Talking heads: Find out about the people involved in the medical plastics sector
The medical plastics sector is very good at developing forward-thinking products. But what about the people behind this technology? Lu Rahman spoke to a handful of the industry’s key figures to see what makes them the drivers of innovation.
Micro-moulding expertise aside, Aaron Johnson, Accumold reveals why loves nothing more than telling a story…
Accumold has been offering specialist micro-moulding since 1985. Aaron Johnson, vice president of marketing & customer strategy is known for his expertise on micro-moulding in medical device design.
Tell us why you love your job
I have the great pleasure of telling the Accumold story to the world. We offer a great service to our customers and I love spreading the news. The opportunity to meet new people, in new places is an exciting aspect of what I do.
Best business moment of 2016?
The best business moment of 2016 was at Medtec Japan in April. This was Accumold’s first Japanese tradeshow. It was an excellent week meeting current vendors and customers as well as creating new opportunities.
What sets your company apart from its competitors?
Our experience. For more than 30 years Accumold has been dedicated to the art of micro-moulding. When it comes to pushing the limits with micro plastics, it’s the experience that is key, not the machine.
How have you made it a success?
I work to ensure our customer experience is the best it can be. I am blessed to work with other great people who also share that same vision. Together Accumold is a great success story.
What do you hope your customers say about the business?
That Accumold delivers what we promise and that the value of the relationship has strengthened their own position in the marketplace.
Best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
A colleague/mentor once told me my sole responsibility in any job was to make my boss look good. I strive to be a good reflection of my boss’s trust in me to carry out my work with excellence.
Is there anything you would do differently?
If I could go back in time I would explore the world more as a young person. I would look to have spent time working abroad stretching my perspectives of different places and cultures.
What are you looking forward to doing in 2017?
My oldest son graduates high school in 2017 and we are planning a big family holiday over the summer. It will be here before we know it!
Bing Carbone loves his job but he’s a budding pop star at heart
Tell us why you love your job.
I live two, maybe three minutes from Modern Plastics in Shelton, Connecticut. So, for starters I have no arduous commute.
Modern Plastics is owned by a large parent company called Laird Plastics. While we are both plastic distribution companies, we are very different in our products, our customers and our approach to the market. I am fortunate that Laird allows us to run our business without interference.
I also work with the most talented people in plastics distribution at Modern Plastics and I love our customers!
As I’ve said before, “I manage my business, but my customers run our business.”
Best business moment of 2016?
Nothing gives me more pleasure than landing that big order!
Maybe, several big orders in 2016, as we did. We are a ‘for profit’ business, and when you work hard (and long) to land a piece of business or a new contract that should be celebrated. We’ve celebrated a lot this year and I’m grateful for that.
What one thing sets your company apart from its competitors?
We have an irresistible value-proposition that globally customers find attractive enough to buy their plastics from us.
We like people, we like solving their problems and we build long-lasting business relationships that helps our customers grow their businesses.
How have you made it a success?
Through my leadership skills. That’s it. I am paid to lead a great group of people, to set the goals, to have a plan, to have the vision and then to execute.
What do you hope your customers say about the business?
We did a survey recently and found out that 80% of our existing customers referred Modern Plastics to someone else. That speaks volumes about how our customers feel about us.
We provide a ‘customer experience’ that is just how I would want to be treated if I were the customer.
Best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
Many years ago an executive at my parent company Mark Steele said in one of his sales training meetings: “Remember, you are ALWAYS on display”.
That never left me. Integrity is everything.
Is there anything you would do differently?
I’d practice harder on my bass guitar and come back as the next Paul McCartney!
Maybe I’d own a garden shop (gardening is my big hobby).
Really though, I think I’ve lived my life well up to now and I’m only 54-years old and I have plenty of time left to accomplish so many business and personal goals I’ve set.
I’m having a blast at Modern Plastics, have two great daughters, Jamie and Nicole and a terrific partner. It’s all good!
What are you looking forward to doing in 2017?
We want to grow sales and profits but what I really enjoy doing is adding value to the business, and for our customers.
The demands and requirements, especially with medical plastics, are becoming more stringent. I want to be sure Modern Plastics is prepared and ready to manage the things our customers need from us.
We’ll continue to make capital investments in the business to stay ahead of the curve (and our competition).
