All posts by Business Review Webinars

Post-event Spotlight Interview with Sam Ireland, Director of Marketing – EMEA/APAC, Loftware – 7 business-boosting benefits of cloud labeling

 

 

 

 

 

Q) Can you please introduce yourself in case some of our readers missed your latest webinar?

 

A) I’m Sam Ireland and I’m the Director of Marketing for EMEA and APAC with Loftware, the world’s largest cloud-based Enterprise Labeling and Artwork Management provider. My role at Loftware involves highlighting the value of our solutions, developing awareness of our brand, and growing our global footprint.

 

Q) How did you get started in the industry?

A) I was initially attracted to the industry because I saw opportunities to help businesses solve the many different challenges that interconnect with labeling, from ensuring compliance to driving business efficiencies to adapting to an ever-changing business landscape.

 

I joined Loftware because there is a clear value proposition to our solutions. I’d say that a career at Loftware is more than just a job – it’s an opportunity to help shape the supply chain of the future. And while a great deal of attention has been given to streamlining global supply chains, one of the most critical components is also the most overlooked: the label. At Loftware, we believe that labels are the connective tissue between all the different steps of the supply chain, therefore play a vital role in keeping parts and products moving – both upstream and downstream – without delays.

 

However, many organizations are still leaving labeling to chance as they rely on disparate solutions to meet evolving and growing business demands. Unfortunately, this approach can result in labeling errors, inconsistencies, high maintenance costs, and non-compliance. I want to help these businesses drive their labeling into the future.

 

Q) What do you enjoy most about your role?

A) Loftware really does make a difference every day to businesses of all sizes worldwide. I enjoy working across industries, from retail to manufacturing to food and beverage to life sciences and more. Our solutions are always evolving – backed by really smart teams who truly understand the needs of our customers and partners – so it’s clear that the value case really stacks up.

 

Q) What is a problem in your industry that people don’t suspect and can learn to resolve from your recent webinar?

A) Driven by the COVID-19 pandemic, cloud technology has become increasingly attractive to manufacturers, distributers, and suppliers. Its quick deployment times, low upfront costs, easy access, ability to scale, and seamless updates benefited companies when operations were disrupted by shifts in supply chain models. As such, many companies are currently running digital transformation programs that include moving core business applications to the cloud. However, it’s vital that labeling be considered as part of that process. By deploying labeling in the cloud, businesses will see several benefits, including cost savings, accessibility from any location at any time, next-level security, efficiency gains, and more.

 

Q) Why did you choose this topic for your recent webinar?

A) As noted in our recent report, ‘Top 5 Trends in Labeling and Packaging Artwork, 42% of business leaders have already embraced a cloud-first strategy for enterprise applications and a further 73% of $1bn+ companies believe the cloud will be the preferred method for labeling applications in the next three years. When speaking to our customers and partners, it’s clear that one subject is top of mind: cloud adoption. Forward-thinking companies see the opportunity. There is huge potential to scale, standardize practice, and ultimately drive improvements across the enterprise. Businesses that can effectively pivot and embrace new plans for maintaining business will have a competitive edge and set themselves up for future success.

 

Q) Do you have any advice for younger & upcoming professionals who are just getting started on their career journey from your latest webinar?

A) In terms of labeling, it is a great field for growth and continuous learning. Most importantly, it’s the backbone of many industries, which means that you can make a significant impact across your entire company. Advocate for the value your business can take from improving its labeling processes and help to make the case for improvements.

From a marketing perspective, choose a company that delivers on its value and enjoy making the success stories that will resonate with your target audience.

 

Q) What would someone be surprised to know about you?

A) Ah! One of those questions that makes me realize I’m not full of surprises! I used to be a drummer and really miss it. I wish I had continued to play over the past years, though my family probably think differently!

Click here to register and watch Loftware’s recent webinar 7 business-boosting benefits of cloud labeling  on-demand from Wednesday 4th May 2022, 3PM BST.

Spotlight Interview with Chilip Lai, Director of Business Development & Channels at LeapXpert, and Rieko Moody, Surveillance SME at Shield

 

 

 

 

Q) Hi, how are you today? 

Chilip: I’m good thanks!

Rieko: I am great, thank you.

Q) Can you please introduce yourself in case some of our readers aren’t familiar with you?

