2008 - 2007 - 2006 - 2005 - 2004 - 2003 - 2002 - 2001 - 2000

12/07 - Paragon Medical was selected as a case study by UGS in their “Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) for the Medical Industry” seminar. UGS, a global provider of PLM technologies, selected Paragon based on the success that they have realized since their transition to UniGraphics® in 2000.

Paragon Medical Europe, formerly located in Germany, has moved to Lausanne, Switzerland. The company’s continued expansion includes office and administrative support as well as engineering and production.

12/3 - Ionbond and Bodycote PVD Division, SSCP Coatings Limited and Bodycote International signed a merger agreement on Oktober 29, 2004. The group will trade under the name of Ionbond.

11/17 - MicroGroup is pleased to announce the acquisition of a new Chiyoda SP-8SST 3-axis dual radius bending machine, capable of single, multiple or multi-plane bends.

11/05 - Tecomet Inc. increased its capabilities by adding one 5-Axis Machining Center and one Robo Drill 5-Axis Machining Center, both dedicated to Spinal Implants. In addition, Tecomet has acquired two CNC Machine Centers to increase its Knee Cell capacity, and a 700 Ton Press and a Hard Die Miller to its Forging facility.The Company also announces the addition of a full Chemical Passivation Line for Joint Implants.

10/27 - Precimed entered into an agreement with Praxim Medivision. The companies will integrate image-guided surgical technology in support of the UKI™, an 8-in-1 femoral knee cutting guide.

10/22 - Paragon Medical, Inc. is pleased to announce the addition of Kees de Louw as European Business Development Manager to its growing European division.

10/15 - MicroGroup has acquired a PUMA 230MS CNC that is capable of producing precision parts from tube and bar stock with outside diameters greater than 1” (25.4mm), and as large as 2-1/2” (63.5mm).

10/13 - Nuell, Inc.™ was issued Patent no. 6,802,103 for the Nuell, Inc. Cleaning T-handle.

10/06 - Beere Medical received patent #6,783,004 for its Evolution™ Spinal Implant Removal Kit, and patent #6,799,480 for its axial torque measuring instrument.

10/04 - Beere Medical was awarded the patent #6,807,883 for its combination axial and T-handle driver.

9/21 - C&W Swiss Inc., specializing in Swiss Style Machining of Complex Precision Components, has received recertification through WBENC (Women's Business Enterprise National Council). Due to an increase of customer demand for capacity we are pleased to be adding equipment to our facility, including a new Star Swiss Style multi-axes machining center and a new Crest ultra-sonic cleaner with a DI water system.

9/09 - Unique Instruments, Inc., a global leader in contract manufacturing services for the orthopedic medical device market, has launched an independent contract product development company, Unique Design and Development, LLC.

9/01 - Degage Corporation introduces its product line addition of “ultra clean” anti-static nylon bags and films for the critical packaging of medical parts such as medical instruments, implants, orthopaedic devices, spinal products, and neurosurgical devices as well as ceramics, thin films and fiber optics.

Invibio® entered into an agreement with Upchurch Scientific which will enable customers to purchase pre-certified, Invibio manufactured, PEEK-CLASSIX™ polymer directly from Upchurch Scientific. Invibio’s PEEK-CLASSIX polymer is a thermoplastic designed for medical device applications requiring blood or tissue contact of less than 30 days.

8/13 - PAK MANUFACTURING completed the first phase of development of its online forging catalogue. Designed to facilitate the layout of new instruments by Product Development Engineers, the catalogue is a user-friendly tool that includes a photographic library of common forgings, sample instruments that can be made from the forgings, and basic dimensional information.

PAK MANUFACTURING also announces the addition of Michael A. Urban to its staff, in the position of CNC Programmer. Mike brings to PAK over 17 years of relevant Machining and Programming experience from the industries of Artificial Heart Implants and Semiconductor Wafer fabrication and will provide key support to the ongoing growth of PAK, especially in the areas of CNC Milling and Wire EDM production.

