UFP Technologies
A publicly traded developer and custom manufacturer of engineered medical, packaging, and industrial products.
Last updated August 22, 2026
AI crawler reads
No AI crawler has read this profile since Oct 28, 2026.
Overview
UFP Technologies is a United States-based developer and custom manufacturer of engineered products and integrated solutions. The company began in 1963 as United Packaging Corporation in Woburn, Massachusetts, producing protective packaging for electronics. It later broadened its materials and manufacturing capabilities, changed its name to United Foam Plastics Corporation in 1967, and eventually adopted the UFP Technologies name when it completed its initial public offering in 1993. The business initially developed around fabricated and molded foams. In the 1970s, it began precision molding cross-linked polyethylene foam for military, consumer, and industrial applications. During the late 1980s, it adapted specialized foam technologies for medical protective packaging. That move helped establish a longer-term transition toward highly regulated healthcare manufacturing, including cleanroom production, medical packaging, components, and device-related products. UFP Technologies now serves medical device and life-science customers alongside selected aerospace, defense, automotive, electronics, consumer, and industrial accounts. Its medical activities include single-use devices, components, sterile and protective packaging, products for minimally invasive surgery, infection prevention, wound care, wearable applications, orthopedic soft goods, and orthopedic implants. The company combines materials expertise with design, converting, molding, assembly, packaging, and other manufacturing services. Its material portfolio has included foams, films, fabrics, thermoplastic polyurethane, molded fiber, plastics, and composite structures. Medical technology became increasingly central to the company through internal development and acquisitions. UFP expanded its cleanroom footprint in the 1990s, introduced thermoplastic polyurethane pouches and bags for orthopedic implant applications in 2001, and launched the FlexShield product line in 2013 for medical devices, instruments, and implants. Subsequent acquisitions added specialized medical manufacturing, engineering, and assembly capabilities, allowing the company to move beyond component supply toward more complete device-manufacturing programs. The company moved its headquarters from Georgetown to Newburyport, Massachusetts, in 2016. It sold its molded-fiber business to CKF in 2022 while continuing to build its medical technology platform. UFP opened a medical manufacturing operation in Tijuana, Mexico, in 2022, and its international footprint expanded further through later acquisitions. In 2023, UFP Technologies was added to the S&P SmallCap 600 index. By 2024, the medical technology segment represented more than 90 percent of company revenue according to the cited company history, illustrating the strategic concentration of the business around healthcare manufacturing. UFP Technologies positions itself primarily as an outsourced development and manufacturing partner rather than a consumer-facing product brand. Customers generally use the company’s capabilities within their own medical devices, procedures, packaging systems, and engineered products. Its competitive proposition is based on materials knowledge, design-for-manufacture support, controlled-environment production, regulatory familiarity, supply-chain coordination, and the ability to combine multiple manufacturing processes across an international network.
History
UFP Technologies was founded in 1963 by William H. Shaw, Robert W. Drew, and Richard L. Bailly as United Packaging Corporation in Woburn, Massachusetts. Its original business focused on protective packaging, especially for electronics. In 1964, the company moved its factory headquarters to Georgetown, Massachusetts. The organization changed its name to United Foam Plastics Corporation in 1967 to reflect a broader ability to work with foam and plastic materials. During the 1970s, UFP developed a stronger specialization in foam fabrication. In 1976, it began precision molding cross-linked polyethylene foam components for military, consumer, and industrial customers. This capability later supported expansion into healthcare applications. In 1988, the company introduced compression-molded protective packaging for medical products using specialized foams. The company completed its initial public offering on December 17, 1993 and changed its formal name to UFP Technologies, Inc. Acquisitions during this period broadened its access to foams, films, fabrics, and related manufacturing technologies used in medical, military, aerospace, consumer, and automotive products. The acquisition of Moulded Fibre Technology also added molded-pulp packaging capability. As its medical customer base grew, UFP invested in cleanroom manufacturing beginning in 1994. The company continued adding specialized materials and processes through acquisitions, including FCE Industries in 1997, Pacific Foam Technologies in 1998, and Simco Industries in 2000. In 2001, it introduced thermoplastic polyurethane pouches and bags as an alternative to foam packaging for orthopedic implants. Further acquisitions in 2008 and 2009 expanded its foam and advanced-materials capabilities, including Stephenson & Lawyer, Advanced Materials Group, Foamade Industries, and E.N. Murray. UFP increasingly emphasized medical applications during the 2000s and early 2010s. In 2013, it introduced FlexShield, a thermoplastic polyurethane packaging solution designed for medical devices, instruments, and orthopedic implants. The acquisition of Packaging Alternatives Corporation in 2013 added further packaging capabilities, while the 2018 acquisition of Dielectrics supported additional engineered-product applications. The company’s medical technology platform expanded more rapidly after 2020. UFP acquired Contech Medical and DAS Medical in 2021, followed by Advant Medical in 2022. In 2022, it sold its molded fiber business to CKF, Inc., opened a medical manufacturing operation in Tijuana, Mexico, and continued redirecting its portfolio toward healthcare-related manufacturing. Acquisitions of AJR Enterprises, AQF Medical, Marble Medical, and Welch Fluorocarbon in 2024 added further medical and specialized production capabilities. The company’s cited acquisition history also records UNIPEC and Techno Plastics Industries, Inc. in 2025. UFP relocated its headquarters to Newburyport, Massachusetts, in 2016. In 2023, it was added to the S&P SmallCap 600 index. By 2024, medical technology reportedly accounted for more than 90 percent of revenue. The company now presents itself primarily as an outsourced development and manufacturing partner for medical device companies, while retaining capabilities serving aerospace, defense, automotive, electronics, consumer, and industrial markets.