I’m also looking forward to some new plastics materials and services we will introduce to the market in 2017.
In the medical plastics sector, Engel is a household name. Christoph Lhota tells us why he loves his work
Tell us why you love your job.
Our products help people lead healthier lives. That’s an awesome feeling! The industry is evolving towards personalised medicine and wearables, in which plastics are playing a large role. It's great to have your finger on the pulse of technology and be able to shape a piece of the future. We see medical technology products becoming more mobile allowing people to lead better lives.
Best business moment of 2016?
K 2016! Another highlight for us is the expansion of our main facility in Schwertberg, opening up possibilities for more individualised services to our customers.
What sets your company apart from its competitors?
The medical business is 100% focused on the industry. We have a deep understanding of its requirements and manufacturing processes.
How have you made it a success?
The whole team is focused on the life-science market. This gives us a solid understanding of the sector. We are evolving into a partner rather than a supplier.
What do you hope your customers say about the business?
Our customers appreciate our understanding of the industry and its processes. Increasingly, we are becoming the partner of choice in turnkey projects, including GMP documentation. This shows how much confidence our customers have in us.
Best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
Try to understand the customer and their requirements – develop the system concept on that basis. Don’t try to sell standard solutions.
Is there anything you would do differently?
There are always points in individual projects that could have been handled differently. We perform analysis at the end of each project to determine what worked out well and what didn’t quite go according to plan. This lets us learn for future projects.
What are you looking forward to doing in 2017?
I’m looking forward to the implementation of Industry 4.0 projects. New manufacturing concepts will have a game-changing effect. The next generation of factories will be characterised by revolutionary rather than evolutionary change. We will see whether a volume increase in medical manufacturing will continue to be achieved through larger machines and moulds or through completely different methods.
Give someone the opportunity to say no, says Caitlyn Scaggs, Polymer Solutions
Tell us why you love your job
I work for a company I believe in. Our science makes the world a better place. I’m surrounded by brilliant passionate, scientists – it’s contagious. I’m also given the freedom to come up with new ideas and implement them.
Best business moment of 2016?
We purchased a piece of analytical instrumentation, a high-temp GPC. Acquiring this is exciting itself and it also represents the health and growth of our company.
What sets your company apart from its competitors?
We recognise that results are more than just data. To meet our clients’ specific needs we must understand their context and provide expertise to support the data we generate in our labs.
How have you made it a success?
By being curious and consistently looking for new ways to accomplish goals. I ask questions and surround myself with smart people
What do you hope your customers say about the business?
That they get answers from our data and expertise and their experience with our team is enjoyable.
Best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
Give someone the opportunity to say no. There is nothing to lose in asking for what you want, if you ask in a professional way. This is my father advice, which makes it all the more meaningful.
Is there anything you would do differently?
I often over-book because I thrive on new and exciting opportunities. I am constantly battling to keep my schedule in check and not over-extend myself.
What are you looking forward to doing in 2017?
We plan to introduce new project management software that will further streamline lab work processes and provide better data for making business decisions.
Jim Joy, Raumedic, says it’s a people thing…
Tell us why you love your job.
It’s not often you have the opportunity to build a manufacturing facility in the community in which you live. The US has a history of providing innovative products to market quickly and competitively. Over the last 20-plus years we seen many companies moving offshore due to price challenges in the US market. It’s exciting to have the opportunity to change that and provide quality jobs here in US.
Best business moment of 2016?
Walking into our new manufacturing facility on 4 January 2016. Project Blue Ridge was two years in the making. Starting up a new manufacturing facility is always a challenge, particularly in a highly regulated industry such as medical. We combined the Swiss business model with German engineering and US manufacturing expertise to create a top medical manufacturing facility.
What one thing sets your company apart from its competitors?
Our people. We embrace entrepreneurial thinking and commitment. Our customers’ success is driven by our employees’ commitment to design and deliver high quality products, while maintaining the highest degree of regulatory compliance and a strong commitment to continuous improvement.
What do you hope your customers say about the business?
That we are a longterm developmental partner providing top-notch customer service and high quality products.
Best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
Continuous improvement - plan, do, check, act. The worst thing is to become complacent with past success. Continuous improvement improves processes, provides innovation to customers and keeps people challenged. A workforce that embraces continuous improvement methodologies is unstoppable.
