From ventilators to the Research Triangle: Why Unitron is expanding to the U.S.

Customers who wanted to expand

Unitron has been focusing specifically on life sciences for over ten years. During that time, its client portfolio grew steadily: from startups bringing their first product to market to scale-ups with international ambitions. And those ambitions increasingly ran up against the limits of European regulations.

“Investors advised our clients to look beyond the EU. And that quickly leads you to the U.S.: the world’s largest life sciences market, both on the user demand side and the production side.” Unitron heard this message more and more often. And decided to take action.

A changing playing field

There’s more at play here than just customer growth. Geopolitical dynamics are shifting. Major international companies that have relied on manufacturing in Asia for years are reorienting their supply chains toward Europe and North America. Demand for reliable, local manufacturing is on the rise and Unitron has an answer to that.

This shift is evident in customer demand. A Dutch company developing a product for epilepsy detection is receiving an increasing number of inquiries from the U.S. To respond more quickly, it has decided to operate out of Cary in partnership with Unitron. Following the necessary FDA approval, the first products will be assembled and shipped from North Carolina in early 2026.

Another example: a Dutch company that manufactures pumps for organ transplants is acquired by an American parent company. The parent company wants to continue production for the U.S. market and chooses Unitron as its partner. “You have to manufacture quality products where the expertise is,” says De Wilde. “You need to be able to closely monitor what works and what doesn’t.”

A tailored role for every client

What Unitron does varies by client. Sometimes the collaboration begins with the design and validation of a production process. Sometimes Unitron handles the procurement of parts, assembly, or distribution of the final product. And sometimes the entire process: from initial concept to mass production and delivery to the end customer.

That is precisely the strength Unitron aims to leverage on the U.S. market.

The choice of Cary

Choosing the right location in a country as large as the U.S. is no easy task. Unitron analyzed the twenty most innovative locations and chose the Research Triangle in Cary, North Carolina. The region is renowned for its strong collaboration between businesses, universities, and government, creating a true Triple Helix. It is also home to a high concentration of pharmaceutical, biotech, and life sciences companies.

“It’s truly incredible how well people collaborate here,” says De Wilde. “The dynamic is different from Europe. Space, energy, and a willingness to build, that’s part of the culture here.”

Unitron Medx, LLC is based in Cary, North Carolina. The team is growing, and the first projects are underway. This marks the starting point of a long-term strategy in the world’s largest medtech market.