Ulbrich Stainless Steels & Special Metals now supplies stainless steel wire in the microscopic cross sections used in catheter-related diagnostic procedures.

8/09 - Beere Precision Medical Instruments was awarded patent #6,769,329 for its open and closed end ratchet with removable socket.

Symmetry Medical postponed its initial public offering indefinitely, citing market conditions.

7/29 - Poly Hi Solidur MediTECH® has been named Supplier of the Year in the Raw Material/Engineered Product category by Smith and Nephew Orthopaedics at its annual supplier symposium. The company also recently acquired a new compression molding press, designed and built exclusively to produce UHMW-PE for the medical implant industry.

7/28 - Ionbond is pleased to announce the completion of its planned divestiture from Saurer and the global expansion of the Ionbond Medical Business Unit, Medthin. A primary focus of the company will be the worldwide expansion of its coating business as related to orthopaedic and dental implants, surgical and dental instruments and other associated medical devices.

7/26 - Paragon Medical expects to invest ~$50MM in a corporate expansion that will include new building construction and the creation of jobs in the company’s U.S. and German operations. Further, the company is working to acquire an undisclosed non-U.S. instrumentation manufacturer.

7/14 - Gauthier Biomedical was recognized on Milwaukee’s 2004 Future 50 List. This recognition reflects Gauthier’s quality and precision that is put forth in their production of their biomedical instruments.

6/30 - UTI completed its acquisition of MedSource Technologies. (See Bare Bones, 5/04.)

To accommodate growth, Stealth Medical Technologies announces additional equipment, increased manufacturing and administrative floor space and the following personnel changes:

Thomas Karimpanal, Quality Control Manager; Amanda Lindsay, Manufacturing Engineer; Steve O'Neil, CAD-CAM Specialist; Kathleen Smith, Cost Accountant; Ken Horton, Shipping / Logistics Manager; Andy Judge, Production Scheduler; Larry Murphy, Supervisor, Quality Control Department.

Stealth would also like to congratulate the following employees who were recently awarded the Certified Quality Technician certification by the American Society of Quality: Scott Becker, Shelli Clem, and Bob Schense.

Paragon Medical's co-founder and chairman, Tobias Buck, was named 2004 Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year in the Life Sciences category. The company also received a 2004 Mira Award, noting Paragon's contribution to Indiana's economy, its global recognition and the improvements it has made to quality of life in Indiana.

6/21 - Friedrich Daniels, GmbH, an Award-Winning Designer and Manufacturer of Custom Surgical Instruments, announced that it has added Armin Daniels as its Business Development Manager.

6/03 - Beere Precision Medical Instruments has been awarded the patent number 6,739,068 for its unique load and distance measuring compression and distraction instrument.

6/02 - Spire Biomedical expanded its ion implantation processing capabilities to accommodate increased demand. Ion implantation has application in the improvement of performance and longevity of artificial joint prostheses and other medical device components.

5/28 - Symmetry Medical filed for an initial public offering of as much as $173MM in common stock. The company applied for a New York Stock Exchange listing under the symbol "SMA."

Holmed Corporation has been approved by TUV for ISO 9001:2000 Certification, which allows for manufacturing and design control of orthopaedic instruments.

Due to continued increases in demand for their domestic production capabilities of forging based hand held instruments, PAK MANUFACTURING is embarking on an ambitious expansion program to add additional multi-axis CNC equipment, including wire EDM, strengthen its programming and metrology capabilities through the purchase of upgraded CAM systems and sophisticated automatic inspection equipment, and the recruitment of technical support personnel.

5/27 - Southeastern Technology was awarded "Machining Supplier of the Year" for 2003 at Smith & Nephew's annual supplier symposium.

5/24 - MedicineLodge entered into a strategic alliance with A.F. Leis to provide concept to packaged product solutions to medical original equipment manufacturers.

