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©️ Jesse Menkins, Mechanical Systems Engineer at G&H | ITL USRethinking Life Sciences: A Conversation with Jesse Menkins, Mechanical Systems Engineer at G&H | ITL US
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G&H (LON:GHH) is moving into its next phase of life science manufacturing by having opened its Innovation Hub for Life Sciences in Rochester, New York, United States. Behind this new venture into the manufacturability of medical equipment sits a team of advanced technology experts who translate innovative ideas into high-performing biotech and turn them into full-scale, life-enhancing solutions.
Today, we sat down with Jesse Menkins, Mechanical Systems Engineer at G&H | ITL US, whose innovative work is transforming medical device design and manufacturing. With a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering Technology from the Rochester Institute of Technology and proven experience delivering million-dollar projects in the medtech sector, Jesse serves as the critical bridge between R&D initiatives and full-scale manufacturing at the company's new Innovation Hub.
This is the fourth part of an interview series in which we highlight the experts behind the G&H Innovation Hub for Life Sciences in Rochester, New York. You can also read our first interview here, our second one here, and our third here. Enjoy!
©️ G&H Rochester Innovation Hub for Life Sciences Grand Opening
Q: Jesse, what drew you to biomedical engineering, and how did your career journey lead you to your position at G&H | ITL US?
JM: I started pretty close to home, so to speak, with an internship in 2018 at Tel-Tru Manufacturing, which was the sister company of GS Optics, before the business got acquired by G&H. Since these placements were part of my academic curriculum, I got a second one after finishing my first internship, this time at GS Optics which is a global manufacturer of custom designed polymer optics now part of Gooch & Housego. Eventually, this transformed into a full-time role as a manufacturing engineer through which I became the facility expert, in particular for our automated systems.
In 2024, I decided to branch out more into medical device manufacturing by applying for my current role at the new G&H Innovation Hub for Life Sciences. From talking to the team in Rochester and our colleagues in Ashford, United Kingdom, I could tell this would be an amazing opportunity through which I could essentially help grow a new US branch in one of the most exciting sectors in the world at the moment.
Q: What is something unique about your position at the G&H Innovation Hub for Life Sciences?
JM: I think I have to go back to my role because it contains an interesting dual-focused scope. On the one hand, I work closely with the people who are involved in R&D at G&H | ITL, both in the US and in the UK. On the other, I am actively supporting the setup and deployment for product manufacturing and scaling. While it is more complex to properly coordinate these different stages of manufacturing within one role, I also find this way of doing things more synergistic. We are actively bridging the gap between idea generation and testing from R&D and feasible product deployment from manufacturing. And we are doing this faster and in a more sustainable manner.
©️ G&H Injection Molded Optics
Q: What part do you play in product innovation for medtech instruments?
JM: Most times, this side of my job falls under the design for manufacturing category. That is where you basically take any limitations that a manufacturing process has into consideration and you see how you can fit in all aspects of the original design, so that the tech outcome can perform for its specific purpose while matching feasibility criteria.
For example, I've done some concept designs for a cartridge to aid in the process of blood warming within a large complex system. The goal of that solution is to preserve an organ for an extended period before it gets transplanted to the patient in need. While I was designing a couple of those concept cartridges, I needed to think about the full manufacturing process of the platform and how it affects these specific parts.
Before getting into the actual design, you need to start with the right material selection for organ transplant cartridges to ensure bio and hemocompatibility, followed by choosing the optimal manufacturing process. In this case, my initial idea was for an injection molded part, produced through G&H | GS Optics. For injection molding, strict design guidelines must be followed to prevent defects like surface imperfections, incomplete filling, knit lines, and sink marks.
Cost considerations are equally critical. While features like snap-together undercuts may seem appealing for assembly, they significantly increase tooling complexity and expenses, create part ejection issues, and risk fluid leakage—something that is unacceptable for medical devices. Instead, I designed nested features that allow adhesive bonding, providing both secure assembly and reliable sealing at lower manufacturing cost.
Having the manufacturing background and experience in this area helps me think about practical improvements early on in the project timeline to ensure that the production process can run smoothly. That’s how we make things better, faster, and more cost-efficient at G&H | ITL.
©️ G&H Innovation Hub for Life Sciences Team, Rochester, NY
Q: Now that the G&H Innovation Hub for Life Sciences has officially launched, what key initiatives are you focused on?
JM: Right now, I am focusing on New Product Introduction. I’ve already produced a working unit regarding an ophthalmics subassembly for validation and have received excellent feedback from our new client. This is another revolutionizing piece of equipment I want to see in the world because it takes eye care to the next customizable level.
That's exactly what motivates me every day, working alongside an incredible team here in Rochester and back in Ashford. The pace of innovation in today's medical landscape is extraordinary – witnessing these brilliant solutions emerge for some of the world's most pressing healthcare challenges is truly inspiring. I'm honored to play my part in delivering life-changing outcomes for people who may have been waiting their entire lives for these breakthroughs.
Learn more about our Innovation Hub for Life Sciences
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