C: My name’s Chilip Lai and I focus on business development, partnerships and channels for LeapXpert – Responsible Business Communication

R: I am Rieko Moody. I am a subject matter expert at Shield, and help implement surveillance models. I also conduct market research to help with product development and roadmap

Q) How did you get started in the industry?

C: I’ve always had a keen interest in technology and software in particular to see how the latest innovations could help businesses improve efficiency and decision making. Having had several discussions with industry leaders and experts many years ago I decided to join a company that focused on Compliance and Risk with enterprise technology and data.

R: I come from a compliance background, and I have worked for a few different financial institutions. My background in e-communication surveillance fitted nicely with what Shield had been developing. Besides, working for a tech company is so much more fun than working for a finance company!

Q) What do you enjoy most about your role?

C: I enjoy meeting so many different types of people and their businesses from start-up digital asset companies to top tier global banks and law firms. Discovering together how our technology can solve their challenges and the success they have after deploying our innovations is the most rewarding part of my role.

R: As a vendor, we have the power to change and not just to execute, and I love that about my role. When everyone is working together towards a common goal, people tend to be very collaborative and creative. We learn and discover a lot from our partners, SMEs, and clients, and it’s great that we are always up for the next innovations as a company.

Q) What is a problem in your industry that people don’t suspect?

C: The evolution of communication where their customers are demanding to use their preferred method of communication – instant messaging apps. For many reasons such as compliance and security, businesses are not allowing their employees to build relationships with their customers where they’re most engaged and responsive. However, as we’ve seen particularly with regulated businesses that banning instant messaging isn’t a viable option as judging by the recent regulatory fines and sanctions.

R: In my opinion, a lot of companies face the challenge of having to manage 5-10 different e-communication solutions to cover end to end. It is a complicated process when you have to deal with data archiving, data management, supervision, e-discovery, and surveillance for so many different communication channels, and you need to be regulatory compliant (needless to say). Some people don’t realize that one enterprise solution could solve all the problems without comprising data security issues or regulatory requirements.

Q) Why did you choose this topic for your webinar? Why should people tune in?

C: The topic is very relevant not just for today but for the future of business communication. People will have some familiarity with the risks of instant messaging but they are many positive benefits for an enterprise to embrace this new communication technology from customer experience and insights to employee efficiency.

R: I think this topic is highly relevant right now since SEC and CFTC are investigating several banks’ record-keeping of communications through private platforms. We hope that everyone will be able to take some notes from this webinar and start thinking about what type of controls your firms should implement.

Q) Do you have any advice for younger people who are just getting started on their professional journey?

C: Keep learning from the industries or business leaders that most interest you. There’s lot of information online and with social platforms such as LinkedIn where companies and experts will share their latest updates and innovations. Creating and maintaining a professional online persona which will also help you to engage people in your target industry.

R: My mantra has always been that there is some value in some work that other people don’t want to do. I don’t think a lot of people realize how that can be the greatest currency later as you might become an SME of something that other people have no idea about. Another piece of advice is to keep learning even as you become more senior. Senior management with knowledge always earns more respect than managers who can lead the team without understanding what the team does.

Q) To close off – how do you relax in your free time? 

C: I like to cook as it focuses my concentration on a single task without any other distractions. From buying the ingredients, preparation and cooking the meal itself it’s all enjoyable to me. Strangely enough I also enjoy washing up and returning everything back to how the kitchen was beforehand.

R: I like to go to a park and enjoy the sunshine (cold brew iced coffee is a must in the sunshine). I also love hot yoga, and it’s the best way to fight stress!

Click here to register for LeapXpert and Shield’s webinar on Wednesday 8th June 2022 at 3PM BST

Spotlight Interview with Sam Ireland, Director of Marketing – EMEA/APAC, Loftware

 

 

 

 

 

 

Q) Hi, how are you today? 

A)  I’m excited to be able to take part in this Q&A, so thank you for inviting me. I’m looking forward to being able to highlight how those facing challenges with their labeling can overcome them with a modern Enterprise Labeling solution.

 

Q) Can you please introduce yourself in case some of our readers aren’t familiar with you?

A)  Of course. Hello, I’m Sam Ireland and I’m the Director of Marketing for EMEA and APAC with Loftware, the global leader in Enterprise Labeling and Artwork Management. I’m responsible for highlighting the value of Loftware’s labeling and Artwork Management solutions, building awareness of our brand, and growing our significant global footprint.

