Key Takeaways from MD&M West 2024
We kicked off our 2024 trade show calendar last week at MD&M West in Anaheim, California, marking the beginning of an exciting year ahead.
After a quick stop off in Boston to visit customers, James arrived in Anaheim on the Tuesday evening and attended the 2nd and 3rd day of the event.
MD&M West is the leading B2B event in North America for the medical device industry and attracts key decision-makers from leading medical device manufacturers, both in the US, and globally. With expectations high after a lot of positive feedback on the event, we were excited to experience it ourselves.
Our expectations were met, and we found the event to be a great opportunity to engage with current customers from both the US and Europe, gain valuable insights into the evolving US market landscape and to connect with potential new partners.
Although the event was very busy, we felt that two days was sufficient to get through the key companies, as by day 3 many of the key decision makers had already left. Next year we will attend the first two days of the event. Additionally, James attending the Vance St Capital networking event on the Wednesday evening, which was a great place to network with fellow attendees.
Some key highlights from the event include.
Client Meetings
Engaging face-to-face with current clients offered a platform to delve deeper into our collaborative plans for 2024, strengthening our partnerships and aligning strategies for mutual growth.
Insights into the US Market
Navigating the show floor and conversing with exhibitors provided invaluable insights into the US market landscape. Notably, we learnt that many injection moulding and extrusion companies have their own in-house mould and tooling capabilities and keep the work in-house, a key difference from other markets. However companies were very impressed with our bespoke tooling, and they do not do tools of that quality in-house.
Machinery Research
With upcoming investments on the horizon, engaging with various machine suppliers and exploring diverse options proved invaluable. Witnessing balloon molding machines first-hand enhanced our understanding of the intricate process.
The prevailing sentiment at the event was one of optimism, with a promising outlook for the industry. Unsurprisingly, lead-time and quality remained paramount concerns for medical device manufacturers, reaffirming our focus on meeting and exceeding these expectations.
We were pleasantly surprised by the widespread recognition of Lawrence Engineering among attendees. This is a great sign that our efforts are paying off.
In conclusion, our inaugural experience at MD&M West was extremely positive, and we eagerly anticipate returning in 2025, armed with newfound insights and strengthened connections.