Honestly, if you're looking up Integra Companies Devens MA, you’re probably running into a bit of a name-game headache. It happens. You see the name "Integra" and think of the giant medical tech firm, or maybe that old car from the 90s, but the story of the specific "Integra Companies" that put down roots in Devens is a classic tale of local success, a massive acquisition, and a quiet rebranding that left a lot of people confused.
Let's clear the air. The original entity known as Integra Companies—the one famous for high-purity hoses and single-use systems—doesn't technically exist under that name anymore. It was swallowed up. But the work? The cleanrooms? Those are very much still humming along in that quiet corner of Massachusetts.
The Devens Powerhouse: How Integra Companies Actually Started
Back in 1974, a guy named Don Long had a vision. He didn't start in some high-tech lab; he started in a rented office behind a wallpaper store. That’s about as "bootstrapped" as it gets. He wanted to build the premier high-purity hose company for the pharmaceutical and biotech industries. By the time the company landed in Devens, MA, it was a family-run juggernaut led by Don and his sons, Dwight and Doug.
They weren't just selling garden hoses. They were dealing with the "high-purity" stuff—the kind of fluid-handling tech where a single speck of dust can ruin a million-dollar batch of medicine. They built a massive reputation for being the go-to integrators for single-use systems.
Why Devens?
Devens is a weird, interesting place. It’s a former Army base (Fort Devens) that got repurposed into a business hub. For a company like Integra, it was perfect. You had space, you had a growing biotech corridor nearby, and you had the infrastructure to build serious cleanrooms. At their peak in Devens, they were running ISO Class 7 cleanrooms, which is basically a fancy way of saying the air in there is cleaner than a mountain top.
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The VWR Acquisition: The Turning Point
Everything changed around November 2014. VWR International—a massive global lab supply company—realized they needed what the Long family had built. They bought Integra Companies Devens MA (along with a partner company in North Carolina called STI Components).
VWR didn't just want the building; they wanted the expertise in "single-use connectivity solutions."
Then, things got even more corporate. VWR itself was acquired by Avantor in 2017. So, if you drive past 29 Saratoga Blvd in Devens today, you might see the name Avantor. Effectively, the "Integra" brand for that specific business was retired in favor of "Avantor Fluid Handling."
- The Identity Crisis: Many people still call it Integra because the name was on the building for decades.
- The Survival: The team and the technology didn't disappear; they just changed their shirts to Avantor blue.
- The Split: It is crucial to distinguish this from Integra LifeSciences. That’s a totally different company (though they also have a massive presence in Massachusetts, specifically with a new facility coming to Braintree in 2026).
What the Devens Site Actually Does Now
If you're a buyer or an engineer looking for the old Integra catalog, you're looking for Avantor’s single-use solutions. They specialize in the "plumbing" of the biotech world. Think:
- Custom Single-Use Assemblies: Instead of cleaning massive stainless steel tanks (which takes forever and uses tons of chemicals), companies use "single-use" bags and tubes. The Devens site helps design and build these.
- High-Purity Hoses: We're talking platinum-cured silicone and specialized gaskets.
- Kitting and Logistics: They take a bunch of different parts and package them into a sterile kit so a scientist can just open it and start working.
It's specialized work. It’s also high-stakes. If a hose fails in a bioprocessing plant, the cleanup isn't just a mop job; it’s a regulatory nightmare.
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The "New" Integra: Int2 Solutions
Here is the part most people miss. After the Long family sold Integra Companies to VWR, they didn't just retire to a beach. They eventually got back into the game.
Today, some of the original leadership from the old Integra team started a new company called int2 Solutions. They are basically the spiritual successor to the original Integra mission—small, agile, and hyper-focused on customer service in that same high-purity space. They even use the slogan "Let int2 connect you," which is a nod to their roots in connectivity solutions.
Why This Matters for the Massachusetts Biotech Scene
Massachusetts is basically the Silicon Valley of "saving lives." Companies like the original Integra are the backbone of that. You can have the smartest PhDs in the world in Cambridge, but if you don't have a reliable way to move fluids through a manufacturing line in Devens, you aren't making medicine.
The transition from a family-owned shop to a global corporate entity like Avantor shows just how valuable the Devens "tech" was. It also highlights a common trend: the big guys buy the innovators.
Actionable Insights for Partners and Job Seekers
If you are trying to do business with or work for what used to be Integra Companies Devens MA, here is the ground truth:
- For Procurement: Look for Avantor Fluid Handling. Most of the old Integra product lines have been integrated into their "Masterflex" or general bioprocessing catalogs.
- For Job Seekers: Avantor is a massive employer. They often have openings in Devens for cleanroom technicians, quality assurance specialists, and production managers. It's a high-growth area because the demand for "single-use" biotech tech is exploding.
- For Local History Buffs: The Long family's legacy is still very much alive in the area. If you want that "old-school" service feel, keep an eye on what the former owners are doing with their newer ventures like int2 Solutions.
- Don't Get Confused: If you see news about "Integra" and a facility in Braintree or a recall on tissue products, that's Integra LifeSciences. They are a separate, publicly-traded company (Nasdaq: IART). They do great work in neurosurgery and wound care, but they aren't the "hose and gasket" guys from Saratoga Blvd.
The Devens landscape is constantly shifting. Old military barracks become high-tech cleanrooms, and local family businesses become cogs in global supply chains. But at the end of the day, the expertise that started in a rented office in the 70s is still the reason your favorite life-saving drug can actually be manufactured at scale today.
Check the labels on your fluid assemblies. If they say Avantor and they came from Devens, you’re looking at the evolution of the original Integra Companies.
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Next Steps to Take:
- Verify the Entity: Ensure you are contacting Avantor for legacy Integra fluid-handling products, or Integra LifeSciences for medical devices/tissue tech.
- Contact Local Representatives: If you're a local business in the Devens area, reach out to the Saratoga Blvd site directly to discuss supply chain integration or career opportunities.
- Explore the Successors: Look into int2 Solutions if you are seeking the specialized, boutique consulting service that the original Integra founders were known for before the VWR acquisition.