Last year Paul West talked to Engineering Magazine about trends, challenges and objectives in the miniature fluid control design and manufacturing market.

Could you tell me a little about your background in the sector?

I am the Sales Director for The West Group Ltd. (TWG) and have worked in the industry for nearly 15 years; initially working in our production facility but quickly moving to cover sales regions which has been my focus for the majority of that time.

My main areas of experience are in medical device and life science component selection, account and project management, business development and design of medical/biomedical custom solutions and tube assemblies.

Could you provide a brief summary of your organisation and offering to the market?

The West Group designs, manufactures and supplies both components and miniature fluid control custom solutions to the medical and life science markets, focusing extensively on: fittings, filters, check valves, couplings, flow control and assemblies.

Our mission is to provide innovation and be part of the advancement of scientific knowledge and development through working closely with the leading medical and life science companies in the world.

We offer a wide range of off-the-shelf products with the ability to manufacture, mould and assemble custom solutions including tube assemblies and manifolds to our partners’ requirements.

Who in the main are the companies you engage with and in what way?

Our main engagement is with OEMs in the medical and life science sector. We are seen as a solutions partner helping customers understand the market and assisting with the best resolution for the application they are working on at that time. We have the ability to offer samples to test and create the ultimate design, ready for mass production. If there is no standard part available, we draw on our extensive capabilities to offer the best solution all-round.

Do you have a project or case study you could provide some details of?

A typical example is where we successfully worked with a customer to whom we had been supplying off-the-shelf barbed parts. After discussion, we were able to redesign their tube assembly with less components resulting in the product being one part number which eases its production in our cleanroom.

What do you see as the key trends in the sector?

Key trends are OEMs looking for partners who can offer full traceability of product, have an ISO 13485 Quality Management System and supply components which are free of particulate. Certain markets are looking for particulate-free components, which itself comes with challenges but also an opportunity to improve capabilities whilst achieving this. ISO 14001 has also been an integral discussion of choice within partnerships – something we are striving towards.

What are your objectives looking ahead through 2025 and beyond?

Objectives for TWG are to be a lead and trusted partner for both existing and new customers. We are driven to be the partner of choice for not only off-the-shelf solutions but also value-added projects. One who can help with production/custom solutions and engineering support in fluid control management – understanding the OEM’s requirements within ISO 13485 and other regulatory standards for component selection and solutions.

What are the main challenges facing the sector more generally and for you specifically?

The main challenge is the amount of quality compliance involved with medical assemblies. I don’t see this changing, only getting more in-depth - how you overcome an issue is integral to any business moving forward.

How would you sum up your message to the market?

My message would be that it has been a challenging few years within the medical market, however it has only helped businesses become leaner when making internal decisions, or considering supply chain requirements and location. Even though Quality has become stricter, it has provided a platform for more trusted partnerships which are reactive and transparent. Partnerships and relationships are integral to growing business - however this is not enough - product solutions, capabilities, ISO standards and a strong Quality Management System are key to a successful future.