- 2023
Added to the S&P SmallCap 600
[1]UFP Technologies became a constituent of the S&P SmallCap 600 index.
- 2022
Medical manufacturing expanded in Mexico
[1]The company opened a medical manufacturing operation in Tijuana and sold its molded fiber business to CKF.
- 2016
Headquarters moved to Newburyport
[1]UFP expanded and relocated its headquarters to Newburyport, Massachusetts.
- 2013
FlexShield product line launched
[1]FlexShield expanded UFP’s TPU packaging offering for medical devices, instruments, and orthopedic implants.
- 2001
Thermoplastic polyurethane medical pouches introduced
[1]UFP introduced TPU pouches and bags as an alternative to foam packaging for orthopedic implant applications.
- 1994
Cleanroom production investment
[1]Growing medical demand led UFP to begin investing in cleanroom manufacturing.
- 1993
Initial public offering and corporate renaming
[1]UFP completed its IPO and formally adopted the name UFP Technologies, Inc.
- 1988
Medical protective packaging introduced
[1]The company introduced compression-molded medical protective packaging based on specialized foam materials.
- 1976
Precision molding of cross-linked polyethylene foam begins
[1]UFP began precision molding foam components for military, consumer, and industrial applications.
- 1967
Name changed to United Foam Plastics Corporation
[1]The new name reflected the company’s expansion beyond its original packaging focus into broader foam and plastics capabilities.
Products and positioning
A technically oriented outsourced design and manufacturing partner for medical technology companies, with additional capabilities in engineered packaging, materials conversion, components, and industrial applications.
Medical technology manufacturing
Medical device components and single-use devices
UFP Technologies develops and manufactures components and single-use products used in areas such as minimally invasive surgery, infection prevention, wound care, wearables, orthopedic soft goods, and implant-related procedures. Products are generally engineered to customer specifications and may involve material conversion, molding, assembly, cleanroom processing, or other controlled manufacturing steps.
Medical packaging · 1988
Medical protective and sterile packaging
The company supplies protective, sterile, and application-specific packaging for medical devices, surgical instruments, and orthopedic implants. Its packaging capabilities developed from earlier foam fabrication and later expanded to films, fabrics, thermoplastic polyurethane, and other engineered materials.
Thermoplastic polyurethane packaging · 2013
FlexShield
FlexShield is a TPU-based packaging line introduced for medical devices, instruments, and orthopedic implants. It was positioned as a flexible engineered alternative within UFP’s protective medical packaging portfolio.
Engineered materials · 1976
Foam and molded components
UFP fabricates and molds foam components, including cross-linked polyethylene foam products, for protective packaging and engineered applications. These capabilities serve medical, military, aerospace, automotive, consumer, and industrial customers.
Medical packaging · 2001
TPU pouches and bags
Introduced in 2001, UFP’s TPU pouches and bags were developed as alternatives to foam packaging for orthopedic implant applications. They form part of the company’s broader film and flexible-material conversion capabilities.
Brand decisions
2025
Acquisitions of UNIPEC and Techno Plastics IndustriesM&ABackground
The cited company history records additional acquisitions as UFP continued to develop its medical and engineered-product platform.
Action taken
UFP acquired UNIPEC and Techno Plastics Industries, Inc.
2024
Expanded through four specialized acquisitionsM&ABackground
UFP continued consolidating and extending its medical technology and engineered manufacturing capabilities.
Action taken
The company acquired AJR Enterprises, AQF Medical, Marble Medical, and Welch Fluorocarbon.
Aftermath
These transactions expanded the company’s specialized production capabilities and international medical technology footprint.
2022
Divested molded fiber businessM&ABackground
UFP was increasingly concentrating its resources on medical technology and other highly engineered products.
Action taken
The company sold its molded fiber business to CKF, Inc.
Aftermath
The divestiture reduced exposure to molded-fiber packaging while supporting a more focused medical technology strategy.
2022
Expanded medical manufacturing in MexicoStrategyBackground
UFP sought to extend its geographic manufacturing network and support medical technology customers with additional production capacity.
Action taken
The company opened a new medical manufacturing operation in Tijuana, Mexico.
Aftermath
The operation expanded UFP’s international manufacturing footprint and reinforced its healthcare-oriented strategy.
2022
Acquired Advant MedicalM&ABackground
UFP continued using acquisitions to expand its medical technology capabilities and international reach.
Action taken
The company acquired Advant Medical.
Aftermath
The acquisition contributed to the company’s broader medical manufacturing platform.
2021
Acquired Contech Medical and DAS MedicalM&ABackground
UFP was broadening its medical technology platform through acquisitions of specialized businesses.
Action taken
The company acquired Contech Medical and DAS Medical.
Aftermath
The transactions added medical capabilities and supported expansion toward more comprehensive device manufacturing.
1993
Completed initial public offeringOtherBackground
The company had expanded from protective packaging into foam, plastics, and specialized engineered products and completed its IPO on December 17, 1993.
Action taken
UFP completed the offering and formally changed its name to UFP Technologies, Inc.
Aftermath
The transaction established UFP Technologies as a publicly traded company and supported its subsequent expansion through acquisitions.
Sources2 sources
Cite this profile: Cite the canonical profile. /brand-wiki/ufp-technologies · Editorial policy · How profiles are compiled