 

Q) How did you get started in the industry?

A) I was initially attracted to the industry because I saw opportunities to help businesses solve the many different challenges that interconnect with labeling.

I joined Loftware because there is a clear value proposition to our solutions. The company really does make a difference every day to organizations of all sizes across the globe – helping to ensure compliance, drive business efficiencies, and easily adapt to an ever-changing business landscape.

The label is the key to success in most organizations – in fact, we say the label is a product’s passport through the supply chain. Despite its vital importance, the label is something that’s been overlooked in a lot of companies and, as such, it has not been given the thought and consideration it needs. Now, modern Enterprise Labeling technology is really allowing businesses to use labeling as a strategic enabler – from sustainability goals to supply chain agility, as well as providing much-needed visibility and tracking that allows end-users to gain valuable information through advances in e-labeling.

 

Q) What do you enjoy most about your role?

A) There’s a huge variety in the type of industries that we get to work with at Loftware, which include manufacturing, retail, food and beverage, life sciences, automotive, chemicals, and more. Additionally, I enjoy solving the many industry challenges that our customers and partners face. Loftware’s solutions are always evolving to provide customers and partners with the flexibility to integrate with other systems that need to interface with labeling – it’s clear that the value case really stacks up. It’s great to work for a company that really makes a difference!

 

Q) What is a problem in your industry that people don’t suspect?

A) Well, that’s just it! People and businesses often don’t plan for labeling problems until they arise, by which point it’s usually too late. This is why it’s important that companies get on the front foot now to avoid disruption and maximize the benefits of an Enterprise Labeling approach.

Loftware’s annual ‘Top Trends in Labeling and Packaging Artwork’ survey polled nearly 1,000 professionals from organizations across all major industries and concluded: 90% believe standardizing and centralizing labeling will help keep pace with business growth, 83% think they will generate significant cost savings by consolidating under a single labeling solution, and 85% believe having an Enterprise Labeling solution helps to eliminate the risk of non-compliance. So, it’s resoundingly clear; it pays to invest in an Enterprise Labeling solution.

So where do businesses start? My advice is to take a fresh look at your labeling landscape and ask if it is really working effectively to support your business properly and efficiently. For example, label changes might be consuming your IT function and frustrating the business user. Additionally, there may be a duplication of data that puts compliance at risk. Finally, you may be carrying out a lot of manual work that could be automated and streamlined, which would help your business get products to market quickly.

 

Q) Why did you choose this topic for your webinar? Why should people tune in?

A) Many customers reach out to Loftware and tell us they are struggling with legacy labeling processes and systems. Sometimes they are using multiple labeling systems across different geographies and/or business units. As a result, they are faced with huge numbers of label templates, long and inefficient label design, lengthy approval times, and software to create and print labels that wasn’t designed specifically for that purpose. By integrating an Enterprise Labeling solution with SAP, you can take a standardized, centralized, and data-driven approach to labeling and automate key elements of the labeling process – be it the data to apply the label, the label template to use based on the printer the label needs to be printed on, the country the product is shipping to, the symbology that needs to be applied to specific labels, and much more!

 

Q) Do you have any advice for younger people who are just getting started on their professional journey?

A) From a labeling perspective, be the champion of change for labeling in your business. Advocate for the value your business can take from improving its labeling processes and help to make the case for improvements. Once your business sees the value in changing, you have an opportunity to make a significant impact across your entire company.

From a marketing perspective, choose a company that delivers on its value and enjoy making the success stories that will resonate with your target audience.

 

Q) To close off – how do you relax in your free time? 

 A) I’m an avid soccer fan (and support Liverpool F.C.), though watching rather than playing is more enjoyable for me these days! I also enjoy running, training for marathons, or chasing the kids – either works!

 

Click here to register for Loftware webinar on Wednesday 15th June 2022, 3PM BST

Spotlight Interview with Pero Lupevski, TAV Tunisia – Terminal Operations and Ground Handling Manager

 

 

 

 

 

Q) Hi, how are you today? 

A) Thanks for asking. I have had a demanding week, but I am hanging in there 😊

 

Q) Can you please introduce yourself in case some of our readers aren’t familiar with you?