What are you looking forward to doing in 2017?
Growth! As the business grows we’ll be able to provide high quality jobs and give back to the community that supported us.
Timothy Kneale, explains what excites him about TOPAS Advanced Polymers
Tell us why you love your job. It’s a joy to bring a new material to the marketplace and make it a commercial success. Even though TOPAS COC has been available for years a lot of companies have yet to discover the benefits of our products in healthcare.
Best business moment of 2016?
Seeing multiple long-term medical customer development programs with our cyclic olefin copolymer (COC) moving to commercialisation almost simultaneously this autumn. Healthcare developments can take many years so seeing a number of them come to fruition at once is a rare treat.
What sets your company apart from its competitors?
Our understanding and commitment to the healthcare marketplace.
How have you made it a success?
We have developed a range of products that meet many healthcare needs and have cleared all major worldwide regulatory hurdles.
What do you hope your customers say about the business?
That they’re pleased with our service, delighted that our materials have made their products better and their business more profitable.
Best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
That there’s no such thing as not making a decision. Sitting still is a real problem in business and waiting for perfect information is a recipe for being beaten to the punch.
Is there anything you would do differently?
I’d dig more deeply into the healthcare market at the beginning of my tenure to understand where our materials bring the most benefit.
What are you looking forward to doing in 2017?
We have many exciting developments under way with top medical firms and we expect to see several of these applications commercialised next year. We see trends toward wearable drug delivery accelerating, as well as more complex and precise diagnostic and microfluidic designs.
Terry Whitmore, Henniker reveals what he’s learnt over the years, including the need to delegate!
Tell us why you love your job.
It’s the diversity of the organisations that I deal with. Plasmas can solve numerous manufacturing issues relating to a range of materials. I can be speaking to a global manufacturer one day and a start-up the next – the materials and challenges are often similar.
Best business moment of 2016?
The delivery of our first system to China.
What sets your company apart from its competitors?
We recently registered the trademark ‘Passionate About Plasma’ – it’s this genuine passion for the basic science and technology that sets us apart. We really are passionate about plasma!
How have you made it a success?
People. Our employees enthuse about what we do and this enthusiasm projects outwards.
What do you hope your customers say about the business?
That we go further, that we are a valued partner who makes an ongoing contribution. In essence, that we are good to work with.
Best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
I was once asked a simple question, ‘would you be happy with that?’ I ask this same question of myself and of others many times a day.
Is there anything you would do differently?
I would delegate sooner. As a start-up it’s hard to give control of key areas of responsibility but it’s necessary for continuous growth.
What are you looking forward to doing in 2017?
We will be moving to larger premises again in early 2017 and have a number of exciting new systems and processes scheduled for release shortly after.
It’s all about people and products says Lawrence Acquarulo, Foster Corporation,
Tell us why you love your job.
It is gratifying to know the materials we manufacture are critical to the success of the global medical devices and pharmaceutical products. These products save lives and improve the quality of life. I have the opportunity to work with amazing people – employees and clients – solving problems every day.
What is the best business moment of 2016?
In 2016 we commissioned a dedicated cGPM facility for melt blending of active pharmaceutical ingredients and polymers. Designing and building a pharmaceutical manufacturing facility is a substantial undertaking yet our team remained focused and committed throughout.
What sets your company apart from its competitors?
The quality of staff and their commitment to the success of the company is unmatched. We encourage employees to submit their ideas. Some have had substantial impact on our business.
How have you made it a success?
We find people who are good at what they do and we hire them. We encourage them to contribute to their fullest and we work hard to create a great environment.
What do you hope your customers say about your business?
We hope our customers always know they can count on us for quality work. Their confidence in our ability to provide consistently good products and services is our objective.
Best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
I was once advised to hire the best people I could find even if I couldn’t afford them. I practice this and found they pay for themselves many times over. People are our greatest asset.
Is there anything you would do differently?
We are privately owned and capital constraints are always a consideration. In the early years these constraints were more pronounced. Purchasing one piece of equipment often meant foregoing another. Nevertheless, we have benefited from the long-term growth of the healthcare industry and demand for innovative material solutions.
What are you looking forward to doing in 2017?
I’m looking forward to spending more time travelling to see our global customers. I am also looking forward to personal travel with my own family.