Historians of science and academics studying creativity tell us that many “novel” ideas and breakthroughs that have changed the world have really come about when the discoveries of one field “cross-pollinate” into the field of ideas in another.

That might not have been the driver but it may well be the result of UBM Canon bundling several industry shows into one hall.   The medical device industry shared space with innovators in plastics, packaging, and other fields. 

We certainly felt it at the USON Innovative Systems booth.  We had a lot of traffic this year—perhaps because the show was busy or perhaps also because we had an attention-grabbing moving robotic arm leak testing station in our display.  We enjoyed meeting a medley of visitors, some from well beyond the device industry—everything from egg processors to a brake manufacturer, mixed in with medical device industry personnel who wear many hats. 

I also got the impression that there was more innovation-sniffing going on because most of the attendees seemed to be traveling in groups instead of solo strollers, as is often the case.  When I go to a show as an attendee instead of as an exhibitor, I’m usually on a mission with a certain number of calls to make.   Yes, there were those conversations too.   From where I stood though, most people coming to the show and to our booth were company decision makers making a determined effort to take in as much as they could.  

That and our healthy lead count—I think MDM East was a sign that we are seeing more unfreezing in the industry than even from half a year ago.

---Joe Pustka, Medical Device Leak Testing Specialist, USON (www.uson.com)