Medical device startup opens Lexington County manufacturing facility

A medical device startup founded by a Midlands cardiologist has opened a manufacturing facility in Lexington County focused on innovation.

ElectroWire Medical, founded by Dr. Robert Leonardi, recently celebrated the grand opening of its new facility.

The facility will serve as the company’s first production site, manufacturing an innovative electrosurgical system aimed at improving the safety, precision and efficiency of catheter-based cardiac surgery, according to a news release.

“We feel lucky to have established this new manufacturing facility in Lexington County, where there is ample support for rapid growth of early-stage manufacturing businesses like ours,” said Leonardi in the release.

Garrett Dragano, director of Lexington County Economic Development, praised the company’s decision to build locally, noting both the innovation and the community connection behind ElectroWire, the release stated.

“Dr. Leonardi’s decision to establish ElectroWire in Lexington County merges locally-grown ingenuity with the potential to make heart procedures safer for patients worldwide,” said Dragano in the release. “ElectroWire may be new, but it is built on something we’ve had here for a long time: talented people with great ideas and a community ready to support them.”

Additional speakers included Erin Ford of SCbio, Mitch Smith of SC Launch/SC Research Authority and Lexington County Councilman Todd Carnes, who each emphasized the importance of collaboration in fostering innovation and supporting South Carolina’s growing life sciences sector.

Jason Giulietti, President and CEO of Central SC Alliance, which partners with Lexington County and other regional allies to recruit and grow innovative companies, noted that ElectroWire strengthens a sector already thriving in the region, the release stated.

“ElectroWire is an excellent example of the cutting-edge companies choosing to build in the Central SC Region,” said Giulietti in the release. “Life sciences and medical devices have a powerful impact here, both locally and beyond. We look forward to seeing ElectroWire grow, expand and continue advancing life-saving technology right here in Lexington County.”