Scapa Healthcare Strengthens Technical & Scientific Services Team in UK to Support Innovation Strategy

Peter Hynes recently joined Scapa Healthcare as Head of Scientific & Technical Services, UK & Europe. He shared his thoughts and insights about why he is excited to be a part of the team and how he plans to help Scapa Healthcare continue to create innovative solutions for its customers.

Peter Hynes recently joined Scapa Healthcare as Head of Scientific & Technical Services, UK & Europe. He shared his thoughts and insights about why he is excited to be a part of the team and how he plans to help Scapa Healthcare continue to create innovative solutions for its customers.

Tell us a little about your background

I am a chemist by training. I have a Degree and PhD in organic chemistry. I spent the last 12 years working in the research and development field across a range of different industries, including pharmaceuticals, consumer goods, and medical devices. I have held several technical leadership roles and have a broad range of expertise in R&D all the way from formulation development to competitive intelligence.

Can you briefly explain your role at Scapa Healthcare?

At Scapa Healthcare, I am the head of scientific and technical services for UK & Europe. I am responsible for leading a highly skilled group of individuals in both the technical and scientific aspects of the business. I was excited to take on this role as I strongly believe there is a chance to further strengthen Scapa’s technical excellence in providing turn-key medical device manufacturing services for the world’s leading companies in advanced wound care, consumer wellness and medical device fixation. 

On the scientific side, I am working with a team of development scientists to create the next generation of products for our customers and work closely with them to reach the right decisions to meet their unique needs.

From a technical standpoint, I lead the evaluation of current products related to raw materials, processes, control changes as well as the implementation of continuous improvements including validations and verifications needed to ensure we meet or exceed the highest standards of quality.

From a more strategic perspective, I also play a role in the senior leadership team, where I help provide guidance around new processes and technologies to showcase the breadth of what Scapa can do for its customers.

What would you say sets Scapa Healthcare apart from other Contract Development Manufacturing Organizations (CDMOs)? 

I believe that Scapa’s forward thinking and innovation sets them apart from the rest. One thing that has really stood out to me so far is that the people here are exceptionally solid from a technical point of view. This team puts their ear to the ground and their heart and soul into their work. I feel fortunate to be surrounded by such highly-qualified individuals.

In my previous roles, the majority of products I worked on were made by third-parties. Being the contract development partner now, my approach is to put myself in the customer’s shoes to understand what they are looking for. In my past experience, the CDMOs that always stood out to me were the ones that had strong technical expertise and a dedicated focus on customers. I think Scapa truly excels in this area and its long experience as a CDMO has repeatedly demonstrated to its customers that we are the right partner to meet their needs.

What industry trends do you find particularly interesting at the moment?

One trend that I find particularly interesting is the movement towards a combination of different technologies to create smart medical devices. For example, there are so many possibilities for what can be done with Scapa’s skin contact technologies in conjunction with electronics to create smart devices. This type of innovation may enable a medical professional to check, for example, if a wound is infected without having to remove the dressing. Healthcare professionals also may have access to readouts of any changes in temperature, pH, etc. or provide information to indicate a change in enzymes. This data could then be sent to a patient or medical professionals’ mobile application to expedite treatment and reduce patient complications.

Is there anything you found surprising about what Scapa Healthcare does? 

The breadth of different customers that we work with has been pleasantly surprising to me.  Going into this position, I thought Scapa would be working primarily with mid to large size organizations. There is actually quite a range. I have had conversations with customers that dominate the Forbes 100 but also those that are up and coming and creating brand new innovations. It has been very enriching to work with such a broad set of companies!

What are you excited about for your role moving forward?

This role gives me the freedom to explore new areas of innovation, to kick-off the right conversations and think about the optimal technologies that will meet our customers’ needs. Another aspect that I look forward to is working with my team to develop break-through products that solve critical medical challenges that global healthcare systems currently face. I think there's a lot of exciting stuff that will come out of our work, and I am thrilled to be a part of it!