Originally Published MPMN April 2003

INDUSTRY NEWS

Device Outsourcing Giant Sets Sights on Europe

Norbert Sparrow

A little less than a year after merging with Horizon Medical, Avail Medical Products (Fort Worth, TX; www. availmed.com) has achieved a new milestone by opening a European office. