A Return to MD&M West

Several weeks ago, many industry professionals flocked to Anaheim to escape the cold temps (as well as snow and ice for some) impacting much of the nation. Oh, and they also traveled to Southern California for the annual February event—the MD&M West show. The IME name was retired, and MD&M was restored in its place (how most who have been in the industry for more than a few years know the event). For those who hadn’t heard, the logo stood outside in front of the fountain (literally) like an eight-foot-tall sculpture to mark its return.

The logo wasn’t the only thing returning in 2025. This event drew crowds not seen since pre-pandemic. The halls were full with attendees seeking answers to their development challenges. Others were looking for a new partner for any number of reasons (e.g., dual-sourcing, nearshoring, expansion, etc.). Whatever their quest, West likely put them on the path to solving what troubled them. 

Each year, I look forward to attending West not just to escape the awful winter weather but also to catch up with familiar faces, make new contacts, and become better informed of innovations. This year was no different and fortunately, I wasn’t disappointed.

Automation has gained significant interest from medical device manufacturers. Once viewed as only for high-volume, high- throughput applications, integrators with a focus on the medtech industry understand the unique needs of this sector and offer solutions specific to address them. At West, I met with two such companies—Hahn Automation Group and Pia Automation. 

With locations primarily in North America and Europe (one location in Asia as well), Hahn provides automation systems for an array of application areas, from the assembly of syringes to pacemakers. Similarly located, Pia Automation provides complete system integration that can be employed within a cleanroom environment. Both firms understand the specific needs of the medical device manufacturing industry and that was apparent in my discussions with each. 

I also attended a conference session that centered on sustainability in medical device manufacturing. The presenting firm was Flex, one of the largest contract manufacturing organizations serving medtech. The session was essentially a playbook to achieving sustainability goals. What I found interesting was the mentality behind the process. It reminded me of the approach a doctor suggested when she wanted me to lose a few pounds—small, incremental changes can result in significant gains. Sure, it’s a mindset that must be embraced company-wide, but it shouldn’t be viewed as changing everything all at once. Instead, reasonable goals are set with realistic deadlines. If all goes well, I’ll be able to share a few articles from Flex later this year that provide significantly more details on this approach. 

Costa Rica had a noteworthy presence at West, which aligned perfectly with my need to finalize details on a few sessions at this year’s MPO Medtech Forum. Returning to the region (we last held an event there in 2023) on April 24 and 25, the boutique-style educational and networking conference will showcase the country as well as address issues critical to medical device manufacturers. Those unfamiliar with why Costa Rica is a desirable location for many medtech organizations will gain insights on those questions. If the event sounds of interest, visit the website or feel free to reach out to me directly. 

In another meeting, I spoke with Shaun Rothwell, CEO of EVŌQ Nano. His company is taking on “the world’s worst superbugs without creating antimicrobial resistance.” While the solution relies on silver, it leverages the metal material in a novel way. Unlike other silver-based antimicrobial solutions, EVQ-218 does not function via ion emission. Instead, the stable, nonemissive silver nanoparticles penetrate bacteria without rupturing the cell walls, preventing antimicrobial resistance. The nanoparticles can be used as a coating or compounded into plastic, such that the material itself becomes inherently antimicrobial. 

Admittedly, I listened to Rothwell with a sufficiently suspicious ear. After all, we were meeting on a bench outside the halls of West, not in a booth. Then again, the organizers of West don’t verify any claims made by their exhibitors, so having a booth really doesn’t lend any additional credibility to a company. Anyone curious should closely examine the company’s website (the actual science behind the technology is unfortunately beyond my understanding) and determine its legitimacy for themselves. But I believed enough to bring it to your attention. I’ll be very interested to hear of future partnerships with medical device leaders who have shown interest in the innovation.

Did you attend West? What were the highlights for you? What should I look for in 2026? Let me know!

Sean Fenske, Editor-in-Chief
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