In operation since 1947, Beacon Converters has been able to maintain its reputation as a sterilization packaging manufacturer for the medical device, pharmaceutical, and biologics industries. When asked how the company has been able to stay true to its mission of serving clients better for all these years, Jackie Daly Johnson, the President at Beacon Converters, answers, “Each time a customer or potential customer reaches out, we ask the same question—how can we help?” Not stopping there, the company employs experienced staff and systems in place to get the answers quickly. “We have a broad array of products to meet customer design requirements and commit significant resources to assist in industry standard development, which leads to being well versed in testing methodologies and regulatory requirements,” says Jackie.

Medical devices have specific individual requirements, called inputs to packaging design. The materials used and packaging chosen must meet those requirements. Each of Beacon’s product offerings has specific characteristics to meet these challenges—whether it be the barrier characteristics of a foil lamination, the toughness and durability of a Tyvek® product, or the multi-functionality of a die-cut card. “The primary market pain points for our customers are responsiveness and reliability. Reliability has two prongs—quality and timeliness of delivery,” mentions Jackie. In order to be responsive, Beacon always strives to be nimble by focusing on its quality and supply chain. “The ISO 13485 certification ensures customers that products will meet their expectations. Also, our well-developed supply chain permits flexibility to adjust to surges in established customer products,” mentions Jackie.

Further, Beacon has recently introduced its proprietary Tyvek® Fast Track Ready to Run & Ship Pouches, allowing clients to significantly increase speed to market for new items.

Each time a customer or potential customer reaches out, we ask the same question—how can we help

Beacon’s products are used to ensure patient safety, and its staff is well versed in the role each of them plays in guaranteeing that safety. The company’s training program is extensive, and all the team members are well experienced and cross-trained. “Customers are always impressed by the knowledge and confidence of all the employees they encounter,” says Jackie. In an instance, a customer approached Beacon with a bulky, awkwardly shaped devise that had some “heft” to it and a very short timeline to market. They needed to be able to protect the device, sterilize it, and facilitate the aseptic presentation of the device into the sterile field. To protect the device, the client utilized the die-cut card concept and designed a card with hold-downs and other features. Beacon had the capability to get them prototypes within days to test the design. They chose a Tyvek® to film pouch that permitted the EO sterilization, with the additional benefit of exceptional strength for product protection. The positioning of the device on the card also allowed the device to be placed in the sterile field in a highly controlled manner—essential to prohibiting contamination. “Once the customer had decided upon their specifications, we were able to provide both the products in under two weeks,” informs Jackie.

In addition to such intriguing instances of client success, what differentiates Beacon are the core values of trust, respect, and gratitude. While every team member is dedicated to exceeding customer expectations through skill and expertise, fellow staff members, customers, and suppliers trust in their abilities and respect each other.

Jackie informs that to serve its clients better, Beacon has drilled down to reducing lead times while preserving the high-quality standards and expanding its product offerings to provide a wide variety of solutions. Striding ahead, the company will continue to streamline its processes and invest in staff, reinforcing the nimble work style that guarantees both responsiveness and reliability to the ever-expanding customer base.