5/21 - Troy Innovative Instruments, Inc. added a Haas 5 axis VF 2 SS High Speed CNC mill and an L32 Swiss turning center to their equipment list. The company also changed its classification and ownership status and is now a Woman Owned Small Business.

5/19 - In efforts to expand capacity, A.F. Leis Company has just invested $1.25 million in capital equipment.

5/18 - Precision Technology, Inc. added eight Mori Seiki machine tools to its production and prototype cells, including turning centers, 5-axis VMCs, mill turns, etc. The added capacity allows PTI to expand its services for their strategic partners and offer reduced lead times.

5/17 - Bargas Medical added passivation/cleaning capabilities to its core operations and is certified to ASTM-A967. Bargas Medical continues to broaden in-house capabilities to better serve the needs of its customers in the medical device market.

5/13 - The Doncasters Group announced the formation of Doncasters Medical Technologies, a dedicated medical device manufacturing service.

Holmed Corporation was recently awarded the "Certificate to Foreign Government" by the FDA, which allows the company to manufacture and deliver products outside the U.S.

Holmed Corporation was also awarded the "Certificate of Exportability," which allows the company to manufacture and ship spinal implants outside the U.S.

5/10 - Friedrich Daniels, GmbH achieved ISO 13485:2003 Certification in addition to its previous certification of ISO 9001:2000.

4/28 - MedSource Technologies entered into a definitive merger agreement to be acquired by UTI Corporation in a cash transaction valued at ~$230MM. The acquisition is expected to close in the summer of 2004.

4/19 - BCS Machine Company successfully completed an FDA Audit, complying to Federal CGMP requirements for the processing of Class I and II Medical Devices.

4/5 - Marox Corporation received ISO 13485 certification.

CeramTec is 1 of 4 companies to be acquired by Rockwood Specialties to form a specialty chemicals group. Current research and development projects include using CeramTec’s expertise in ceramic components for artificial hip joints to develop a new generation of implants. The company posted 2003 sales of ~US$285MM.

3/23 - A.F. Leis has been upgraded to ISO 9001:2000 certification.

3/15 - Paragon Medical opened a division in Germany to support engineering and production of instruments, components and instrument delivery systems to manufacturers in hip, knee, spine, trauma and sports medicine markets.

3/08 - Three former Centerpulse executives joined forces to create Path4, a strategic consulting firm that will provide services to companies and physicians in the orthopaedic sector (e.g. product/technology commercialization; strategic solutions; advising/consulting with surgeons on improvement of competitive position).

2/09 - Master Metal Engineering, manufacturers of precision components and assemblies for orthopaedic applications, recently successfully completed the upgrade its ISO certification. It is now registered to the ISO 9001:2000 Standard through November, 2006.

1/26 Titanium Industries is now AS9100A and ISO 9001:2000 Certified.

1/20 - Symmetry Medical opened its Design & Development Center, through which dedicated teams with expertise in orthopaedic implants, instruments, cases and trays will partner with customers to help get products to market more quickly.

DOT GmbH has enlarged its thermal spray equipment by purchase of a Sulzer Vacuum Plasma System “MultiCoat.” The added capacity will allow DOT to expand its services for high precision Titanium plasma spray coating.

1/13 - DOT GmbH received CE mark approval for “BONITmatrix” resorbable bone graft substitute, designed for dental and maxillofacial applications.

1/12 - Unique Instruments, Inc. has been upgraded to ISO 9001:2000 certification.

Stealth Medical Technologies, LLC has received ISO 9001:2000 certification.

1/09 - Empirical Testing Corp. (ETC) was recently awarded the ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation from the American Association for Laboratory Accreditation.

1/08 - Vulcanium Metals Incorporated has been registered to ISO 9001:2000 through November 2006.

Huron Tool and Cutter Grinding Co. was recently re-certified to ISO 9001:2000 by Quality Assurance Systems.

1/06 - Beere Precision Medical Instruments received patent number 6,679,363 for its ratcheting screwdriver mechanism and patent number 6,640,674 for its Variable Torque-limiting in-line Driver.