In line with Boddingtons Plastics CEO Andy Tibbs, Med-Tech Innovation Expo 2022 was the corporate’s most profitable exhibiting expertise of the 12 months. One 12 months on we meet up with Boddingtons forward of their return to the NEC.
Final 12 months left Boddingtons with a substantial quantity of comply with via work to do. “Expo at all times delivers when it comes to high quality gross sales leads,” notes Chris Philpott, industrial and technical supervisor. “I’m happy to say that – one 12 months on – many of those Expo contacts and enquiries are nonetheless bearing fruit. Our stand place on the present undoubtedly set down a marker to the trade – our greatest attainable building dominated the exhibition entrance. We’re going to repeat the system this 12 months; broadening our enchantment to all comers and to clients outdated and new.”
The Expo 2022 aftermath additionally noticed Boddingtons efficiently shortlisted for a number of of the UK’s Plastics Business Awards: “Our Class 7 cleanroom is the jewel in our crown on the Marden web site,” says Philpott, “and we had been delighted to have its achievements documented and acknowledged on the PIA awards.”
The profitable manufacturing of Class 1 and Class 2 medical gadgets together with meeting relies upon closely on the ability units of the Boddingtons workforce. The corporate’s Class 7 Cleanroom coaching programme was due to this fact additionally among the many award finalists.
The total operation of Boddingtons’ Class 7 cleanroom means a failsafe and scrupulous method to requirements – an method that has been developed from the primary cleanroom building which helped entice key enterprise earlier than and accelerated via COVID, is now crystalised and expressed within the pages of the operation and coaching guide on the firm. Cleanroom entry is barely allowed with a minimal of two full days of coaching.
“We function a high-value, managed and delicate manufacturing surroundings right here,” notes Philpott, “one that may by no means be put in danger underneath any circumstance. Due to this fact, our operations and our coaching schemes are second to none.”
These excessive requirements have to accommodate and prevail for all new Class 7 initiatives in all circumstances. For instance, new tooling tools for vacuum shaped trays matched with an upgraded materials required shut communication, venture administration and assist to permit for sterility testing developed from protocols between Boddingtons QA, operations and the client’s engineering, QA and regulatory groups.
One other massive cleanroom venture additionally necessitated the acquisition of seven extra injection moulding machines with an additional three on order. This work additionally resulted within the enlargement of the Motan central supplies dealing with feed system at Boddingtons. A second supplies direct hyperlink was created, one which ensures there’s a devoted materials feed line to this a part of the cleanroom.
“Cleanroom coaching will at all times be continually up to date,” says Philpott. “Our new initiatives assist drive the chopping fringe of the Class 7 cleanroom, additional modifying and enhancing the talents units of our folks.”
2022/23 additionally noticed Boddingtons create a brand new and devoted cell for a US OEM; one which wanted small batch manufacturing at quick discover over a selection of some 300 totally different instruments.
“In the end, we and our OEM buyer wished to drive effectivity of manufacturing and suppleness on quantity with each moulding produced with us. We recognised that this cell could be totally different in form to our quantity injection moulding machine enterprise – geared up as it’s with a Common die set enhancing fast change tooling.”
The advantages have proved to be appreciable with the acquisition of extra materials – permitting batch manufacturing of a number of elements utilising the identical supplies and hues for so long as required, whereas additionally supporting fast device changeovers.
In January 2023 Andy Tibbs, CEO, mentioned: “We have now used the post-pandemic interval to develop and consolidate our investments, technical capabilities and companies; each for Class 7 cleanroom and non-cleanroom manufacturing. In abstract, we consider we’re in nice form for no matter 2023 would possibly throw at us.”
In February, a brand new advertising and marketing initiative noticed Boddingtons exhibiting at Pharmapack, Paris.
Philpott added: “We’re at all times trying to spin-off new sectors from our core competences in medical and cleanroom-based manufacturing. Pharmapack was a type of and it did very nicely for us – profitable us a brand-new order now in manufacturing.”
All through 2022 and 2023 Boddingtons pursued a sustainable manufacturing agenda as a number of multidisciplinary groups targeted on points to simplify procedures, increase effectivity, and scale back prices. The entire course of culminated within the firm profitable the environmental customary 14001.
Philpott commented: “Even in our extremely proscribed and course of validated medical manufacturing world, it does no hurt in any respect so as to add in and reveal our environmental know-how. Increasingly more of our medical and technical purchasers are asking for this experience and we’re very pleased to provide and assist the drive for a sustainable future.”
Boddingtons is a 4 time winner of the UK’s Plastics Business Awards (PIA) – Industrial Design class. Three of those awards have been medical gadgets involving advanced part and meeting work.
Boddingtons will likely be exhibiting on Stand E11 at Med-Tech Innovation Expo 2023 on Seventh-Eighth June on the NEC, Birmingham. To register for FREE, go to www.med-techexpo.com.
