Sunrise Labs vs Flex Health Solutions: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
Sunrise Labs (4.5/5) edges ahead of Flex Health Solutions (3.8/5) overall. Sunrise Labs is the better choice for electromechanical devices, fluidics and infusion. Flex Health Solutions is the stronger option for design transfer into global contract manufacturing. The right choice depends on your project size, budget, and required tech stack.
Sunrise Labs vs Flex Health Solutions: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | Sunrise Labs | Flex Health Solutions |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 1992 | 1969 |
| HQ | Bedford, NH, USA | Austin, TX, USA / Singapore |
| Team size | 90–110 | Large (Flex Ltd.) |
| Rating | 4.5 / 5 | 3.8 / 5 |
| Primary differentiator | Three decades of work on pumps, fluidics and motion-heavy medical systems where mechanics and firmware are tightly coupled | Dedicated NPI center and design sites that feed directly into Flex's medical manufacturing network |
| Pricing model | Time and materials, phased fixed project | Manufacturing supply agreement, NPI contract |
| Min. engagement | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
| Primary tech stack | Embedded C/C++, RTOS, IEC 60601 | PCB assembly, Injection molding, Automated assembly |
| Industries served | Drug delivery, Diagnostics & lab devices, Surgical & therapeutic devices | Drug delivery, Diagnostics & lab devices, Surgical & therapeutic devices |
Sunrise Labs vs Flex Health Solutions: overview
Sunrise Labs
Founded in 1992 by MIT-trained engineers, Sunrise Labs is a privately held product development firm that now operates from Bedford, New Hampshire, with a Boston-area office added in 2022. Its work concentrates on electromechanical medical devices: infusion and fluid handling, diagnostics instruments and therapeutic systems that combine motors, sensors, electronics and embedded software. Directory listings put the team at roughly 90 to 100 people. Sunrise Labs handles development and design transfer and does not run its own volume manufacturing.
Flex Health Solutions
Flex Health Solutions is the healthcare division of Flex Ltd. and operates as a contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) for medical devices and pharma. Flex lists 26 manufacturing sites, six design and engineering sites, 16 FDA-registered entities and 21 ISO 13485 sites for health (per company website; independently unverifiable). In 2025 it opened a North American new product introduction (NPI) center for healthcare customers, and it shared a 2025 PDA Drug Delivery Innovation Award with Merck KGaA for an autoinjector.
Services and capabilities: Sunrise Labs vs Flex Health Solutions
| Capability | Sunrise Labs | Flex Health Solutions |
|---|---|---|
| Electronics & PCB design | ✓ | ✓ |
| Firmware & embedded software | ✓ | ✗ |
| SaMD & companion apps | ✗ | ✗ |
| Connected devices & IoT | ✗ | ✗ |
| Industrial design & human factors | ✗ | ✗ |
| Mechanical engineering | ✓ | ✓ |
| Device cybersecurity | ✗ | ✗ |
| Regulatory & QMS support | ✓ | ✓ |
| Manufacturing & scale-up | ✗ | ✓ |
Tech stack comparison: Sunrise Labs vs Flex Health Solutions
| Framework / platform | Sunrise Labs | Flex Health Solutions |
|---|---|---|
| Embedded C/C++ | ✓ | N/A |
| Embedded Linux | N/A | N/A |
| RTOS | ✓ | N/A |
| BLE | N/A | N/A |
| Cloud (AWS/Azure) | N/A | N/A |
| IEC 62304 | ✓ | N/A |
| ISO 14971 | ✓ | N/A |
| ISO 13485 QMS | N/A | ✓ |
| Qt | N/A | N/A |
Pricing comparison: Sunrise Labs vs Flex Health Solutions
| Criterion | Sunrise Labs | Flex Health Solutions |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
| Engagement models | Fixed project, Time & materials | Fixed project, Manufacturing contract |
| Rate transparency | Not public | Not public |
| Price tier | Mid-market | Mid-market |
Target audience comparison: Sunrise Labs vs Flex Health Solutions
| Dimension | Sunrise Labs | Flex Health Solutions |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | Drug delivery, Diagnostics & lab devices, Surgical & therapeutic devices | Drug delivery, Diagnostics & lab devices, Surgical & therapeutic devices |
| Best use cases | Developing an infusion pump or fluid management system, Rescuing a stalled electromechanical device program before verification | Transferring a verified design into volume production, Pre-clinical and design verification builds |
| Typical project type | Fixed project | Fixed project |
Sunrise Labs vs Flex Health Solutions: pros and cons
| Sunrise Labs | |
|---|---|
| + | Deep experience with infusion, fluid handling and other electromechanical systems that most software-led firms avoid |
| + | Engineers who own mechanics, electronics and firmware sit on the same team, which helps with system-level risk analysis |
| + | Long track record with US medtech clients and FDA submission support |
| + | Mid-sized team means senior engineers stay visible on projects |
| - | No in-house volume manufacturing; design transfer to a CM is part of every plan |
| - | US-only footprint and Northeast US rates put it at the higher end on cost |
| - | Less suited to software-only or SaMD projects |
| Flex Health Solutions | |
|---|---|
| + | Large global network of ISO 13485 and FDA-registered sites |
| + | New NPI center supports prototype builds, design verification and production transfer |
| + | Award-winning drug delivery work with Merck KGaA |
| + | Handles sterilization and packaging in-house |
| - | Development work mainly exists to feed programs into Flex factories |
| - | Better for funded programs with a clear path to volume |
| - | Site counts are company-reported and differ across Flex pages |
Who should choose Sunrise Labs?
