Phillips-Medisize vs Plexus: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
Phillips-Medisize (3.9/5) edges ahead of Plexus (3.8/5) overall. Phillips-Medisize is the better choice for drug delivery devices needing high-volume production. Plexus is the stronger option for complex capital equipment needing build and sustaining. The right choice depends on your project size, budget, and required tech stack.
Phillips-Medisize vs Plexus: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | Phillips-Medisize | Plexus |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 1964 | 1979 |
| HQ | Hudson, WI, USA | Neenah, WI, USA |
| Team size | ~7,000 | ~20,000 |
| Rating | 3.9 / 5 | 3.8 / 5 |
| Primary differentiator | Design, molding and assembly of drug delivery devices under one global quality system | Engineering, NPI and sustaining services for low-to-mid volume, high-complexity medical equipment |
| Pricing model | Development contract plus manufacturing supply agreement | NPI contract, manufacturing supply agreement |
| Min. engagement | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
| Primary tech stack | Injection molding, Automated assembly, BLE | PCB design, PCB assembly, Embedded C/C++ |
| Industries served | Drug delivery, Diagnostics & lab devices, Surgical & therapeutic devices | Surgical & robotics, Diagnostics & lab devices, Aerospace, Industrial |
Phillips-Medisize vs Plexus: overview
Phillips-Medisize
Phillips-Medisize is a subsidiary of Molex, itself owned by Koch Industries, and provides outsourced design, development and manufacturing to pharma, diagnostics and medical device companies. It is based in Wisconsin and has about 7,000 employees. Molex's purchase of inhalation specialist Vectura added combination-product expertise, and the combined team includes more than 1,200 engineers and scientists across 30 sites. A $110M manufacturing campus in Katowice, Poland, opened in November 2023.
Plexus
Plexus Corp. is a NASDAQ-listed company headquartered in Neenah, Wisconsin, that offers design and development, supply chain, new product introduction, manufacturing and sustaining services. Healthcare and life sciences is one of its three markets alongside aerospace and defense and industrial. Its healthcare work includes surgical equipment, imaging equipment and diagnostic instruments. The company has around 20,000 employees in total, though only part of that is healthcare.
Services and capabilities: Phillips-Medisize vs Plexus
| Capability | Phillips-Medisize | Plexus |
|---|---|---|
| Electronics & PCB design | ✓ | ✓ |
| Firmware & embedded software | ✗ | ✗ |
| SaMD & companion apps | ✗ | ✗ |
| Connected devices & IoT | ✗ | ✗ |
| Industrial design & human factors | ✗ | ✗ |
| Mechanical engineering | ✓ | ✓ |
| Device cybersecurity | ✗ | ✗ |
| Regulatory & QMS support | ✓ | ✓ |
| Manufacturing & scale-up | ✓ | ✓ |
Tech stack comparison: Phillips-Medisize vs Plexus
| Framework / platform | Phillips-Medisize | Plexus |
|---|---|---|
| Embedded C/C++ | N/A | ✓ |
| Embedded Linux | N/A | N/A |
| RTOS | N/A | N/A |
| BLE | ✓ | N/A |
| Cloud (AWS/Azure) | N/A | N/A |
| IEC 62304 | N/A | N/A |
| ISO 14971 | N/A | N/A |
| ISO 13485 QMS | ✓ | ✓ |
| Qt | N/A | N/A |
Pricing comparison: Phillips-Medisize vs Plexus
| Criterion | Phillips-Medisize | Plexus |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
| Engagement models | Fixed project, Manufacturing contract | Fixed project, Manufacturing contract |
| Rate transparency | Not public | Not public |
| Price tier | Mid-market | Mid-market |
Target audience comparison: Phillips-Medisize vs Plexus
| Dimension | Phillips-Medisize | Plexus |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | Drug delivery, Diagnostics & lab devices, Surgical & therapeutic devices | Surgical & robotics, Diagnostics & lab devices, Aerospace |
| Best use cases | Autoinjector or pen injector development and production, Inhaler device for a pharma combination product | Building and sustaining a diagnostic imaging subsystem, Electronics redesign for component obsolescence |
| Typical project type | Fixed project | Fixed project |
Phillips-Medisize vs Plexus: pros and cons
| Phillips-Medisize | |
|---|---|
| + | Very large manufacturing footprint across the US, Europe and Asia |
| + | Vectura deal added deep inhalation and combination-product skills |
| + | Development and manufacturing under one quality system |
| + | Experience with connected drug delivery |
| - | Owned by Molex and Koch Industries, so it suits large pharma more than small startups |
| - | Development work is usually tied to a manufacturing agreement |
| - | Less suited to software-heavy or early research projects |
| Plexus | |
|---|---|
| + | Strong with complex, lower-volume capital equipment such as imaging and surgical systems |
| + | Offers product engineering as well as manufacturing |
| + | Sustaining engineering over long product lives |
| + | Public company with transparent financial reporting |
| - | Generalist manufacturer; healthcare competes with aerospace and industrial for capacity |
| - | Not a fit for early-stage concept work |
| - | Most engineering engagements lead toward a manufacturing contract |
Who should choose Phillips-Medisize?