A) I am Pero Lupevski, Ground handling &Terminal Operations manager at TAV Tunisia/ Enfidha International Airport. I started my career in aviation at very young age at the security department. Over the years I have built my career from Security to Ground handling department, then Airport Operations and Airside management. Having the chance to work across different departments has helped gain a holistic view of the airport operation work which on the other hand has helped me in the process of implementation of necessary tools to achieve the operation Excellency.

 

Q) How did you get started in the industry?

A) I have been fascinated by aviation and airplanes since I was a child, especially by the beautiful flight attendants 😊 I have always been interested in what that magical world is like and how everything manages to be organized accurately and on time.

 

Q) What do you enjoy most about your role?

A) I enjoy understanding all the resources at my disposal and using it to make sure my team meet the goals. This includes putting people in the right spots, procuring the right tool as well as putting together an appropriate motivation to get the work done

 

Q) What is a problem in your industry that people don’t suspect?

A) People do not understand that aviation is an expensive toy that takes a lot of money, time, and commitment to reach a high level of service. For the passengers it is normal that this level of service should be provided but are they aware what it really takes to achieve this.

 

Q) Why did you choose this topic for your webinar? Why should people tune in?

A) In this age of modern technologies, I think it is very important to highlight the importance of the application of new technologies for the development of an airport as well as the achievement operation excellency.

 

Q) Do you have any advice for younger people who are just getting started on their professional journey?

A) Get to know who you really are and what you really want to achieve in your career. Try to imagine the ideal professional development for you and then make it as your goal. Take small steps and never stop learning.

 

Q) To close off – how do you relax in your free time? 

A) Spending time with family and friends would be my favourite way to spend free time. I love being outdoors no matter if it is a mountain or a sea, hiking or cycling.

 

Click here to register for TAV Technologies webinar on Tuesday 31st May 2022, 1PM BST

Spotlight Interview with Slavica Kuvendzieva, TAV Macenodia – IT Coordinator for Macedonia, Tunisia, Georgia

 

 

 

 

 

 

Q) Hi, how are you today? 

A) Perfect as usual. Work hard, play hard. How about you?

 

Q) Can you please introduce yourself in case some of our readers aren’t familiar with you?

A) An IT professional with over 26 years of hands-on experience. Last 15 years in the Aviation Back in 2007 I started as a Director of the IT Department at Skopje International Airport. Now I am the coordinator of TAV Technologies for 6 Airports in 3 countries, Macedonia, Georgia and Tunisia. Airports that are part of our TAV Airports Holding and ADP Groupe,

I am running the daily operations with more than 30 systems at each Airport, at the same time taking care about constant and agile Digital Transformation of these airports, originating and implementing dozens of  projects for each Airport every year.

 

Q) How did you get started in the industry?

A) I can’t say that I always dreamt of working at the Airport, However the Airport employees are always saying: “Once you let the kerosene through your blood it is hard to let it go”. I came from the oil trade industry 15 years back to do a transformation and to introduce some systems and integrations for the Airport and I have never left the industry so far.

 

Q) What do you enjoy most about your role?

A) I enjoy the diversity and complexity of different functions that I am performing in my daily routine in order to elevate the performance of the Airports and to increase the profit for the Airports. To be excellent at what you do, you do need a happy, relaxed but disciplined team. And it brings me enormous joy when I personally do take care of the wellbeing and happiness of each and every player on my multicultural and cross functional teams.

I love this job because It is dynamic, it is agile, it requires traveling, it requires energy and persistence but it brings me the joy of  constant creation. With every new accomplished project I am witnessing the legacy that I am leaving behind.

 

Q) What is a problem in your industry that people don’t suspect?

A) Nobody is assuming the number of systems, software and integrations are

are engaged behind the scenes in order to provide seamless passenger journey an punctual operations.

 

Q) Why did you choose this topic for your webinar? Why should people tune in?

A) Achieving operational excellence has always been at the core of airport operations. To find ways to optimize passenger flow without compromising security and comfort, to deal with the rising passenger count through the existing airport infrastructure, airports are always turning to technology for answers. However, with the aviation business undergoing dramatic changes due to the COVID-19 and economic crisis, new approaches are needed to be able to deliver efficiencies while meeting the challenges of today.

 

Q) Do you have any advice for younger people who are just getting started on their professional journey?

