Medres has opened a new manufacturing facility near Budapest — a strategic expansion of our CDMO capabilities that reflects the company’s growth as we celebrate our 20-year anniversary. We sat down with Viktor Majoros, Manufacturing Director at Medres, to discuss the vision, capabilities, and strategic value behind the new facility.

What was the main driver behind building the new site?

Our goal was to build a facility that supports full-lifecycle medical device manufacturing — from pilot builds to high-volume production —within one integrated environment. The larger footprint gives us the freedom to design the manufacturing flow the way it should be: no forced multi-level routing, no bottlenecks, and no space limitations. It also creates room for structured lean systems such as Kanban, material-monitoring solutions, and a 6S framework, while allowing us to form dedicated production zones and keep capacity for future expansion.

We now operate 600 m² of Class 8 cleanrooms, along with ESD-Protected Areas, a metrology lab, and a modern warehouse, giving us the flexibility to scale quickly for both component manufacturing and fully finished devices.

What capabilities or specifications make this site unique within Medres?

The main differentiator is that we designed the facility to bring together advanced capability, scalability, and cost efficiency in one place. It spans all our core competencies — cleanroom assembly and injection molding, electronics integration, catheter component integration, precision laser cutting and welding, testing and validation, cleanroom packaging, and sterilization support.

All of this is enabled by the automation and digital systems integrated throughout the facility. They allow us to structure processes around efficient flow, support ergonomic operator movement, and maintain tight, consistent control over quality and performance. At the same time, these digital tools provide real-time visibility, traceability, and data-driven control across the entire production environment.

What does automation and digitalization look like in practice?

Several operations now run in a semi-automated form, increasing consistency and reducing labor intensity — resulting in greater stability and lower cost. This capability has helped us attract many partners, as we can reduce the required labor force by up to 60%.

In parallel, we are transitioning from paper-based workflows to fully digital systems. Our ERP is being expanded with a MES platform that provides real-time visibility, operator guidance, and data-driven control.

Machine-level data — including cycle times, test results, and yield and scrap rates — flows directly into the system, strengthening traceability and enabling faster, better-informed decisions. This integration is essential for efficient manufacturing and long-term scalability.

Together, these technical, operational, and digital capabilities create a tightly controlled and scalable manufacturing environment that supports reliable, cost-efficient production at any required volume.

How does this expansion strengthen Medres’ role as a CDMO partner?

It enables us to support partners across the entire product lifecycle — from initial introduction to maturity or next-generation manufacturing. We produce complex systems such as endoscopes, catheters, and delivery systems, and we can scale from low-volume development builds to high-volume serial production without changing sites or partners.

This scalability, combined with our European location, lean layout, operational efficiency, and digitalized workflows, allows us to deliver high-quality production at competitive cost.

It also strengthens our NPI capability by providing greater space, accelerated fixture prototyping, and smoother scale-up readiness — all with capacity for future expansion.

Sustainability has been mentioned as a focus for this site. How is that reflected in the facility design?

Sustainability was part of the design from the start: solar panels covering up to 40% of summer energy needs, selective waste management, and mobility solutions such as a company shuttle and electric pool cars. These form the foundation of a long-term program we will continue to grow.

How does this new facility fit into Medres’ broader 20-year journey?

This facility is both a symbol and a tool — it reflects how far we’ve come in two decades and equips us for the next phase of growth. From a small engineering team, we have evolved into a full-service CDMO operating in Europe and the U.S., with a clear focus on connecting, creating, and delivering innovative medical devices that make a meaningful impact.

This new site embodies that mission — scalable, capable, and ready for the future.