improving patient outcomes. They support mobility by enabling surgeries that eliminate pain and restore function. They reduce recovery time by facilitating surgical precision, leading to less invasive procedures and quicker rehab.
And they enable longer, more fulfilling lives by helping implants last longer and patients stay active into older age. As the healthcare sector rises to meet the needs of an ageing and active population, advanced precision engineering is key.
This article was first posted on the Kirkstall Precision website as part of a series on manufacturing, visit the Kirkstall news page for in-depth explorations of bone reamers and knee trials.