New Kid on the Medtech Contract Manufacturing Block

Before landing at PlasticsToday, I spent about 20 years as an editor of B2B medical manufacturing publications in North America, Europe, and Asia Pacific. During that time, I spoke with countless contract manufacturers serving medical device OEMs. A common theme during those conversations was the market’s high barrier to entry. Once you were in, however, you were rewarded with good margins and, if you kept your end of the bargain, business loyalty from your customers. That last bit spoke volumes to injection molders in other sectors who had to earn their keep at the end of every fiscal year. Working within a highly regulated industry that, quite literally, saves lives, medtech OEMs are not sourcing new suppliers just to save a penny or two. So, despite the Olympics-level high bar to enter the market, contract manufacturers continue to line up for a chance at the gold ring. The latest one to hang its shingle on the medtech contract manufacturing block is Evevo Manufacturing LLC in Minneapolis.

Evevo is a joint venture between Minneapolis-based Visura Technologies, a privately owned medical device company, and YKK Corp. of America, a subsidiary of Japan-based YKK Corp. Evevo is committed to serving emerging medical device companies in the Minneapolis ecosystem, said the news release.

Evevo’s startup-savvy team

“Evevo Manufacturing’s focus will be on supporting startup and emerging medical device companies that often have a difficult time finding and keeping the attention of contract manufacturing partners,” said Irvin Pierskalla, vice president of operations at Evevo Manufacturing, in a prepared statement. “The entire Evevo team has extensive experience in the startup world; we’ve ‘been there and done that,’ so when clients come to us, we understand the stage they’re at and will be able to work with them to form a manufacturing partnership that meets their goals.”

This joint venture evolved from YKK’s initial investment in Visura’s Series B financing round. “Those discussions led to a unique opportunity for a joint partnership that brings YKK's strong manufacturing history to the world of medical device contract manufacturing,” said YKK Corp. of America President Jim Reed.

Founded in Tokyo in 1934, YKK is specialized in fastening products. It manufactures zippers, plastic hardware, hook and loop fasteners, webbing tapes, and snaps and buttons. 

For its part, Visura developed the TEECAD system, which it calls the world's first and only FDA-cleared disposable camera that seamlessly connects to a transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE) probe. The device supports more effective and safer intubation procedures, according to the company.

Expertise in Class I and II medical devices

On its website, Evevo lists a number of integrated manufacturing capabilities, including assembly, testing, packaging, labeling, and supplier management. It claims expertise in Class I and II medical devices, disposables, capital equipment, and sterile and non-sterile products.

Its leadership team has decades of experience in the medical device industry, according to Evevo. VP of Operations Pierskalla previously was operations manager at vasamed and VP of product development at ExoStat Medical. Director of Operations Brandon Reynolds has a background in chemistry and engineering and 30 years of experience in the medical device industry. Manufacturing Engineer Jen Chmura claims expertise in research and medical device manufacturing and CAD programs.