Innovation Day celebrates medtech achievements

  CUTTING-EDGE MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY companies have been recognised at an awards ceremony organised by healthcare network Medilink Yorkshire and Humber to reward innovation. At the Medilink (Y&H) Innovation Day and Healthcare Business Awards in Leeds, over 170 healthcare delegates saw medical lighting supplier Brandon Medical win the Symmetry Medical ‘Overall Winner’ and Eversheds ‘Innovation’ awards for their televideo system, which allows full integration of any medical video source.

The UDL Intellectual Property ‘Start-up’ award was won by Aperio Diagnostics Ltd, founded by Medipex in partnership with the UoS and Sheffield NHS Teaching Hospital Trust. This collaboration has led to the creation of a diagnostic probe for cervical cancer screening.

The ‘Growth in Sector’ award, sponsored by Henderson Insurance Broker, went to Focus Product Development Ltd, a designer and manufacturer of wound care, scar treatment and pressure relief products. Last year it acquired another company with complementary products, allowing it to diversify into a new market.

Kapitex Healthcare Ltd, a manufacturer of neck, head and ENT devices, won the Bennett and Company ‘Export Achievement’ award for its exporting role over the last three years, including major inroads into the Gulf States and East Africa markets.

The Jonathan Lee Recruitment ‘Partnership with the NHS’ award went to Carelink, which provides IT solutions for the NHS IT programme. As the Healthcare Division of IOKO 365, it has also developed a navigation tool on the website of the new NHS Innovation Centre.

Graeme Hall of Brandon Medical said: “We’re delighted to have received these two prestigious awards from Medilink, as it gives us national and industry-wide recognition. The Innovation Day was also a great opportunity for us to showcase our products and meet many other healthcare companies from the region.”

For more information, contact www.medilink.co.uk.

UK device companies explore Chinese markets

THE UK MEDICAL TECHNOLOGIES industry was well represented at this year’s largest medical device exhibition in China.

The Association of British Healthcare Industries (ABHI), together with UK Trade & Investment (UKTI), organised a UK pavilion at the 2007 China Medical Equipment Fair (CMEF) in Dalian. This is the second year in which ABHI has taken a group of companies to China as part of its programme of helping UK companies to access new business opportunities. The Chinese medical device industry is worth an estimated $9.5 billion and is expected to increase by 15% per annum. This massive predicted growth, coupled with the relaxing of tariffs and approvals following China’s entry into the WTO, means that medtech companies seeking early market access can reap major rewards.

Philip Kennedy, Sales and Marketing Director at Eschmann Equipment and CMEF exhibitor in 2006 and 2007, said: “China will spend £50 billion over the next five years on a major programme to transform its healthcare delivery system, which will create a high boost in demand for medical devices.”

The members of the UK Pavilion at CMEF 2007 were Bodystat, Eschmann Equipment, Meditech (BNOS), Surgical Innovations and Timesco. The strong UK presence helped to raise international awareness of the UK’s strengths in medical technologies, and to encourage clinical and commercial partnerships. As with all ABHI-organised pavilions, the exhibitors benefited from a range of services including assistance with obtaining UKTI grants, administrative and logistical support, marketing activities, arranging meetings with commercial officers and buyers at the show, and the use of ABHI on-site facilities.

For further details about ABHI, visit www.abhi.org.uk. To find out more about CMEF, visit www.cmef.com.cn.

Alan fasts for new Agfa HealthCare role

  Medical imaging company Agfa HealthCare has appointed Alan Budge as Marketing Communications and Quality Manager for the North Europe Region. Alan has worked in the industry for over 30 years, but this was the first time he was asked to complete a sponsored 24-hour fast in his job interview. This resulted in his raising over £1000 for Comic Relief.

“I was invited to participate as part of my job interview, and as I agreed, I was offered the job,” said Alan Budge. “Thanks to the level of support from over 60 supporters and the generosity of Agfa HealthCare who doubled employees’ contributions, I was able to raise £1050 for this excellent cause.”

Alan has experience of numerous marketing and sales roles with medical imaging companies including 3M, Imation and Kodak. He is Honorary Treasurer of the British Institute of Radiology.

“We are delighted by Alan’s appointment, and know that he will be a real asset to the business,” said Adrian Stevens, MD of Agfa HealthCare, North Europe Region. “His main role will be to oversee the marketing communications strategy, with the goal of raising Agfa HealthCare’s profile within the region.”

Agfa HealthCare’s UK subsidiary is based in Brentford. To contribute to Comic Relief, contact Alan on 07756 310077 or visit www.comicrelief.com.

Maxell works with UK medical manufacturer

The UK business of Maxell, well known as an audio-visual media manufacturer, has become more directly involved in vision. It is working with Birmingham-based medical device company e-Medix, a manufacturer of ophthalmic knives. Maxell’s involvement has resulted in higher-specification blade handles for the e-Medix knives.

The Maxell facility, based in Telford, had been seeking to apply expertise gained from CD and DVD moulding to the manufacture of medical devices. It approached healthcare network Medilink West Midlands for advice on how to achieve this, and a meeting with e-Medix was set up.

Geoff Gamage, Maxell’s New Business Development Executive, said: “From the start, there were obvious parallels between us and e-Medix. Through our existing high-precision injection moulding we were able to provide e-Medix with a product that surpasses the medical authorities’ requirements.”

Simon Checkley, MD of e-Medix, said: “We might not have expected a company of Maxell’s stature to be interested in our product range – but thanks to Medilink, who made the introduction, we have found them to be very approachable. Their excellent attention to detail has made them an ideal match for the precision nature of our surgical instruments, resulting in a highly rewarding collaboration.”

STAR burning bright

  STAR Medical has announced a new member of its growing team of consultants.

Caroline Garnett joins STAR with a wealth of sales and marketing experience, including previous employment with Stryker and Unitech UK. Her energetic and customer-focused ethos has already made her popular among the team. Caroline, who has danced for England, fits in well with the energetic STAR culture. The STAR 5-a-side soccer team, coached by leading football consultant Steve Davis, continue to score and are currently sitting 3rd in its league (of 15). June 4th will see them battle it out for the Bath 5-A-Side League Cup.

July will see a group of STAR’s fittest riding the waves in the Bath Dragon Boat Race. They aim to raise £750 for the leukaemia charity The Anthony Nolan Trust. Not to be outdone, Kate and Verity from Marketing will embark on a half-marathon walk in July for Breakthrough Breast Cancer Research.

If you would like to sponsor the Dragon boat team (to include MD Tim Webster and consultants Steve, Adam, Stewart and Jon), Kate and/or Verity, please contact recruitment@starmedical.co.uk.