Porex’s Porous Media Portfolio—5Qs at Medica/CompaMed 2023

For virtually everyone in the U.S., November marks the beginning of winter, shorter days, decreasing temperatures, and Thanksgiving. For those involved with medical device development and manufacturing, it’s also the month for the Medica and CompaMed trade shows in Dusseldorf, Germany. While last year’s event seemed to bring the crowd’s back following the COVID-induced hiatus, this year may be a more true return to form.
 
With this in mind, I reached out to a number of companies who will be exhibiting at the show to find out directly from them what they are showing off or focusing on at the event, what challenges customers have brought them, and where they see their role within the industry in aiding medical device manufacturers. Tackling these questions as well as a couple others, Sabrina Donley, vice president, global marketing and communications at Porex, shared a few insights to help you determine if the firm should be a potential services partner for you in 2024 or beyond.
 
Sean Fenske: What technology or service are you emphasizing at Medica/CompaMed this year?
 
Sabrina Donley: At Medica/CompaMed this year, our primary emphasis is on showcasing our comprehensive porous media portfolio, which is designed to address various functional design challenges, including but not limited to filtration, venting, absorption, diffusion, and wicking for medical devices and diagnostics. Our innovative porous media solutions greatly benefit companies developing new products or seeking to enhance their current product’s performance and functionality.
 
Fenske: What’s the most common challenge customers inquire about, and how do you address it?
 
Donley: One of the most frequent challenges that customers bring to us relates to filtration and venting within medical devices. At Porex, we have a comprehensive range of porous media technologies specifically designed to tackle these functional design challenges while maintaining optimal performance.
 
Fenske: If you could give one piece of advice to companies seeking a manufacturing partner before they make a decision, what would it be?
 
Donley: A crucial piece of advice would be to identify a true partner who understands how to optimize your product. Look for a partner who actively collaborates with you throughout the entire design process, offering innovative, high-quality solutions while maintaining a global manufacturing presence that aligns seamlessly with your supply chain needs. Porex partners with companies through the entire process, from design and development to production and global support.
 
Fenske: What are the forces driving medical device manufacturers to seek your technology/services over doing it in-house?
 
Donley: Porex brings material science expertise to help manufacturers solve design and assembly challenges they can’t solve by doing it themselves. Through our collaborative innovation process, we work closely with each manufacturer to determine the best material component for their device—whether it is a standard component or completely customized for them.
 
Fenske: In what ways is your company able to aid in getting a product (project) to market faster?
 
Donley: Porex expedites the journey of a product to market through our ability to customize and manufacture functional components designed to meet the specific performance criteria required for demanding healthcare and life science applications. Our material science engineers help determine the right materials for the product based on regulatory requirements, ensuring not only performance but also accuracy and reproducibility—ultimately accelerating the time to market for our clients.
 
Porex is located at Medica/Compamed in Hall 8B, Booth/Stand G20-3.