A) Find your passion and make it your job.

 

Q) To close off – how do you relax in your free time? 

A) I love being with friends over fine dining and great conversation, fun times, that includes singing and dancing. I enjoy traveling enormously. It gives your mind and spirit another dimension, so I utilize every possible free time slot to see some new destination. I love skiing, skating and sailing.

 

Click here to register for TAV Technologies webinar on Tuesday 31st May 2022, 1PM BST

Spotlight Interview with Dipanwita (Dipa) Batabyal, PhD; Senior Scientist, Process Development at Amgen

We sat down over a virtual cup of coffee to interview Dipa Batabyal, Ph.D. and Process Development Senior Scientist in the Attribute Sciences group at Amgen, Inc. of Thousand Oaks, California. Dr. Batabyal is a subject matter expert on various spectroscopic techniques including FTIR, CD, intrinsic fluorescence, and Microfluidic Modulation Spectroscopy (MMS) for product characterization and technology development initiatives. The main focus of the HOS group within Amgen is biophysical product characterization by means of secondary structure, tertiary structure, thermostability, and size distribution analyses.

 

 

 

 

 

Dr. Batabyal received her Ph.D. from Albert Einstein College of Medicine, NY in biophysics and molecular biology. Her research focused on structural and functional characterization of heme dioxygenases using enzymology and resonance Raman spectroscopy. Prior to joining Amgen, she was a project scientist/postdoctoral fellow at UC Irvine, where her research focused on structural and functional characterization of cytochrome P450s using crystallography, enzymology, and spectroscopy.

For a deeper dive into this topic, read these peer-reviewed article by Dr. Batabyal and her colleagues: Shaping IR Spectroscopy into a Powerful Tool for Biopharma Characterizations and Advancing secondary structure characterization of monoclonal antibodies using Microfluidic Modulation Spectroscopy

Q: Why is determining higher-order structure (HOS) of biopharmaceutical molecules important in drug development?  

A: Determining the higher-order structure (HOS) of biopharmaceuticals is critical for biological and pharmacological function. Slight changes in HOS can impact the efficacy and quality of the drug, and therefore it is important to be characterized. Hence, the successful development of biopharmaceuticals involves the study of their higher-order structure to ensure a therapeutically active molecule in appropriate formulation conditions.

 

Q: What techniques do you use currently for HOS analysis?  

  1. Near-UV CD and intrinsic fluorescence for tertiary structure analysis
  2. Far-UV CD and traditional FTIR for secondary structure analysis
  3. DSC, nano-DSF for thermal stability
  4. SE-HPLC/LS, SV-AUC for size distribution
  5. NMR for HOS analysis
  6. MMS for secondary structure analysis (newer technique in our toolkit specially for low formulation concentrations)

More details of our HOS work can be found in A Comparison Between Emerging and Current Biophysical Methods for the Assessment of Higher-Order Structure of Biopharmaceuticals.

 

Q: What have been the main challenges you have faced with these techniques?

Currently, the biopharmaceutical landscape is going through a transition from the traditional mAbs to the BiTE® molecules that show relatively high potency and hence significantly low product concentrations which poses a major challenge in higher-order structure characterization. Some challenges commonly faced include high sample concentration requirements, interference from formulation buffers containing chromophores, labor-intensive methods, and lack of automation.

 

Q: Why and how have you incorporated MMS to overcome your analytical challenges in these areas?

A: We have incorporated MMS for secondary structure characterization of biotherapeutic proteins mainly due to its high sensitivity, high repeatability, and automation along with consistent HOS analysis over a wide concentration range. Using MMS, we are now able to characterize secondary structure of BiTE® molecules using IR spectroscopy and run samples over a wide concentration range without having to worry about interference from chromophores in formulation buffer or instrument background drifts. We have successfully run samples with concentrations ranging from 0.5 mg/mL to 100 mg/mL and published our results in peer reviewed journals.

 

Q: What have been the main benefits of its incorporation?

A: To us, the most important benefit is sensitivity with high reproducibility in data for low product concentrations, especially in the range of 1 mg/mL to 0.5 mg/mL. The other benefits include automation, continuous buffer subtraction with auto-referencing and removal of background instrument drift (a common problem in traditional FTIR), a powerful laser (no additional requirement for detector cooling using liquid nitrogen), robust HOS analysis software that calculates spectral similarity scores on the second derivative and tells us about the contributions of different secondary structural elements in a given molecule. An additional benefit is that it calculates the final concentration of the samples during the experimental runs.

