By Eric Isberg, VP of Life Sciences
Sights and Sounds 
It was great to be back at a live show and face-to-face with our customers again. The ISPE Boston Product Show, which represents an area of the US with over 60% of the active bioprocess projects, proved once again that it is by far the best tradeshow in the bioprocessing industry. The turnout was remarkable considering we are still in the midst of the pandemic. Everyone was excited to be there, and the stadium buzzed with energy. I saw people I hadn’t met with for almost two years. Customers came to our booth with active projects driven by continued industry growth.
Learnings and Observations
Supply constraints seemed to be the underlying theme of the show. Long lead times for single-use systems is still very common. We heard from many customers that they couldn’t get critical process components like bottles and tubing assemblies in a timely manner, if at all, from their current suppliers. This is despite promised manufacturing expansions from almost all the single-system suppliers. When we explained that our lead times for ready-to-use products were less than 10 weeks we were met with relief and sometimes even disbelief.
I don’t want to speculate the real causes of the supply slowdown for ready-to-use systems. However, I heard everything from lack of raw materials (bottles, tubing, fittings) to capacity constraints due to a shift in priorities to focus exclusively on COVID applications. One supplier even told me that COVID is 100% of what they supported in 2021, with all other projects moved to 2022. The result is many unhappy customers looking for new options for their single-use bottles and tubing sets.
How Savillex Can Help
This is where Savillex can come in and become your supply partner for single-use bottles, assemblies and tubing sets. We manufacture our own bottles right here in Eden Prairie, MN with no constraints to our ability to supply your current and future ready-to-use bottle and vial needs. We even have a brand new 1,300 square ft cleanroom dedicated to single-use integration services including tubing sets and assemblies. See our website for more information or contact us at [email protected]. We would be happy to discuss how we can supply high-quality products to meet your exact requirements.
I look forward to seeing you at upcoming industry shows as well as next year’s ISPE Boston Product Show. Check back on our website for more information about where you can see Savillex products and speak to experts in fluoropolymer product solutions for bioprocessing like our line of Purillex® bottles and vials.
