Energist and fortop UK enhance NeoGen ergonomics
Working with automation specialist fortop Automation & Energy Control (fortop UK), Energist has standardised on a robust, medical-grade steute foot switch for its NeoGen nitrogen plasma skin rejuvenation system. The proven pedal helps practitioners deliver intensive, high-shot-count facial treatments more comfortably, while giving Energist a reliable, traceable actuator that supports the company’s rapid global growth.
Energist now focuses its business on NeoGen, a nitrogen plasma device offered in three variations for medical aesthetics procedures such as skin rejuvenation. The system converts nitrogen gas into plasma energy and delivers rapid “shots” through a handpiece to treat the skin, with a typical full-face treatment requiring around 1,500 individual shots.
From multiple systems to a single platform
Historically, Energist offered several devices across the medical beauty and aesthetics market, including systems for hair removal and laser-based treatments. As the company’s ownership and product strategy evolved, those legacy devices have been retired in favour of a single flagship NeoGen platform that now underpins Energist’s growth.
“At this moment in time NeoGen is the business.” says Mike Walters, who oversees operations at Energist. “We manufacture one product in three variations, and everything we do operationally is geared around supporting that device.”
A long-standing, medical-grade solution
From the outset, NeoGen and its legacy systems relied on a steute foot switch supplied via fortop UK, rather than hand controls alone, to trigger plasma delivery. The pedal has been associated with Energist’s plasma devices for at least a decade, first on earlier products and then carried forward onto the current NeoGen platform.
Describing the foot switch Mike Walters says: “It’s a sturdy bit of kit; it has to be. While it’s originally designed for demanding applications in other industries, which means its specification more than matches the stresses of clinical use, it has been tried and tested by us, which is why we had no hesitation moving it from the legacy products to the current device.”
Critical component in a certified medical device
Because NeoGen is a medical device, Energist treats the foot switch as a critical component. “Any change to the device, including the foot switch, has to go through third-party certification and analysis. You are talking about cost, time and effort, because it is a fundamental part of the build.” explains Mike.
Reducing operator fatigue in high-shot treatments
Although NeoGen includes a trigger on the handpiece, Energist quickly recognised that relying purely on finger actuation across hundreds or thousands of shots could cause fatigue for practitioners. A typical full-face procedure can require around 1,500 shots, while a consumable nozzle is rated at approximately 4,000 shots and the handpiece at around 250,000 shots, so sustained, repetitive triggering is part of daily clinical work.
“The device can be used in two ways. You can either press a button on the handpiece, or you can use your foot. When you are doing a full face and clicking away, holding or pressing a button constantly, fingers and arms start to ache. The foot switch is a lot better to use and is probably used more than the hand trigger now.” says Mike.
Improving ergonomics during intensive treatments
By moving the actuation to the pedal, clinicians enjoy greater freedom of movement and a more relaxed arm position during procedures. Energist sees the ergonomic benefit as central: “It really is about operator fatigue. The foot switch just takes over and lets practitioners focus on treatment quality rather than the mechanics of firing the device.” says Mike.
Reliability, traceability and bespoke supply
fortop UK supplies the steute foot switches to Energist on a made-to-order basis, ensuring each unit matches Energist’s configuration and traceability requirements. Steven Hill, managing director of fortop UK, confirms that these are not treated as generic off-the-shelf products, but as dedicated components for machine builders such as Energist.
Each pedal is delivered with a unique serial number that Energist links to its corresponding NeoGen device, giving clear traceability from component to clinic. This confidence in the product and the supply relationship means Energist does not need to fully function-test pedals on receipt; they instead move into stock and onto the production line.
Steven Hill notes that fortop UK protects Energist’s installed base by declining to sell replacement pedals directly to end users. “If someone were to find us and ask for that foot control, we would direct them back to Energist. The serial number dictates that it is an Energist product, and that ensures they retain the relationship and aftermarket business.”
Scaling production with growing demand
In recent years, NeoGen sales have increased sharply as Energist has restructured the business, refined the device and expanded its global distributor network. Mike Walters reports that unit volumes have risen from around 140 to 150 systems in the previous year to a forecast of approximately 500 devices in the current year, with particularly strong momentum over the last six months.
The surge in NeoGen shipments has a direct impact on foot switch demand. “The quantities are changing week to week. As sales pick up and we build more devices, we obviously buy more pedals. It is a nice challenge to have, but it means we need visibility and flexibility from fortop UK.” says Mike.
fortop UK responds by working with Energist on forward forecasting, partial shipments and capacity planning at the pedal manufacturer, so that NeoGen production can continue even as order volumes fluctuate. Welcoming this collaborative approach, Mike says: “Smaller, on-demand shipments make a huge difference to keeping product flowing out of the door.”
Shaping the next generation of NeoGen
Alongside managing current demand, Energist is investing in the next evolution of the NeoGen platform. Plans include a more contemporary, easy-to-clean enclosure, improved ergonomics around the device housing and modular internal assemblies to simplify service and maintenance.
For Energist, the collaboration with fortop UK delivers more than a component. It provides a trusted partner that understands the demands of a regulated medical device, supports rapid growth with flexible supply and contributes ideas for the next phase of NeoGen’s evolution.
