David Harbon joins the Sandvik Bioline team

Sandvik is continuing investment in Sandvik Materials Technology’s medical organization, Sandvik MedTech, with the appointment of David Harbon as Regional Sales & Marketing Manager EMEA (Europe, Middle East & America) for Sandvik Bioline.

This move is the latest step in the progress of Sandvik MedTech, which comprises Sandvik Bioline and Sandvik Medical Solutions.

Most recently the organisation announced the creation of a ‘board’ of industry experts and advisors, including David Fitzgerald, Gunnar Walstam, and Lars Ekström. Immediately prior to this Sandvik MedTech purchased Doncasters Medical Technologies to create Sandvik Medical Solutions, thereby bringing market leading strength in the supply of orthopedic and spinal implants to the organisation.

Sandvik Bioline supplies materials to sub contractors and OEMs within the medical device industry.

Commenting on his appointment, David Harbon said: “The expansion of expertise and evolution of technology is really driving the medical devices market forward and so there is real potential for a business like Sandvik Bioline. We are continually developing our offering and I believe we are now extremely well placed to build on our existing market position, achieving rapid growth in a short period of time – this is an exciting challenge!”

Harbon, 33, joined Sandvik in 1993 and has since held a number of different management positions.

Most recently he has worked as an internal consultant, working on Sandvik Materials Technology’s global change programme within marketing & sales. The programme promotes operational excellence providing a common platform for Sandvik’s way of working. During this time David has been involved in developing a Strategic Account Management structure and working with sales transformations in Finland, Denmark, Spain, Switzerland and most recently Japan.

Prior to this role, David was General Manager for the former Sterling Tubes, an independent sales organisation of Sandvik Materials Technology. He was promoted to this position after a period as Sales Manager for Sterling Tubes, which involved working across North America and Europe, with a number of independent distributors.

Between 1995 and 2000, David worked with the tubular product area of SMT. He was involved with products for high temperature, semi-conductor and precision applications. David continued in that role until 1997 when he assumed sales and marketing responsibility for Ireland alongside his UK sales activity

David is a member of the Chartered Institute of Management and designate member of MCMI. Outside work, he is a member of a gym and an enthusiastic traveller.

For further information contact:

Peter Gossas, President Sandvik Materials Technology.

Phone: +46 (0) 26 26 00 00. Email: peter.gossas@sandvik.com

Tord Lendau, President Product Area MedTech.

Phone: +46 (0) 26 26 00 00. Email: tord.lendau@sandvik.com

About Sandvik

Founded in 1862 in Sweden, Sandvik has grown to become a global industrial group with advanced products and world-leading positions in selected areas – tools for metal cutting, machinery and tools for rock excavation, stainless materials, special alloys, metallic and ceramic resistance materials as well as process systems and sorting systems. At the end of 2006 the Group had about 42,000 employees and representation in 130 countries, with annual sales of more than SEK 72,000 M.

The company invests heavily in R&D employing over 500 people in Europe. Approximately 4% of annual gross sales is allocated to R&D.

Sandvik has three business areas, one of which is Sandvik Materials Technology, a world-leading manufacturer of high value-added products in advanced stainless materials, special alloys and metallic and ceramic resistance materials as well as process plants. The product areas comprise Tube, Strip, Wire, Kanthal, Process Systems and MedTech.

In July this year, Sandvik completed the acquisition of Doncasters Medical Technologies (now known as Sandvik Medical Solutions) which, together with Sandvik Bioline, forms the newly created Sandvik MedTech.

Sandvik Bioline, which has been operating since 2003, supplies materials to the medical device industry and is investing in broadening its materials portfolio and processing capabilities – concentrating on high alloy and advanced materials.

Sandvik Medical Solutions has a strong reputation in the supply of orthopedic and spinal implants and instruments with services including casting, forging, machining and finishing capabilities. It manufactures shoulders, total hip, total knee, unicondylars and instruments at European, US and Mexico-based facilities.

It is also continually developing new technologies such as metal-on-metal resurfacing and is evolving its expertise in the spinal market. Sandvik Medical Solutions currently has approximately 80% of the European metal-on-metal market and is well placed to capitalise on expansion in the US.