A Week in Minneapolis: Highlights from MD&M Midwest 2025

Introduction

As part of our global events strategy, we’ve been attending relevant trade shows to determine which ones deliver the best value, for networking, market insights and business growth. Back in 2024, our Managing Director Tautvydas attended MD&M MidWest as a delegate and reported that the exhibitor lineup was strong and highly relevant for us. With this feedback and our experience at the MD&M West in February we knew this was a “must attend” event for us.

The exhibition is always two-fold: the exhibitor list and the delegate profile. Some events target only delegates, others are rich in both. From our delegate-viewing in 2024, it was clear that many exhibitors at this show were parts manufacturers, suppliers and medical device OEMs, which meant the walking delegates would very likely include our target audience. We also look for presence of other laboratories, which helps confirm relevance, and this event ticked those boxes.

Why Minneapolis? Why MD&M MidWest?

In February 2025 we attended the West edition in Anaheim and found it to be a fantastic experience. That only increased our desire to head to Minneapolis which is home to many of the world-leading medtech companies, with many major device manufacturers clustered in and around the Twin Cities. This made it an ideal venue for us to meet both at-show and pre-arranged clients.

Event Timeline and Highlights

Day 1: Arrival & Set-up

Arriving late Saturday afternoon, we took the evening to explore Minneapolis, scout dining spots and try and get into the time zone. Sunday was booth-set-up day. The stand was pre-delivered with no forklift chaos this time! With set-up down to 1.5 hours, we still had to navigate the local electrical quirks (hello extra voltage!), but with support from the onsite electricians we were ready ahead of time.

Day 2: Client Meeting Before the Show

On Monday we met an existing US client, someone we initially met earlier in the year at MD&M West. We have been speaking once a week with this client since April so to meet face-to-face was something we were all really looking forward to. Client meetings are among the highlights of our event calendar, seeing their equipment and having this demonstrated in person is something that just cannot be simulated from a distance. Building a personal rapport in their offices removed the “distance” effect of remote engagement and set the tone for how our working relationship will develop. We hope to welcome them at our offices very soon!

Days 3-4: Show Floor in Full Swing

We headed to the venue in our Test Labs tracksuits, this time stepping it up a notch with our new orange trainers! From the moment we arrived, it was clear our look divided opinion, people either loved it or didn’t, but we certainly did. At events like this, standing out from the crowd is essential, and we definitely achieved that.

With over 500 exhibitors and 5,000 attendees it’s important to leave a lasting impression and grab the attention of delegates passing by. Our strategy for this event was clear: focus on our top five “wish list” companies. That means you can’t just stand back and wait for people to come to you. There are always two types of exhibitors at events, those who sit behind their stand and wait, and those who are out front, actively engaging with everyone who passes. We’re very much the latter.

Our Outlook magazine once again proved to be a fantastic conversation starter. Delegates were intrigued by its look and content, and it allowed us to engage with a wide range of visitors, not only those with immediate testing requirements but also those interested in the educational side of what we do. It also opened the door to connections who, on the surface, may not need testing right now but could provide valuable contributions to future Outlook features.

We were genuinely impressed by the footfall throughout the event. Doors opened at 10:00, and by 11:30 the aisles were buzzing with activity. The energy across the conference centre was fantastic, with a constant flow of delegates keeping us busy for most of the day, so much so that we barely left the stand! It’s often the case that the final day of an event quiets down, but not here, the momentum stayed strong right up to the last hour.

Our goal was to connect with five key companies, and we were thrilled to have met with four of them, including multiple representatives from different departments, which helped deepen our engagement within each organisation. The conversations were relevant and lively, particularly around biocompatibility testing and how starting these assessments earlier in the process can help prevent delays later on.

We also had a number of discussions focused on material compatibility testing, which proved to be a major talking point throughout the show. These discussions often began with material manufacturers and gave us insight into their internal testing processes and the factors driving their decisions. A common theme we heard, especially from larger manufacturers with in-house testing capabilities, was the growing need for independent, third-party verification to validate their results.

Day 5: Facility Visits & Follow-Up

Our final day was spent meeting with a new connection recently introduced to us through one of our clients. After first meeting them at the event, we were thrilled to be invited to their facility in Minneapolis for a full manufacturing tour. The team couldn’t have been more welcoming, even taking us out for lunch at their local restaurant.

Having seen several manufacturing facilities in the UK, it was fascinating to experience how a US site operates and to spot the subtle differences in approach, layout, and process.

We spent the rest of the afternoon driving across the area to visit a few prospective clients we’d been in touch with before the event, dropping off copies of Outlook to continue those conversations and keep the momentum going.

Of course, it wasn’t all work! We always try to make time for a bit of sightseeing, and if you ever find yourself attending this event, you must stop by The Nook in St. Paul. They serve the best Juicy Lucy burgers, and the cheese curds are to die for (literally, if you had too many!).

This time of year really shows Minneapolis at its best, the trees are stunning shades of yellow, orange, and red, and the whole city has such a warm, welcoming feel. We genuinely felt safe, at home, and would absolutely recommend adding Minneapolis to your list if you ever get the chance to visit.

Key Takeaways

• MD&M Midwest remains “must-attend” for medtech manufacturers looking to engage in the US market. The exhibitor-delegate mix and region’s manufacturing strength deliver value.
• Face-to-face meetings with clients and prospective partners enhance trust, deepen relationships and accelerate project kick-offs.
• Standing out on the show floor matters: bold branding, proactive outreach and educational content (like our Outlook magazine) draw attention.
• Our US attendance underpins our strategy to support US-based OEMs seeking UK-accredited testing, helping bridge the time zone/logistics gap.

MD&M Midwest 2025 delivered on every front, relevance, connection and momentum. If you work with medical device OEMs or are targeting the US market, this event should be high on your agenda. We’ll definitely be back, and we’re already looking forward to the next MD&M West in February.