Originally Published EMDM
May/June 2004
Industry News
In BriefWilden AG Expands in China and to Bosnia-Herzegovina
With sales and distribution offices in China and Hong Kong, Wilden AG has been active in the Asian market since 2003 under the name Wilden Asia. A cooperative agreement with
Wise Plastic + Metal Factory (Dongguan City, China) now enables the company to offer production capacities as well. Wise Plastic + Metal is an established medium-sized enterprise with more than 25 years of experience in injection moulding. A Class 100,000 cleanroom went into service especially for the Wilden Group. Twenty-one injection moulding machines with clamping forces of 50–100 tn are in use for production.
A joint venture in Bosnia-Herzegovina will expand Wilden’s services in Europe. The company holds a 40% share of Kowi d.o.o. Located in Banja Luka, Kowi d.o.o. offers a production area of 8000 m2 for the manufacture of technical and medical plastic systems. A total of 50 injection moulding machines will be in use. During the initial stage, the facilities in Banja Luka will offer mould making and injection moulding services.
For more information, contact Wilden AG, Bischof-von-Henle-Str. 2b, 93051 Regensburg, Germany; phone: +49 941 7058200; fax: +49 941 7058201; e-mail:
info@wilden.de; Internet: www.wilden.com.
BVMed Publishes DRG Brochure
In January, German hospitals shifted to a flat-rate diagnosis-related group (DRG) reimbursement system. As hospitals face increasing pressure to maintain, if not reduce, current spending levels, some industry analysts fear that innovative medical products will find it more difficult to gain acceptance. German trade association
BVMed (Berlin; www.bvmed.de) has published an English-language brochure designed to provide device manufacturers with a more balanced perspective.
Titled “A Guideline on the Local and Decentralized Introduction of Innovative and Novel Medical Devices,” the 52-page publication draws on findings culled by the association’s DRG task force. A number of high-tech member companies, notably implant manufacturers, also contributed their expertise. The brochure covers strategies for categorizing innovative products and outlines procedural options. Legal and economic considerations are also addressed.
The publication costs >29.50. It can be purchased by contacting MedInform, c/o BVMed, Reinhardtstr 29b, 10117 Berlin, Germany; phone: +49 30 24625524; fax: +49 30 28041653; e-mail:
medinform@bvmed.de; Internet: www.bvmed.de.
Bionest Partners Launches Medical Device Practice
A provider of advisory and management services to life science companies has announced the formation of a medical device practice.
Bionest Partners provides advisory and management services to assist biotechnology, specialty pharmaceutical, and medical device companies maximize the value of their assets. Services include technological assessment of innovative devices and technologies, consulting on regulatory and reimbursement issues, and assisting US companies to enter the European market.
For more information contact Bionest Partners, 9 rue Anatole de la Forge, 75017 Paris, France; phone: +33 1 58051400; fax: +33 1 58051409; e-mail:
info@bionest.com; Internet: www.bionest.com.
Esco Expands Cleanroom Facilities
 |
Bibby Sterilin’s Esco division has expanded its cleanroom facilities at the company’s ISO 9001 plant in Wales, UK. Esco manufactures and assembles bespoke clinical products for the medical device and diagnostic markets. Many of the processes used must take place in a controlled, microbiologically clean environment. Increased demand has led the company to expand the silicone extrusion and laminar-flow assembly work areas in its ISO Class 7 cleanroom, improving production capacity. Esco also offers a complete range of standard silicone products.
For more information, contact Bibby Sterilin Ltd., Tilling Dr., Stone, Staffs ST15 0SA, UK; phone: +44 1785 812121; fax: +44 1785 815066; e-mail:
bsl@bibby-sterilin.com; Internet: www.bibby-sterilin.co.uk.
Microfluidics Roadmap Released
A report titled “Microfluidics Roadmap for the Life Sciences” was recently released by
FlowMap (Freiburg, Germany). FlowMap,
an EU-sponsored project, had as its goal the establishment of an explorative technology roadmap for microfluidics in the life science markets. In the course of the project, a consortium of European partners comprising IMTEK, HSG-IMIT, Cranfield Biotechnology Center, and Yole Développement analyzed existing and future markets, products, and technologies related to microfluidics. Over a one-year period, more than 150 experts shared their knowledge through designated workshops, personal interviews, and a questionnaire that was distributed worldwide.
The appendix of the report provides a survey of present microfluidic technologies and platforms, a concise summary of non–life science markets for microfluidics, and a compilation of relevant conferences, EU programmes, and market studies. The report can be ordered at FlowMap’s Web site,
www.microfluidics-roadmap.com.
For more information, contact Jens Ducrée, EU Project Coordinator, FlowMap — Microfluidics Roadmap for the Life Sciences, Institute for Microsystem Technology,
University of Freiburg, Georges-Köhler-Allee 103, D-79110 Freiburg, Germany; phone:
+49 761 2037320; fax: +49 761 2037322; e-mail: ducree@imtek.de;
Internet: www.imtek.de/anwendungen.
DT Packaging Systems Reaches for the Stars
DT Packaging Systems, comprising the Lakso, Merrill, Kalish, Swiftpack, and King brands of packaging machinery, will now be called Nova Packaging Systems. In the UK, the company will operate under the name Swiftpack Automation Ltd. James Ririe, president of the former DT Packaging Systems, and business partner David Fischer teamed with Kinderhook Capital Industries to purchase DT Packaging Systems from DT Industries, based in Dayton, OH, USA.
“Until now, we’ve been a small piece of a large public company,” says Ririe. “As a private company with the financial strength of Kinderhook, we are now in a position to grow Nova both internally, with more R&D, new product development, and enhancements to existing products, and externally through future strategic acquisitions.”
For more information, contact Swiftpack Automation Ltd., a member of Nova Packaging Systems, 3 Arden Rd., Alcester, Warks B49 6HN, UK; phone: +44 1789 400880; fax: +44 1789 400780; e-mail:
sales@swiftpack.co.uk; Internet: www.novapackagingsystems.com.
Copyright ©2004 European Medical Device Manufacturer
