Originally Published EMDM March/April 2002
INDUSTRY NEWS
Isotron Acquires Gammaster |
| Isotron offers contract sterilization services to the device sector, and also uses radiation to modify polymers. |
Gammaster International (Ede, Netherlands) has been acquired by Isotron plc (Swindon, Wilts, UK), a contract sterilization firm. The companies report that the deal—valued at €54.8 million—creates the largest chain of contract sterilization sites in Europe.
Isotron's core technologies are E-beam and gamma irradiation and EtO; the firm has nine plants in the UK, Ireland, and Malaysia. Gammaster, for its part, has nine facilities for gamma and beta irradiation in Europe, South Africa, and Thailand. The new combined group will have 18 locations worldwide, offering sterilization services for customers in many market segments throughout Western Europe and Southeast Asia. The announcement of the acquisition follows Isotron's opening of a new 10-MeV electron-beam plant at Daventry that is specifically designed to sterilize medical devices.
John Barker, chief executive of Isotron, says that the acquisition of Gammaster provides customers with greater choice and flexibility. "It is a timely move, in that Gammaster principally offers gamma radiation sterilization and decontamination services for businesses in the medical device, medical packaging, and foodstuffs industries," he says. "This dovetails well with Isotron's current business, and its plans for future developments." In a press release distributed by the company, Isotron suggests that the acquisition was made at least in part with the goal of making the firm more competitive with IBA Sterilization & Ionization Ltd. (Alfreton, Derbyshire, UK), which operates eight sterilization sites in Western Europe.
Although Isotron's main activity is the sterilization of healthcare products, the firm also uses radiation to modify and improve the physical properties of polymers. Isotron also offers a range of laboratory services, including microbiology testing to assist manufacturers in meeting the regulatory standards applicable to sterilization.
The Dutch conglomerate OPG Groep N.V., which owned Gammaster, announced in April 2001 that it was considering selling the sterilization firm, as it did not form part of the group's core activities. OPG specializes in retail sales and distribution of pharmaceutical and medical supplies. The group is active in the Netherlands, Poland, Belgium, and Norway.
For more information, contact Isotron plc, Moray Rd., Elgin Ind. Est., Swindon, Wilts SN2 8XS, UK; phone: +44 1793 601000, fax: +44 1793 601040; e-mail: robh@isotron.co.uk; Internet: www.isotron.co.uk.
Copyright ©2002 European Medical Device Manufacturer
