Goodfellow Innovation Discussed Podcast: Exploring Our Technical Solutions
In our second episode of 2025, we delve into the technical side of our business, exploring the services and expertise that set us apart. Join your hosts Mark, Dr. Aphrodite Tomou, and Adam Sells as they discuss how Goodfellow goes beyond standard product offerings to provide custom solutions for a range of industries.
Beyond the Standard: Tailored Material Solutions
While half of Goodfellow's business is in standard, off-the-shelf products, the other half is dedicated to non-standard, customer-specific solutions. Customers approach Goodfellow with particular requirements, which are then addressed by the technical teams. This can range from something as simple as a wire to tighter tolerances to a completely machined part in a new material.
A Collaborative Approach
The team takes a collaborative approach, working closely with customers to understand both their technical and commercial needs. It’s not just about fulfilling a request but about providing solutions that are feasible for their application and manufacturing setting. This often involves a back-and-forth process to ensure that the final offering is the right fit, drawing on Goodfellow’s extensive experience.
Understanding Customer Needs
• Some customers have a specific material and drawing, in which case the team assesses the feasibility of the request.
• Other customers know the properties they need but are unsure of the material to use.
• Goodfellow’s technical team thrives on these challenges, working to find the best material and solution possible.
• This process can involve in-house R&D, using materials that may have never been used before.
• An example is the development of a specific polymer coating to enhance thermal capacity.
Diverse Industry Applications
Goodfellow works with a variety of sectors, each with its own unique requirements. Medical devices, for example, have very high demands for traceability and analysis. Goodfellow provides precious metals and alloys for components like cochlear implants, navigating both supply chain and technical challenges. This can include introducing specific cleaning procedures tailored to different materials. The team also supports research and development, providing materials for R&D teams, ensuring they are commercially viable for scale-up. Other industries include radiopharmaceuticals and aerospace, each with particular requirements.
A Day in the Life of the Technical Team
There is no typical day for the technical team. The team is often approached by sales and service teams or account managers regarding customer requests. They also receive direct customer calls, which the team enjoys. Activities include:
• Assessing the feasibility of requests
• Analyzing customer specifications
• Finding the right material grades
• Providing technical expertise in customer calls and presentations
The team also works with the product team and sales team and is involved in creating summaries from lengthy technical documents.
Global Expertise
Our technical team includes specialists both in the UK and the US. Qian, our Pittsburgh-based materials scientist and engineer, supports the US team. The team can also operate as an extension of a customer's business, offering material science knowledge. In this episode, we also look at how Goodfellow's material knowledge has supported Potomac Photonics, our laser microfabrication division.
Collaboration Across Goodfellow
Goodfellow emphasizes internal collaboration, with all divisions working together to support customers. This includes the sales and service teams, account managers, marketing, production, and packing, as well as the teams in the US.
How to Get in Touch
If you have a challenging project, you can reach the technical team via the website by going to the ‘Contact Us’ page. You can also email them at technical@goodfellow.com.
Coming up next
The next podcast episode will be a special episode about the periodic table on Periodic Table Day, including a giveaway of a unique desktop periodic table with embedded elements. Make sure you are following Innovation Discussed on your preferred podcast platform to ensure you don’t miss out.
