A female medtech specialist who believes ‘manufacturing should always be a movement for good’ has been named as one of industry’s leading professionals.
Europlaz’s Katy O’Keeffe was awarded ‘Exemplar’ status by The Manufacturer magazine as part of its high-profile Top 100 competition held in Birmingham yesterday, a competition designed to raise the profile of the sector and encourage young people to consider a career in engineering and manufacturing.
The Essex-based Strategy Director was praised by judges for the way she helped her family-run business bring to market multiple breakthroughs in neonatal care, working closely with NHS trusts across the UK.
This has included a respiratory function monitor and a new neonatal flow sensor that has an integrated ‘sidestream’ CO2 sampling port – the latter has already been patented and enables clinicians to follow the correct protocols of using both lung protective volume control and CO2monitoring.
Katy has used her ability to bring together lots of different stakeholders on this project – including engineers, clinicians and government innovation experts – to secure a £487,000 Biomedical Catalyst Award, which has helped to advance the monitor through development, prototype and into clinical trials.
“To be named as an Exemplar means I’m one of the top 20 manufacturing professionals in the UK – that is something I never saw coming,” explained Katy, who runs Europlaz with her father Eddie and brother Rory O’Keefe.
“I’m passionate about making a difference in the medical sector and ensuring patients get access to better treatments and more advanced technologies that protects lives and eliminates pain. It’s just something we do at Europlaz every day and it’s not something I thought we’d ever be recognised for.”
She continued: “Part of this role will be to act as an ambassador for manufacturing and I’m hoping that young girls and other females will see what a difference you can make and take up a career in this field. I’ll certainly be banging the drum!”
Essex-based Europlaz’s core business is in contract manufacturing, supporting the likes of GE Healthcare, Johnson & Johnson and Medtronic.
To ensure the business is in the best position to win new contracts at home and abroad, Katy and her brother Rory have shaped and signed-off a near £4m investment drive that has seen the installation of three additional all-electric injection moulding machines, robotic technology and a recent cleanroom upgrade.
This has created a world class manufacturing facility in the UK and given it the platform to futureproof technologies for years to come and offer long-term sustainable jobs for the engineers of the future.
Katy concluded: “2025 is going to be a big year for Europlaz, with plans in place to increase turnover to £15m.
“However, the most important aim for our business continues to be providing the manufacturing and development support required to build technology that improves patient care and saves young lives.”
For further information, please visit www.europlaz.co.uk or follow the company across its social media channels.
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