Inside the MDS Engineering Mindset
At MDS, engineering is a daily pursuit of technical excellence, reliability, and customer partnership. For Mark Bell, Vice President of Engineering at MDS, no two days are the same. Whether he’s troubleshooting seal performance or helping guide the development of breakthrough materials, one thing remains constant: the mission to deliver precision.
“A good day is when I can provide direct technical support to a customer,” Mark says. “That might mean attending a lunch-and-learn on-site or meeting virtually to walk through a new design. Every interaction brings new parameters to consider.”
From Concept to Confidence
When a new project begins, the first step is always clarity. Understanding the full scope of the application, from environmental conditions to performance requirements, lays the foundation for a solution that works the first time.
“Every seal design has to be tailored. We start by gathering all the critical inputs. What are the pressures, temperatures, chemical exposures? What’s the expected lifecycle? Everything has to be understood upfront if we want to engineer something reliable.”
This methodical approach recently paid off when a customer came to MDS frustrated with how often they were replacing a standard seal. After carefully reviewing the problem, Mark’s team designed a solution that incorporated a scraper element and a low-friction seal, resulting in a sealing system that lasted more than twice as long as the original.
Solving New Problems with Custom Thinking
As technology evolves, so do the challenges MDS faces. “We have to adapt our designs, and sometimes even develop new materials, to meet the changing needs of the industries we serve,” Mark explains.
MDS supports customers in sectors like oil and gas, semiconductor, and fluid handling, where performance expectations are constantly shifting. “What sets us apart is that we’re focused on engineered solutions. We don’t push off-the-shelf parts. We meet face-to-face with customers, learn their systems, and create something that works specifically for them.”
That kind of customization demands a specific mindset. “Every application is different,” Mark says. “You have to think creatively and design based on what the application requires, not just what’s been done before. It’s not just about designing a part. It’s about solving the right problem in the right way.”
Built for Innovation and Reliability
Balancing new ideas with trusted performance is a core part of the MDS philosophy. According to Mark, the key is combining high-performance materials with rigorous design standards. “We only use top-tier materials. We also inspect all incoming raw materials to verify they meet our specifications. And with a defect rate under 1%, our process speaks for itself.”
Advanced technologies and tools help the team maintain tight tolerances across complex geometries and demanding specs. But it’s not just about machinery, it’s about mindset. That mindset will be critical as MDS looks to support emerging industries like carbon capture and storage (CCUS) and geothermal energy.
“These applications bring new extremes, very low or very high temperatures, for example. We’re already engineering materials that can thrive in those conditions.”
Interested in learning more?
Contact our team today to learn how we manufacturer concepts to reality.