Med-Tech Innovation Expo returns to the NEC Birmingham on June 7-8. Here, organisers of the event for medical device manufacturing tell Packaging Scotland about the latest trends set to be showcased and discussed this year.
Q) What are some of the biggest challenges/opportunities facing the medical device manufacturing sector at present?
A) Many industries face the challenges of high production costs, supply chain disruption and turbulent economic headwinds. At a time when life sciences and medical technology are talked about as a jewel in the crown that can turbocharge the British economy, there’s no better time to be part of the UK and Ireland’s leading event for medical device manufacturing and technology: Med-Tech Innovation Expo.
Q) Why should visitors attend Med-Tech Innovation Expo?
A) Med-Tech Innovation Expo will connect leaders, engineers, innovators and manufacturers with all of the technology and innovation they need to facilitate the design and manufacture of life-changing medical devices. Take your place at the fastest growing event in medical technology, where you’ll find live demonstrations, advanced technologies, new product launches, a world-class conference programme, cutting-edge technology zones, industry association pavilions and more!
Visitors from the medical engineering and manufacturing community will be able to see the entire spectrum of advanced technology, materials and solutions on show including packaging, extrusion and moulding, 3D printing, automation, materials, electronics, medical plastics, design, sterilisation, components, testing and inspection, sensors, cleanroom tech, surface technology, manufacturing equipment and contract manufacturing services.
From OEM to fledgling start-up, Med-Tech Innovation Expo will allow you to connect with peers and experts. Your chance to connect with a community of designers and engineers ready to help you bring medical devices to market, quickly and at scale – and get a whole year’s worth of business done in two days!
Med-Tech Innovation Expo’s event app will help you create a personal plan for the two days. Scheduling meetings around the conference sessions you want to go to couldn’t be easier. And if that’s not enough you will also get personalised product and supplier recommendations and the opportunity to connect with peers ahead of the event.
An interactive, insightful and efficient event, designed to meet the needs of the industry. If you’re part of the medtech industry, this is an unmissable event to grow your professional network and business.
Q) What can we expect this year?
A)This is a unique opportunity to interact and engage in a cutting-edge and insightful experience. Over 150 outstanding exhibitors with exciting displays, all primed to help you find the technology and innovation you need to facilitate life changing medical devices.
The show floor will welcome companies from the world of packaging, plastics, media, regulatory consultants, metrology, marking, coatings, materials, pathway experts, digital health, automation and more.
There should also be a special mention for those in the 3D printing sector, as Med-Tech Innovation Expo is once again co-exhibiting with TCT 3Sixty, taking place next door in Hall 1. 3D printing and additive manufacturing is a growing force in the medical sector with many use cases starting to emerge. You can combine your visit to Med-Tech Innovation Expo with a visit to TCT 3Sixty, the UK’s definitive and most influential 3D printing and additive manufacturing event, which is running alongside Med-Tech Innovation Expo. Your badge gets you into both.
Whether you’re looking to invest in the latest technologies and materials, need to improve your manufacturing processes, source new suppliers, or want to absorb new information and learn about the latest industry developments, Med-Tech Innovation Expo has everything you need in one place.
Q) What can you tell us about the conference programme? What are some of the latest trends you expect will be heavily focused on and debated during the event?
A) Education is critical to Med-Tech Innovation Expo. The event will deliver two stages packed full of CPD accredited innovation and intelligence. The Med-Tech Innovation Expo stages will be bursting full of inspirational leaders, innovators and practitioners, offering thought leadership and insights from the sector’s biggest names.
The Med-Tech Innovation Conference and Introducing Health-Tech Stages will provide invaluable, expert insights on a variety of subjects. The world-class programme will be delivered by engineers, device inventors, legal experts, consultants and government departments to name a few.
Day one will see a stellar cast engage, excite and inspire visitors, with a keynote from the Office for Life Sciences and talks from the Department for International Trade, Marks & Clerk, ORCHA, Pennine Healthcare and Wilmington Healthcare before a headline session from Boston Scientific on one of the current pan-industry buzzwords: sustainability.
Sustainability is not the only theme that will be discussed across the two days. Attendees will be able to learn about the importance of intellectual property, addressing supply chain issues and medical device outsourcing. Plus, there will be an excellent informative and interactive workshop, brought to you by the NIHR, for those starting out in the world of medical device innovation.
The Introducing Health-Tech Stage has a mix of the best of the show floor, designers, marketers, and experts in their fields throughout the industry. Returning for 2023 will be a live episode of The MedTalk Podcast focused on regulation – as the UK enters an uncertain period and medical device manufacturers grapple with changes in Europe – experts with different perspectives from within the industry, including a couple of consultancies from the show floor, will provide their thoughts and advice to those in attendance on how to navigate the uncertain world of red tape.
Q) Are there any opportunities for start-up businesses to showcase their innovations and capabilities?
A) This year sees the return of the Start-up Zone sponsored by NIHR, SBRI Healthcare and Innovate UK, a hub for entrepreneurial innovators looking to accelerate the adoption of their products and services. This exciting feature will be a hive of innovation and new technology, presenting start-ups, spinouts, research projects, non-profit organisations and small businesses a superb opportunity to bring their services to the market in the most cost-effective way possible.
And, for the third successive year, the Introducing Health-Tech Stage will conclude with the PITCH competition as budding start-ups from the show floor will have the opportunity to show off their capabilities.
Q) What are the Med-Tech Innovation Awards and when are they awarded?
A) On the evening of 7 June, a prestigious black-tie event will celebrate the outstanding business achievements, international successes and innovative breakthroughs made across the life sciences and healthcare technology sectors in the past year.
From the dazzling red carpet drinks reception to the three-course meal, awards ceremony with celebrity host JJ Chalmers, and fantastic afterparty the evening is set to be one to remember!
Celebrated at the Medilink UK Healthcare Business Awards, this is a fabulous networking opportunity with almost 300 leading figures and decision-makers from across the life sciences and healthcare technology sector sharing their pride in the industry; it’s going to be a night you don’t want to miss!
Q) What impact can winning a Med-Tech Innovation Award have for a company?
A) Med-Tech Innovation Awards commend innovations in medical technology. Winning an award will position your innovation as one of the best in the industry and give your company global recognition. There are many benefits to winning one of the six categories.
The event has lots of PR coverage in the run up to the awards ceremony, with lots of publicity given to all those nominated. Live tweets on the night by the organisers and triumphant innovators, plus the celebratory coverage afterwards, increases the brand awareness for all winners and those highly commended.
Independently judged by industry leaders and experts in their field, success at the Med-Tech Innovation Awards gives credible recognition of your innovation and adding ‘Award Winning’ to your product or company profile generates intrigue and highlights the integrity of your business.
In addition to the external benefits, winning a Med-Tech Innovation Award is a very public way of recognising the hard work and achievements of your staff. It has a hugely positive effect boosting motivation, productivity, and morale of your team.
If you’re the best, the best will want to work with you. Being recognised as the best in class and building your brand will open doors to new opportunities.
