Europlaz, which provides contract manufacturing services for medical devices, expects rising NHS demand for more sustainable and resilient supply chains to drive an increase in UK-based production.
The business is also seeing benefits in specific markets as US tariffs shift work away from some international competitors, while further growth is anticipated from early‑stage innovators who develop new products and customer bases before selling their technologies to established contract manufacturers with the necessary global regulatory approvals.
The Essex-based company has positioned itself to take advantage of these developments following a £4 million investment programme over the past year, it said, which has included upgrades to its cleanroom facilities and expansion of its commercial team.
As a result, it achieved a further 20 per cent increase in turnover in 2025, with combined UK and export sales reaching £15.5 million.
“Whilst 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’s plenty for us to go after," Rory O’Keeffe, Commercial Director at Europlaz, said in a statement.
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“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.”
“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 global medtech landscape is evolving rapidly, with China and other Far Eastern markets increasingly regarded as credible sources of high-quality devices – a significant shift compared to a decade ago.
This rise has been supported by sustained investment in automation and robotics, a trend Europlaz’s Technical Director Ian Goodacre believes the UK must respond to: “Automation used to be there to deliver complexity and, whilst that is sometimes still the case, we are now seeing it employed globally to deliver high volumes, faster and more cost effectively. It’s a lesson the UK should heed.
“Other trends we are noticing is how industry bridges the gap between 3D printing in design and 3D printing at scale and a change in funding landscape, with bigger 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 arena.”
Prioritising Workforce Development
With recruitment costs rising, Europlaz is placing greater emphasis on retaining and developing its 120‑strong workforce. The company is investing in skills and leadership development and promoting internal career progression to ensure employees have opportunities to grow within the organisation.
These efforts are particularly important in a sector experiencing rapid change due to automation, digitalisation and new workforce expectations.
“Developing the next generation of talent is another big priority. We’ve put aside funding for up to five industrial placements and a similar number of apprenticeships," O'Keeffe concluded. “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.
“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.”
