Case Study: Novo Nordisk achieves more reliable insulin-pen performance with Dassault Systèmes (SIMULIA/Abaqus) advanced polymer simulation

Novo Nordisk - Customer Case Study

Novo Nordisk, a world leader in medical device design and manufacturing, needed a deeper understanding of how polymer components in its insulin-delivery pens behave under snap-fit loads during both factory assembly and patient use. To address time-dependent viscous effects like creep and relaxation that affect product integrity, Novo Nordisk partnered with Dassault Systemes’ SIMULIA team and used Abaqus FEA to model the complex polymer behavior.

SIMULIA’s Polymer Customer Review Team developed an advanced methodology in Abaqus—using a parallel rheological framework and time-step-updated material parameters, with Moldflow process data fed into the models—to capture nonlinear viscoelasticity under cyclic snap-fit loading. The result, delivered by Dassault Systemes, is more accurate simulation (final plastic deformation predicted at 0.12 mm versus 0.66 mm with older models), the ability to simulate creep and relaxation, reduced residual-stress risk in manufacturing, and improved design efficiency and product performance.

Novo Nordisk

Torben Strøm Hansen

Principal Scientist, Device R&D Division