The power of the new Goodfellow family is in its ability to bring together world-class materials, precision manufacturing, and advanced analytical expertise to deliver unmatched value across the entire product development lifecycle. With the combined strengths of Goodfellow, Potomac Photonics, Suisse Technology Partners, and the Bureau of Analysed Samples, we are building something truly special. This is an integrated solution that accelerates innovation, ensures quality, and supports our customers from concept to completion.
Last week, Potomac Photonics made its own little invasion of the UK. While it may not have had the screaming fans of the Beatles’ arrival in the US, it was an exciting and meaningful tour. I was joined by Saniya Shetty, our Director of R&D, as we traveled from Birmingham to Huntingdon to meet with colleagues, customers, and partners across the growing Goodfellow family.
We kicked off the trip at the Advanced Materials Show in Birmingham, where Simon Kenney, CEO of Goodfellow, delivered a powerful keynote on the role of advanced materials in innovation. I also joined a live recording of the Innovation Discussed podcast titled How Small Can We Go, alongside Dr. Aphrodite Tomou, Adam Sells, Mark Daniels, Dr. Benedikt Moser from Suisse Technology Partners, and myself. We had a spirited conversation about how our companies complement each other and shared examples of our technologies in action. Mark did a fantastic job moderating and kept the discussion thoughtful, energetic, and engaging.
From there, we visited Goodfellow’s headquarters in Huntingdon. It was a great opportunity to deepen relationships, align on strategy, and meet colleagues from the new acquisitions in person for the first time. It was especially meaningful to connect with employees from Suisse Technology Partners and the Bureau of Analysed Samples. Putting faces to names and learning more about their work, insights, and perspectives added so much depth to our growing collaboration. As Saniya said it best:
“I have always believed that it is the people who make a company. Spending time with our colleagues from the UK, US, and Swiss teams reminded me just how true that is. Getting to know them, not only their roles but also their stories and ideas, has further inspired me about what we can build together as one team, and I am looking forward to the exciting year ahead.”
I also had the chance to spend time on the train and in the car with several team members. These conversations, about work, life, and everything in between, meant a lot to me. It is these personal relationships that will make us stronger and help us serve our customers better.
Friday night capped off the week with the Goodfellow summer party, which gave many of us the chance to unwind and truly connect. It was a wonderful evening filled with great food, laughter, and plenty of dancing. Beyond the fun, it was a meaningful opportunity to bond with teammates across the organization, learn more about each other’s stories, and celebrate the momentum we are building together.
One of the biggest takeaways from the trip was just how aligned we are. With Goodfellow providing high-quality materials, Potomac fabricating precision micro parts, and Suisse Technology Partners and the Bureau of Analysed Samples offering advanced verification, analytics, and custom reference materials, we now offer full support from raw material to tested, production-ready components.
For example, an automotive customer developing an EV battery sensor could source specialty foil from Goodfellow, have it machined by Potomac, verified by STP, and certified by BAS. It is a complete, streamlined solution that accelerates product development.
Now back in the United States, we are continuing the momentum. Alongside the Goodfellow sales team in Pittsburgh, we are helping lead the effort to bring this value to customers across the country. In the coming months, we will be meeting with customers and attending events, including a visit to Oak Ridge National Laboratory in August.
One of the advantages of being part of a global company is that you get to travel to some pretty cool places. On the weekend before heading home, I had the chance to attend the Happy Place Festival in London. It was the perfect way to reflect on the week, do some meditation, grounding, and yoga, and prepare mentally and physically for the journey ahead.
The Potomac Invasion may have started in the UK, but it is just the beginning of something much bigger.
— Mike
