MD&M WEST 2020

General Impression at MD&M West 2020

We exhibited at the MD&M West Show this year and were excited by the networking connections we made. With 311,260+ Californians directly employed by Life Science companies along with 1300+ therapies in the pipeline by California companies that could help fight cancer and other infectious diseases, it goes to show why this exhibition is growing in popularity every year. The ultimate return on investment are the new treatments and technologies developed for people in need.

Not only was the therapy pipeline on showcase, but other processes within the Med Device realm were very prominent as well, like Materials, Testing & Risk Management Solutions. Another high-level point is the fact that MD&M West is a vertical market collaboration exhibition which includes Plastec West, West Pack, Design and Manufacturing, and the ATX Show under one roof.  Exhibitors do not get this level of versatile traffic through their booths when exhibiting at a singular market focused show.  Everyone benefited from the interactions of a diverse crowd.

Minh Duong, VP of Engineering, demonstrating the Loop computer-aided CPR training device at MD&M West 2020

Simplexity’s Impact In This Market

Not only do we have a wide breadth of expertise to offer our clients in this market such as Mechatronics, Embedded Motion Solutions, Cost Reduction, Simplification, Quality, and Regulatory support, we also have engineers that have versatile experience over a multitude of different applications. Our work in the Molecular Diagnostics, Wearables, and Medical Device markets was showcased at our booth to show examples of successful product development partnerships.  For example, in the LOOP computer-aided CPR Training Device (shown above), Simplexity developed all the hardware and embedded firmware while our customer Health and Safety Institute developed the interface software.  Other hardware on display at our booth included an embedded 2-axis stage for scientific imaging and the Senaptec Strobe Eyewear.

Market Trends

Smart Manufacturing and 3D Printing are becoming more of a standard process in this field. With the rise of the Smart Factory, we are seeing a surge in AI, big data (SCADA systems), and sensing technologies. Coupling that with an aging workforce, these Smart Factories are poised to take over. We find ourselves in a great position to help potential customers make that leap with integration and design help in this realm.

Additive Manufacturing companies were in abundance at this show. We identified a couple to partner with that have unique processes that require some design input. Choosing the right tools and materials to support the customers design strategy is essential in the spirit of cost reduction and manufacturability. Companies such as 3D Systems, Carbon, Formlabs, Hawk Ridge Systems, HP 3D Printing, Igus, and Onshape were among a well-represented cutting-edge manufacturing process.

Interesting Takes

There were 163 Surgical Robotic material and component suppliers that exhibited at this show which leads me to believe the surge in this submarket will continue to grow exponentially as more Surgical Robotic platforms pass through the FDA process. Intuitive Surgical has led the way, but due to many forms of inpatient and outpatient surgeries, the number of FDA compliant companies will continue to grow. A company that caught my eye was TE Connectivity who supplies surgical imaging and sensor technology that create Smart Platforms and require less iterations in design work over the life of a product.

There was also a great presence of Digital Health companies represented at this show. With the convergence of digital technologies in healthcare, consumer living, and proactive disease screening we are seeing a massive trend in interconnected health systems that utilize computational technologies, smart devices, and computational analysis techniques. Companies like Boyd Corp use their technology for wound care or fully assembled wellness wearables. We discussed a cutting-edge pressure sensitive medical skin adhesive patch that could be utilized in multiple applications. Companies like this aid healthcare professionals and their clients by managing illness and health risks.

We will be exhibiting next year at the MD&M Show in Hall E so please stay tuned to our News and Events page for updates on our booth location and featured products. If you are looking for help designing a new Medical Device, Surgical Robotic, or Digital Health product please contact us.

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