A typical fit: developing an infusion pump or fluid management system.
Three decades of work on pumps, fluidics and motion-heavy medical systems where mechanics and firmware are tightly coupled. Minimum engagement is not publicly disclosed. Works best with clients in Drug delivery, Diagnostics & lab devices, Surgical & therapeutic devices.
Who should choose Flex Health Solutions?
A typical fit: transferring a verified design into volume production.
Dedicated NPI center and design sites that feed directly into Flex's medical manufacturing network. Minimum engagement is not publicly disclosed. Works best with clients in Drug delivery, Diagnostics & lab devices, Surgical & therapeutic devices.
Decision matrix: Sunrise Labs vs Flex Health Solutions
| Your situation | Recommended choice |
|---|---|
| You need full-ownership delivery on a defined project scope | Sunrise Labs |
| You need a large dedicated team for an ongoing programme | Check each company's engagement model |
| Your budget is at the lower end | Compare: Sunrise Labs (Not disclosed) vs Flex Health Solutions (Not disclosed) |
| You need specialist depth in a specific vertical | Sunrise Labs |
| You need staff augmentation or team extension | Neither; consider alternatives that offer staff aug |
| You need consulting before committing to a build | Both may offer discovery engagements |
Use case fit: Sunrise Labs vs Flex Health Solutions
| Use case | Sunrise Labs fit | Flex Health Solutions fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Developing an infusion pump or fluid management system | Strong | Limited | Sunrise Labs |
| Rescuing a stalled electromechanical device program before verification | Strong | Limited | Sunrise Labs |
| Transferring a verified design into volume production | Limited | Strong | Flex Health Solutions |
| Pre-clinical and design verification builds | Limited | Strong | Flex Health Solutions |
Verdict: Sunrise Labs vs Flex Health Solutions
Sunrise Labs (4.5/5) is the stronger overall choice for most Medical Device Development projects. Three decades of work on pumps, fluidics and motion-heavy medical systems where mechanics and firmware are tightly coupled.
Flex Health Solutions (3.8/5) is worth a look if you need pre-clinical and design verification builds. If your situation matches that, Flex Health Solutions is a competitive option.
Related comparisons
Sunrise Labs vs Flex Health Solutions FAQ
Is Sunrise Labs better than Flex Health Solutions?
Sunrise Labs (4.5/5) scores higher overall, but "better" depends on your use case. Sunrise Labs's strongest advantage: deep experience with infusion, fluid handling and other electromechanical systems that most software-led firms avoid. Flex Health Solutions's strongest advantage: large global network of ISO 13485 and FDA-registered sites.
How do Sunrise Labs and Flex Health Solutions differ in pricing?
Sunrise Labs uses time and materials, phased fixed project pricing. Flex Health Solutions uses manufacturing supply agreement, npi contract pricing. Neither firm publishes a full rate card; a discovery call is required for project-specific quotes.
Which is better for enterprise: Sunrise Labs or Flex Health Solutions?
Sunrise Labs is the larger team and typically the better enterprise-scale choice. For very large programmes, verify team size and compliance coverage directly with each company before shortlisting.
What are the main differences between Sunrise Labs and Flex Health Solutions?
Sunrise Labs's primary differentiator is: three decades of work on pumps, fluidics and motion-heavy medical systems where mechanics and firmware are tightly coupled. Flex Health Solutions's primary differentiator is: dedicated NPI center and design sites that feed directly into Flex's medical manufacturing network. They also differ in team size (90–110 vs Large (Flex Ltd.)), minimum engagement (Not disclosed vs Not disclosed), and primary industries served (Drug delivery, Diagnostics & lab devices vs Drug delivery, Diagnostics & lab devices).
Verify all details directly with each company before making a decision.