A typical fit: autoinjector or pen injector development and production.
Design, molding and assembly of drug delivery devices under one global quality system. Minimum engagement is not publicly disclosed. Works best with clients in Drug delivery, Diagnostics & lab devices, Surgical & therapeutic devices.
Who should choose Plexus?
A typical fit: building and sustaining a diagnostic imaging subsystem.
Engineering, NPI and sustaining services for low-to-mid volume, high-complexity medical equipment. Minimum engagement is not publicly disclosed. Works best with clients in Surgical & robotics, Diagnostics & lab devices, Aerospace, Industrial.
Decision matrix: Phillips-Medisize vs Plexus
| Your situation | Recommended choice |
|---|---|
| You need full-ownership delivery on a defined project scope | Phillips-Medisize |
| You need a large dedicated team for an ongoing programme | Check each company's engagement model |
| Your budget is at the lower end | Compare: Phillips-Medisize (Not disclosed) vs Plexus (Not disclosed) |
| You need specialist depth in a specific vertical | Plexus |
| You need staff augmentation or team extension | Neither; consider alternatives that offer staff aug |
| You need consulting before committing to a build | Both may offer discovery engagements |
Use case fit: Phillips-Medisize vs Plexus
| Use case | Phillips-Medisize fit | Plexus fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Autoinjector or pen injector development and production | Strong | Limited | Phillips-Medisize |
| Inhaler device for a pharma combination product | Strong | Limited | Phillips-Medisize |
| Building and sustaining a diagnostic imaging subsystem | Limited | Strong | Plexus |
| Electronics redesign for component obsolescence | Limited | Strong | Plexus |
Verdict: Phillips-Medisize vs Plexus
Phillips-Medisize (3.9/5) is the stronger overall choice for most Medical Device Development projects. Design, molding and assembly of drug delivery devices under one global quality system.
Plexus (3.8/5) is worth a look if you need electronics redesign for component obsolescence. If your situation matches that, Plexus is a competitive option.
Related comparisons
Phillips-Medisize vs Plexus FAQ
Is Phillips-Medisize better than Plexus?
Phillips-Medisize (3.9/5) scores higher overall, but "better" depends on your use case. Phillips-Medisize's strongest advantage: very large manufacturing footprint across the US, Europe and Asia. Plexus's strongest advantage: strong with complex, lower-volume capital equipment such as imaging and surgical systems.
How do Phillips-Medisize and Plexus differ in pricing?
Phillips-Medisize uses development contract plus manufacturing supply agreement pricing. Plexus uses npi contract, manufacturing supply agreement pricing. Neither firm publishes a full rate card; a discovery call is required for project-specific quotes.
Which is better for enterprise: Phillips-Medisize or Plexus?
Plexus is the larger team and typically the better enterprise-scale choice. For very large programmes, verify team size and compliance coverage directly with each company before shortlisting.
What are the main differences between Phillips-Medisize and Plexus?
Phillips-Medisize's primary differentiator is: Design, molding and assembly of drug delivery devices under one global quality system. Plexus's primary differentiator is: Engineering, NPI and sustaining services for low-to-mid volume, high-complexity medical equipment. They also differ in team size (~7,000 vs ~20,000), minimum engagement (Not disclosed vs Not disclosed), and primary industries served (Drug delivery, Diagnostics & lab devices vs Surgical & robotics, Diagnostics & lab devices).
Verify all details directly with each company before making a decision.