 

Q: Do you have any recommendations for scientists considering adding MMS to their bioanalytical toolkit?

A: MMS is a powerful new technique for the assessment of secondary structure using IR spectroscopy for proteins. It offers certain advantages over the conventional FTIR and far-UV CD for secondary structure characterization over a wide concentration range without requiring dilution or concentrating samples. With a simple workflow, automated platform, and robust software for data analysis, MMS makes it possible to use IR spectroscopy for assessing secondary structure for screening purposes in early stages, in addition to product characterization during the later stages.

 

Click here to register for RedShiftBio’s webinar on Thursday 9th June 2022, 5PM BST.

Spotlight Interview with Graham Hall, Board Advisor and Audit Tender Consultant at Sterling Technology

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hi, how are you today? 

I’m good and delighted to have this opportunity to share some of the things I have learnt about the challenges of managing an audit tender process.

Can you please introduce yourself in case some of our readers aren’t familiar with you?

My name is Graham Hall. For the last 25 years I have worked in financial accounting and reporting for two multinational companies headquartered in Switzerland (Novartis AG and Nestle SA). In 2018 I was tasked with defining, managing, and documenting a global audit tender for Nestle. The experiences and learnings I gained on my own audit tender journey are what I would like to share with you today.

How did you get started in the industry?

For many people, including myself, an audit tender is a new experience and the need to provide a truly fair and balanced process means a very quick learning experience. I was the project leader on the Nestle process and I found the journey really fulfilling. Having learnt so much I now seek to help others as they too embark on their own audit tender journey.

What do you enjoy most about your role?

Sharing the solutions to the multiple challenges of an audit tender and working with people from companies and audit firms as they face similar challenges to those, I faced in 2019.

What is a problem in your industry that people don’t suspect?

Many companies are not prepared for the challenges of an audit tender. Indeed for many the need to look outside of their current audit provider is a strange experience. The key is to build a process that will deliver a fair and balanced tender process such that no one firm (including the incumbent) has an unfair advantage. It is important to remember, each firm will invest significantly in its participation in your process, so fairness is fundamental. A key enabler of this goal is the provision of a robust, secure, and very user-friendly virtual data room to enable efficient information exchange, collaboration and an audit trail of the process and decision-making.

Why did you choose this topic for your webinar? Why should people tune in?

Companies listed on regulated markets, credit institutions and insurance undertakings (known as Public Interest Entities or PIEs), in the UK and EU are required by law to conduct a competitive audit tender process every ten years. However, given the importance of a high-quality audit, companies or groups of companies which are not PIEs may also decide that it is in their best interests to put their audit out to tender. Many companies are unprepared for the challenges of managing an audit tender, which can be an unfamiliar experience for the individuals who are responsible and accountable for the success of the process. During our webinar, I will share my learnings from managing a global audit tender in 2019/20 for one of Europe’s largest companies, covering more than 750 entities and 180 countries. I will focus on practical advice covering issues such as planning and preparation, governance, key activities and documentation, transition planning to a new auditor, and technology tools that can be used to help achieve a successful outcome.

This webinar will be essential viewing for anybody involved, or likely to be involved, in an audit tender, both from the point of view of the tendering entity but also for incumbent and challenging audit firms, as well as their professional advisors

Do you have any advice for younger people who are just getting started on their professional journey?

If you are training to be an auditor or indeed a junior member of the team, or indeed a manager who aspires to become a Partner, and through this you get an opportunity to attend presentations by the company who’s audit your firm seeks, listen, learn and be attentive (research the company, not just its numbers and footprint, but its ethos, ethics and goals, turn off your phone, ask pertinent questions, do not be shy). YOU are the future of your firm; you can be a deciding factor for the company in arriving at its final choice of audit firm.

To close off – how do you relax in your free time? 

Relax…. good question, I would like to say spending time with my grandchildren, but maybe that is not exactly relaxing. So maybe it’s more accurate to say I relax watching rugby and watching my wife manage the grandchildren. I have also written a book to share my experiences of the Nestle audit tender process and I found writing this very relaxing on my quiet evenings and weekends as I travelled the world for five months introducing the tendering audit firms to Nestle’s businesses and people in key locations.

