As seen in the January 2025 Edition of Wire Journal Magazine:
In the prior “Year to Come” feature, Bob Swanson, president of United Wire Co., Inc., said that 2024 would be a crucial period for his company as he was making a significant (seven-digit) investment at its plant in North Haven, Connecticut, to enter the competitive medical field. WJI returned and asked for an update, which he supplied below:
WJI: Last year you said that 2024 was going to be crucial for your pursuit of the medical wire sector: how did it go?
Swanson: The year started off a bit challenging, with the economic slowdown and slower business activity creating some initial stress. However, we’ve seen a significant turnaround as 2024 has progressed. We’re excited to announce that our building expansion is now complete, and our new medical wire mill is fully operational. We’re currently supplying several companies in the medical sector, which has been a great step forward. Business has picked up, and we’re seeing strong momentum. Overall, 2024 was a pivotal year for United Wire, with meaningful growth and expansion in both our capabilities and market presence.
WJI: You bought new equipment to do this: how did the acquisition/commissioning go?
Swanson: Overall, it went smoothly. We experienced some minor delays due to supply chain issues with parts, but that was expected given the current market conditions. Our team adapted quickly to the new machinery, and the learning curve was minimal.
WJI: You’ve been in the field for 20+ years: is production of medical wire just a variation of a theme you know well?
Swanson: At its core, producing medical wire is quite similar. However, there were new challenges/ One was that we had to calculate the correct incoming round wire size and the required tensile strength to get the result needed.
The new equipment is much smaller and produces finer wire than we’re used to, so we had to make adjustments. Also, the 304V stainless steel grade behaves a bit differently than other types of stainless steel, and that added another layer of complexity. There was a lot of familiarity with the process, which helped us adapt more quickly.
WJI: Is the medical field any different, any more demanding? How did you meet potential customers?
Swanson: Medical field customers are quite similar to those in aerospace or automotive, but they certainly have unique priorities! We’ve built relationships with medical industry customers through two key strategies. First, we’ve exhibited at major medical trade shows, which have been an excellent platform for connecting with potential clients and showcasing our capabilities. Second, we hired a sales representative with extensive experience and strong industry contacts, and he has been invaluable for reaching the right people and building trust within the sector.
WJI: How was the rest of your business doing while this was going on? Just how much of your time did it take up?
Swanson: It was not an easy time. At points, there were some torturous days and sleepless nights, but that’s the nature of the business. We stuck to our plan. We actually exceeded it. Besides entering the medical field, we focused more on wide flat wire products for the stamping industry and gained some valuable new customers in that market. Those efforts took up a lot of time, but it paid off in that we have identified the right customers, figured out how to locate them and determined the best ways to reach out and
build relationships.
WJI: What’s been most eventful about this experience?
Swanson: That would be the moment we finally began producing medical wire. Seeing it all come together after 18 months of installation and preparation was incredibly rewarding. While it was a lengthy process, we never regretted
taking this path—it was well worth the wait.
WJI: Any advice for other small manufacturers out there who may be considering a major initiative like this?
Swanson: The best advice I can offer is this: be patient. Projects like this require a significant amount of time and it’s important to stay grounded throughout the process. There were moments over the past year when I felt frustrated with delayed completion dates and the realization that the return on investment might take longer than anticipated. I reminded myself that this is a long-term investment, and that success doesn’t happen overnight, although of course that’s what you’re hoping to see. Staying patient
and focused on the bigger picture made all the difference.