Lawrence Engineering 2024 Year Review
As the year comes to a close, we reflect on 2024 and all that has been achieved. It has been a year of remarkable growth and progress at Lawrence Engineering, setting the stage for an even more successful 2025.
ISO 13485 Accreditation
At the beginning of this year, we achieved ISO 13485 accreditation for our Medical Device Manufacturing facility. This milestone highlights our commitment to meeting the stringent quality requirements of the medical device industry. It also positions us to further expand our customer base, both in Ireland and internationally.
Events
2024 was a busy year for industry events:
MD&M West in California (February): This was our first attending this year, seen as the leading event for the medtech industry in North America. Having heard great things about this event, 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.
MACH in Birmingham (April): Our newly purchased Rollomatic Shape Smart and Comot Filtration System were showcased on the Advanced Grinding Solutions stand. The show provided excellent insights into the latest machine innovations across the industry.
Medical Technology Ireland in Galway (September): Exhibiting for the second consecutive year, the show exceeded expectations. Our Ballon Mould Tooling, Precision Core Pins, and full-service offering were of particular interest to visitors and exhibitors alike.
Companed in Dusseldorf (November): The leading trade show for the medical device industry in Europe. We had a great two days at the event, catching up with customers and suppliers. It’s a great way to see so many people in the one place.
Awards
While we didn’t win any awards this year, we were honoured to be shortlisted for a number of awards.
Sligo Chamber of Commerce Awards (February): Nominated in the Innovation category, we enjoyed an evening celebrating Sligo’s vibrant business community.
Irish Exporters Awards (September): Shortlisted for Private Business Exporter of the Year and Lifesciences Exporter of the Year. Export development remains a key pillar of our growth strategy, and this recognition highlights our progress.
Irish Medtech Awards (December): Shortlisted for Partner/Supplier of the Year. This event is the leading awards platform for the medical device industry in Ireland, and it was great to be shortlisted alongside so leading companies in the Irish medtech industry. Attending the accompanying conference offered valuable insights into regulations, sustainability, and digitalisation.
Looking ahead, we’re excited to compete in the Manufacturing category at the SFA Awards in early 2025.
New Machines
This year saw significant investments in our capacity and capabilities:
- Rollomatic Shape Smart Grinding Machine and Comot Filtration System: With the addition of a second machine, we’ve significantly reduced lead times for custom precision core pins.
- Arburg 375V: Enhancing our cleanroom manufacturing capabilities.
- Mitsubishi MP1200 with B-Axis: The first of its kind in Ireland, this machine delivers exceptional precision and represents a cutting-edge addition to our operations.
New Employees
We welcomed several new team members this year. A key edition to the team was the hiring of our first CFO. This key hire is crucial for our strategic development. We will also be adding our first ever Sales hire to the team in January, further strengthening our team.
Sustainability
Sustainability remains a core focus, guided by our pillars: Our People, Our Industry, Our Environment, and Our Community
This year we carried out an energy audit at the start of the year, to get a clear baseline, and then using the Climate Action Voucher, we have worked at building out a Sustainability Action Plan for the coming years, with some updates to begin in the beginning of 2025.
This is a continuous journey, but something of key importance to the business.
Digitalisation and RD&I
This year We made significant strides in digitalisation and Research, Development, and Innovation (RD&I).
We have made massive improvements to our ERP system, laying the groundwork for digital dashboards to enhance operational efficiency in 2025.
As an innovative business with 40 years of experience, we’ve achieved significant breakthroughs over the years. However, we hadn’t previously framed these efforts as R&D and Innovation (RD&I). Over the past year, we’ve taken steps to introduce more structure into our RD&I processes. While still in its early stages, we’ve made considerable progress in the last year.
40th Anniversary Celebrations
This year was an important year for the business, as we celebrated 40 years in business. This is key milestone for the business, starting in a small building out the back of Michael Lawrences house in 1984, to a thriving business, with two sites, over 35 employees, and a global customer base. We marked the occasion with an Open Day at our Collooney site for customers, suppliers, and partners, followed by an evening dinner for current and former employees.
2024 has been an incredibly productive year, and we anticipate an even busier 2025.
We wish all our employees, customers, and industry partners a Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year. Here’s to continued success together in 2025 and beyond!