You can register for Sterling Technology’s webinar “How to navigate an audit tender process – and survive!” here:

https://bit.ly/3yp0S9o

Spotlight Interview with Tom Ackrill, Business Development Manager at Integrated Technologies Limited

 

 

 

 

 

Hi, how are you today? 

Hey, I’m pretty good thank you – coffee in hand so I can’t really complain!

Can you please introduce yourself in case some of our readers aren’t familiar with you?

Of course – so my name is Tom Ackrill, and I’m the Business Development Manager for a company called ITL. We’re experts in the design, development, and manufacture of medical devices and IVDs; and since 2018 have been part of G&H who in turn are world leaders in optical components and systems. It’s a pretty niche industry, and my job role really covers everything from sales, to marketing, PR, and legal on occasion – it really does keep me busy.

How did you get started in the industry?

I had a slightly sideways entry into this world to be honest. When I was leaving school, I wanted to do something with the sciences; and to cut a long story short I ended up doing an apprenticeship and earned my degree that way. After I’d finished that, I was shown a job at ITL, originally looking after the sales element of a laboratory brand we have in-house called Vitl.

The idea was that it was easier to teach a scientist to “speak Salesman” than the other way around, and so I was given a chance. I did that role for a few years and was later offered the opportunity to “try my hand” at the main business of ITL which is contract design and development. Then about five years ago, I was offered the role as BDM which I was more than happy to accept.

I really didn’t think I’d end up working in this sort of job role all those years ago as a student, I was planning on becoming a teacher, but I wouldn’t change it for the world.

 What do you enjoy most about your role?

It absolutely must be the variety of “stuff” I get to see and do on a daily basis. I’ve been with the company for the best part of 11 years now, and I never have two days quite the same. One day I might be wrangling with a contract negotiation with a new client, the next I might be speaking to a group of students off-site somewhere, and the day after I could be talking with a company about their fantastic new project.

The absolute heart of it all though is that what we do helps people. We aren’t just making consumer electronics, or toys, or luxury goods; the pieces of kit being developed and designed within ITL are directly benefitting people around the world – and that’s an awesome, if not humbling feeling.

What is a problem in your industry that people don’t suspect?

Right now? Getting your hands on the various electronics components needed to build these incredible products. The whole world currently is just a bit of a mess on that front – it’s just been a bit of a perfect storm over the past couple of years with Covid, the situation in Ukraine, the growth of electric cars, 5G, etc. has put massive strain on the supply chain. I think it’s almost a daily occurrence now that something has slipped out on its lead time, and obviously we then must do our best to manage and mitigate that. Our purchasing and production teams right now, I think, are worth their weight in gold.

Why did you choose this topic for your webinar? Why should people tune in?

I think because it’s one that we see all too often when we are first talking to clients who have either designed their product in house, or perhaps have worked with a contractor who doesn’t have the same level of exposure to the manufacturing “world” that ITL does.

One of our big USPs is that we design AND we manufacture – and by nature it means that our engineers must design things that are able to be put together as needed. It sounds obvious, but the number of times we see missed opportunities in the design phase, that by the time you realise them, you’re already far too late to make changes without incurring significant costs what with the potential impact on regulatory testing, tooling, updating the design pack etc.

That then really snowballs all the way through the chain – you either can’t make the product in the necessary volume, or for the necessary price point which negatively impacts our business. Further up the chain, our customers can’t meet the demand from their customers, or worse they can’t meet the price point they need, and then of course right at the sharp end are the medical professionals and home users who then can’t get equipment that would make a huge difference, because there’s no budget, or insufficient budget in play.

Do you have any advice for younger people who are just getting started on their professional journey?

Don’t assume anything – otherwise you’ll almost always be wrong. And on that subject; be ready to get things wrong and take a slap on the wrist where necessary. We are all young once, and there are plenty of things I did in my 20’s that I look back on now and go “why?”. Luckily, I had a great management and board team during those formative years who were there to steer me along the right path.

To close off – how do you relax in your free time? 

Nothing too exciting here I’m afraid! I have two dogs who obviously take up a chunk of my time, I also keep tropical fish and run a social media group (Freshwater Fishkeeping) on the subject as well as the occasional dalliance with writing articles for the leading hobbyist magazine in the UK.

