Optimum Processing was founded by Pete Florez in 1990 as a manufacturer’s rep organization to supply bioseparations products to the growing life sciences industry in Northern California. Through the 1990’s the company grew to become an important resource for the expanding biotech, pharmaceutical, and medical device companies in the region. Optimum Processing was a first promoter of single-use disposables, introducing several of the early manufacturers of single-use bags and related bioprocessing products to the Bay Area community.
In 2000, Optimum Processing, Inc. (OPI) was founded to expand the company’s capabilities to include product development, large-scale systems, and distribution. Kim Florez expanded her role in finance to become the Head of Operations, managing the growing distribution and nascent manufacturing activities. Although the main focus was distribution, many of our customers approached us for custom assemblies in smaller order quantities than the larger suppliers were willing to accept. In 2010, the company moved to San Rafael, adding the ability to provide unique and custom products in direct collaboration with our customers. OPI moved into its current facility in 2014, further expanding our capabilities and ensuring that we could provide end-to-end solutions, from concept to design to delivery for both standard and custom products.
OPI emphasizes customer-driven product development. Collaborations with many of the local biopharmaceutical companies have resulted in several proprietary and highly successful products such as the SeptaVent ™ and the patented HarvestMax ™. OPI has set up CMO’s for a number of these products and established in-house quality control, packaging and distribution.
In 2017, OPI began manufacturing its own single-use bioprocess bags, using bio-industry standard films and developing specialized manufacturing methods.
OPI has established itself as a leading supplier of single-use disposables with a reputation for reliable, high quality products and exceptional customer service. Through a combination of in-house manufacturing, purchasing practices to stay ahead of supply chain issues, testing practices, long-term relationships with major CMO’s and suppliers, OPI has built a reputation for delivering quality products to its customers with shorter lead times than most other single-use disposable suppliers.
In 2017, OPI received ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management Systems Certification which is maintained through annual audit of its systems and processes. In 2019, Kim Florez became President/CEO, replacing Pete Florez who left the company due to health reasons.