Celebrating 35 Years of Meridian Medical
May 2026
35 years is a significant milestone for any business. For Meridian Medical, it’s given us a moment to reflect on how far we’ve come since we established in 1991, from a single site injection moulding operation in Littlehampton to a full-service medical device manufacturer in the UK, trusted by customers across the world.
35 years, 8 buildings, seven cleanrooms, and a highly skilled team later, the business has transformed significantly and this month, we’ve taken the time to mark that journey properly.
From Injection Moulding Specialist to Full-Service Manufacturer
What began as an injection moulding operation has grown into a full-service medical device manufacturer. Operating across multiple units in Littlehampton and Rustington, with six ISO Class 7 certified assembly cleanrooms, advanced injection moulding equipment within our ISO Class 8 certified cleanroom, and a full-service team that consistently delivers to the highest standards of quality and compliance.
Over three and a half decades, Meridian Medical has expanded its capabilities from plastic component production to encompass full device project management, sterile and non-sterile cleanroom assembly, and precision injection moulding for some of the most technically challenging clients in the medical device industry.
The tools have changed. The scale has changed. The technology and processes we work with today have little resemblance to those of 1991. But the principles that guided the business from the start, quality, reliability, and a genuine commitment to the people and partners we work with are all the same.
Celebrating 35 Years with Our Customers
Milestones like this aren’t just about looking inward, they’re also a chance to say thank you to the customers and partners who’ve been part of our story. To mark the occasion, we partnered with Planet Doughnut to create personalised doughnuts in Meridian Medical’s branding colours, complete with our limited edition 35-year logo, and sent them out to our regular customers as a small but sweet way to celebrate 35 years together.
Recognising the People Behind Meridian Medical
Equally important to us was taking the time to properly recognise the people at the heart of Meridian Medical. Every member of our team received a personalised gift to mark the occasion, an engraved water bottle with their name, a limited edition 35-year t-shirt, printed by local business Ricara, and a personal thank you card, along with plenty of freshly baked pastries supplied by Coburn & Baker to go round on the day.
It’s a small reflection of something we feel strongly about. That the people who show up every day, who take pride in their work and in the standards, we uphold at Meridian Medical, deserve to be recognised.
Long-Serving Team Members Share Their Meridian Medical Story
35 years gave us a brilliant opportunity to shine a spotlight on the people who’ve been part of the Meridian Medical story for a decade or more, those who’ve watched the business evolve and played their own part in shaping it.
We sat down with three of our longest-serving team members for a series of relaxed, honest video conversations about their time here, the changes they’ve seen over the last 35 years, and some of their favourite memories along the way.
James Fenton – Managing Director | 26 Years at Meridian Medical
If there’s one person who’s seen Meridian from almost every angle, it’s James. Over 26 years, he’s worked his way through packing, cleanroom operations, stores, technical engineering, and IT management, before stepping into his current role as managing director, leading the business alongside his brother Marcus Fenton. His journey through the company is a story in itself.
In his interview, James talks about the many changes he’s witnessed, what it means to lead a business that his father built, and some of the biggest challenges he’s faced as Managing Director at Meridian Medical.
Antony Barber – Technical Engineer | 16 Years at Meridian Medical
Ant started out in our Injection Moulding cleanroom as an operator, before moving into metrology technician position where he was verifying parts, supporting validation, and making sure everything met specificaiton. Now, he’s our technical engineer working directly with customers as they move from product development into real-world use, ensuring everything runs as it should once it’s in practice.
In his interview, Ant reflects on what Meridian Medical was like when he first started 16 years ago, how his role has evolved over time, and which project has challenged him the most.
Orlanda Neto – Cleanroom Manager | 12 Years at Meridian Medical
Orlanda joined Meridian Medical 12 years ago as a cleanroom operator. Today, she’s our Cleanroom Manager, overseeing five cleanrooms and the teams that work within them, a progression that reflects both her dedication and the opportunities Meridian Medical works hard to create for its people.
In her interview, she shares what she’s learned along the way, what she’s most proud of, and a few of the moments that have stayed with her in her 12 years at Meridian Medical.
How Medical Device Manufacturing Has Changed in 35 Years
Throughout May we took a closer look at just how much has changed in medical device manufacturing, comparing where Meridian Medical started in 1991 to where we are today. From the services we offer to the technology we use to deliver them.
From early hydraulic moulding machines to today’s fully electric machinery with integrated robotics. From a single cleanroom to seven. From a local operation to a trusted partner for medical device companies across the world.
Some of the most interesting changes, though, are the ones that happen quietly behind the scenes. One example we shared on our socials was the evolution of our inspection process, specifically, the equipment we use for shadowgraph profile projection, one of the essential steps in checking precision parts.
We moved from the Mitutoyo PJ311 Profile Projector, a reliable, hands-on piece of kit that projected a magnified silhouette to confirm components were within spec, to the Aberlink Axiom Too CMM with digital vision system. The principle is the same, but it now compares directly against the original CAD design, delivering faster, more consistent results with no variation between operators. A relatively quiet change on the surface, but a meaningful one in practice.
It’s a reminder of how far medical device manufacturing has come, and how Meridian Medical has moved with it every step of the way.
35 Years as a UK Medical Device Manufacturer, and What Comes Next
Milestones like this are worth pausing to celebrate, but they’re also a moment to look ahead. The same drive that built Meridian Medical from the ground up is what continues to take it forward, and as a family-run business, that’s something James and Marcus Fenton are proud to carry into the next chapter.
To every customer who has trusted us with their products, every supplier who has worked alongside us, and every member of the team who has given their time and expertise to this business, thank you. Here’s to 35 years of Meridian Medical, and to what the next 35 years brings.