With what little time I’m left after all that, I really enjoy walking, particularly in the hills of Scotland – it’s a long run up there to do it, but I always feel a sense of calm when I’m there.

You can register for Integrated Technologies Limited’s webinar “Start Small – Think Big” here:

https://bit.ly/3yokXww 

Spotlight Interview with Gert Willems, Global Engineering Director Process Filtration at Donaldson

 

 

 

 

 

What do you hope attendees will gain at your webinar?

The aim of our process filtration solutions and services is to support our customers’ product and process integrity through world-class application expertise. For many companies, fermentation of plant-based protein is a rather new field, but also the pioneers of this industry are always looking for ways to improve their production lines. We will be explaining ways to do this by using best-in-class filtration and fermentation solutions.

What discussions do you look forward to having with the attendees?

As a filtration company, we are often involved in setting up production lines at a very early stage and we know our products can serve the manufacturing of many kinds of food and beverage innovations. We are always eager to discuss production processes of edibles and drinks we ourselves haven’t tasted before. And we are also looking forward to discussing ways to improve existing processes.

How did you get into the industry?

I initially joined Donaldson 14 years ago and worked for different business units. I am glad to be part of the Process Filtration team as the global engineering director to strengthen the process filtration engineering organization by leveraging my experience in advanced product development, quality management and liquid filtration.

What do you enjoy most about your role?

Being part of a growing business within Donaldson creates fantastic opportunities for my team to develop new technologies and solutions in line with our customers’ requirements, to serve the growing worldwide needs for sustainable food to help to reduce carbon food print and help to improve people’s lives.

Where is your favourite place in the world and why?

My favourite place is Barcelona. I have visited this amazing city multiple times over the past 25 years, appreciating the fantastic architecture by Gaudi. Especially Park Guëll is an extraordinary and inspiring place.

You can register for Donaldson’s webinar “Filtration Solutions for Fermentation of Plant-Based Protein” here:

https://bit.ly/3FqMsHh

Spotlight Interview with Alex Santayana, Applications Engineer at NuSil

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What do you hope attendees will gain at your webinar?

Innovative new medical devices are changing lives for patients around the globe. As engineers design these devices, they need biocompatible materials that offer long-term stability, high levels of purity and robust performance standards. Along with end-use requirements, they also need materials that meet their manufacturing needs.

Silicone is a unique, engineered material that can help solve many of these design challenges facing engineers. I’ll highlight the distinctive qualities of the material that make it stand out while offering insight into its many forms and processing methods. My goal is to make it easier to choose the right silicone for a medical device application.

What discussions do you look forward to having with the attendees?

Medical devices change lives every day, whether it’s a child hearing for the first time with a cochlear implant or a busy dad who no longer stops his day for injections because he has an insulin pump. Now device therapies are expanding in ways that might have seemed like science fiction just a few years ago. It’s exciting to hear how engineering teams are imagining and developing the next generation of devices, including personalized healthcare therapies. And I look forward to conversations about the ways silicones can help improve device performance and support manufacturing processes.

What do you enjoy most about your role?

I love working with silicone because this single chemistry is capable of an incredible range of properties. Fundamental changes to the polymer can yield everything from soft gels to hard resins, all without using harsh additives or plasticizers.

The best part of my work is when I can piece together the performance, processing and business needs of an application to identify the most suitable product — the silicone that optimally balances all a manufacturer’s needs. For medical device applications, it’s both satisfying and humbling to know that my skills and expertise can help engineers find solutions that make a genuine difference in the daily lives of so many patients and their families.

How did you get into the industry?

Ten years ago, I started working with silicone as a mechanical engineer involved in the design and manufacturing of elastomeric parts. Since then, I’ve supported customers leveraging silicones in a range of industries, including technology, aerospace, defense and medical. Although today my work is more focused on the raw materials, I still benefit from knowing how they are used to accomplish any specific design goal.

Where is your favorite place in the world, and why?

My favorite place is underwater. It’s the closest most of us will get to visiting an alien world where we can weightlessly float around while observing strange and exciting creatures we would never see otherwise.

You can register for NuSil’s webinar “The Future of ATMPs” here:

https://bit.ly/3KhAcdA