Ian Bolland offers some insight as to what Medical Plastics News readers can look forward to at the Med-Tech Innovation Expo in June.
Mikal Ludlow Photography
Med Tech Innovation Expo 2021 at NEC BirminghamDay twoPicture by Mikal Ludlow PhotographyTel; 0785517720529-9-21
After a successful return following a Covid-19 enforced hiatus in September 2021, Med-Tech Innovation Expo will be returning on 8-9 June at the NEC, Birmingham, UK as part of Manufacturing Week – and there will be plenty on offer for those in the medical plastics industry.
Whether that’s specialist medical plastics companies, those who can help you connect with other markets, cleanrooms, injection moulding specialists, distributors, or more; here we throw the spotlight on one or two aspects that readers of Medical Plastics News might be interested in.
Infection control
Readers of the previous iteration of Medical Plastics News, and listeners to the MedTalk Podcast, will be familiar with BioInteractions. Its commercial director Arjun Luthra has explained that it is trying to get a multi-action biocompatible coating adopted by the UK government, saying it can consistently protect medical devices for 100 days. He will also be delivering a seminar on infection prevention measures on Day 2 of the Expo. Given the events of the last two-and-a-half years, this is a pretty timely topic that is sure to generate some interest.
An international flavour
It’s Med-Tech Innovation Expo’s third visit to the NEC which, given its location next to an international airport, makes the show that bit more connected to the wider world.
Bringing that international flavour to the trade show floor are the likes of Hessen Trade & Investment, and international hub for innovative businesses. On Day 2 you can find out more about the opportunities offered in Hessen when Dr. Hendrik Pollmann, project manager life sciences & biobased economy, delivers his seminar on the Introducing HealthTech Stage.
There is also the opportunity to connect with the Economic Development Board of Mauritius, while companies from Switzerland, the Netherlands, and Hong Kong are just a flavour of the worldwide appeal of Med-Tech Innovation Expo.
Cleanrooms, injection moulders, distributors
Guardtech Group is one of the cleanroom specialists on show and is returning this year with a new look having restructured its group having expanded to five divisions, and marketing manager Joe Shackley told us that we can expect a new look from the firm from their appearance in 2021.
“It it will be much easier for potential clients to visualise how our products and services relate to their needs going forward –whether it’s a comprehensive cleanroom build, modular cleanroom, controlled environment pre-fab pod, rapid cleanroom or portable cleanroom that they require, the Guardtech Group divisions make it super simple for customers to get what they need without any confusion.”
Packaging
The important, albeit final part of the process, is the packaging part and there is no shortage of specialising in this area this year’s show.
One such company is Shawpak, a company that is increasing its presence at this year’s event after a successful visit in 2021.
Lucie Markgraf, sales administrator at Shawpak, said: “Visitors can expect to see some of our range of thermoforming packaging machinery, we have three different size machines and a brand new four Side Seal Pouch machine. Our machinery is compact and flexible, and this is so important to medical device manufacturers when cleanroom space is so expensive.”
Take to the stage
Across two conference stages, Med-Tech Innovation Expo will be covering several news and issues that are pertinent to the life sciences sector, including medical plastics.
The Med-Tech Innovation Conference will cover important issues relating to the sector, including new developments in manufacturing, health inequalities, and the effects of medtech on the NHS in the UK.
The Introducing HealthTech Stage stage will involve an array of new technologies, speakers from the show floor and a session dedicated to start-ups showing off their new innovations and developments.
Two panel sessions to look out for on this stage of particular relevance across the medical device and medical plastics sector include a live MedTalk Podcast episode on the challenges of regulation in the medical device sector, and how to avoid recalls relating to software, materials, and devices.
Compliance
As the medical device sector has seen a lot of regulatory development, particularly with changes to European legislation and the UK’s withdrawal from the European Union, a panel of regulatory specialists on the Introducing HealthTech Stage will take you through some of the current key challenges likely to face companies, and how you can go about addressing them.
In a similar vein, a panel session on Day One on the same stage will analyse the common pitfalls that have led to recalls of medical devices relating to design, software, and materials. The panel will feature experts who specialise in quality management and quality control checks with medical devices, and how to recall devices quickly – with the help of technology – should a device slip through the net.
One exhibitor returning to Med-Tech Innovation is Zener Engineering Services, which specialises in engineering validation services.
Its director, Dave Easton, explains more and why the company is returning to the show.
“Medical Device Software Validation is a regulatory requirement, which is a specialist area of concern, in which ZES is very experienced. ZES can also manage large projects and provide leading experts in the field to ensure that medical devices and their manufacturing processes comply with regulatory requirements and are safe for patients.
“Visitors can expect to meet our experts and chat about medical device compliance and any concerns and issues they may have.
“The 2021 show was organised to an extremely high standard during the COVID pandemic, with our particular needs being taken into account every step of the way. ZES didn’t feel like just another exhibitor!”
For more information about exhibiting or visiting Med-Tech Innovation Expo, visit www.med-techexpo.com.