Essex-based
Europlaz, a leading medtech specialist, believes the UK can push aside global uncertainty and take advantage of several new sector opportunities in 2026. The company, which provides contract manufacturing for medical devices, is predicting that growing demand from the NHS for more sustainable supply chains could lead to increased domestic production, while the business is benefitting in some market segments from the introduction of US tariffs diverting work away from international rivals.
Growth is also expected from new entrants, who build a product and a market before looking for a quick exit by selling the technology to a contract manufacturer that holds international regulatory approvals. The company is well set up to make the most of these new opportunities after completing a £4 million investment drive, upgrading its cleanroom capability and bolstering its commercial team over the last 12 months. This has seen it achieve another 20% revenue increase in 2025, with domestic and international sales now totalling £15.5 million.
Rory O’Keeffe, commercial director at Europlaz, said: “While we appreciate the current trading conditions are testing, we prefer to look at where we can take advantage of changes in the global marketplace and, in my opinion, there is plenty for us to go after. The NHS is prioritising taking carbon out of its supply chain, so for them it makes sense to move production of products closer to home. This is perfect for Europlaz, as we can offer full regulatory compliance and proven contract manufacturing and tool transfer experience that makes switching suppliers — without disruption — a lot easier.”
He continued: “Progressive new NHS initiatives, such as NICE’s Early Value Assessment (EVA) programme, and a renewed national focus on compliance by design is also a big opportunity for the UK. EVA addresses some of the traditional bottlenecks faced by the NHS and, in theory, should provide a structured pathway for technologies that meet national unmet needs to gain conditional NHS recommendations while further evidence is generated.”
The evolution of the global medtech marketplace is gathering pace, with China and the Far East now seen as a viable alternative for sourcing quality devices and products – a noticeable shift in the last decade. This has been achieved by consistent investment in automation and the use of robots to streamline production, a trend that Europlaz technical director Ian Goodacre believes needs addressing closer to home: “Automation used to be there to deliver complexity and, while that is sometimes still the case, we are now seeing it employed globally to deliver high volumes, faster and more cost effectively.”
Sustainable single-use devicesHe continued: “It is a lesson the UK should heed. Other trends we are noticing is how industry bridges the gap between 3-D printing in design and 3-D printing at scale and a change in funding landscape, with larger investments being made in pharma and weight loss drugs. This can sometimes impact the emergence of new medical devices. There is also an increasing interest in using biopolymers to support the production of sustainable single-use devices — we are already running trials on a couple of projects in this area.”
With recruitment costs climbing, Europlaz is also prioritising retention by developing its 120-strong workforce. By upskilling people and leaders, the company is investing heavily in promoting internal mobility by ensuring that opportunities are available to all. This is particularly critical in the medtech sector, where automation, digitalisation and shifting employee expectations are transforming the way many companies are operating.
Mr O’Keeffe added: “Developing the next generation of talent is another big priority. We have put aside funding for up to five industrial placements and a similar number of apprenticeships. Europlaz is a perfect home for young people looking to gain technical and skilled roles, which are fundamental to the backbone of British manufacturing and a key government aspiration.”
He concluded: “For us, apprenticeships are a fantastic way to grow people in the culture of our business, and we believe it gives us the best possible way of scaling up to cope with demand. More firms should consider it as we need to flood the domestic market with new talent.”
Europlaz, which has seen artificial intelligence-driven sales enquiries increase by 40% each month, recently completed its latest FDA inspection, highlighting its commitment to supporting clients with the manufacture, packaging and labelling of medical devices supplied into the USA.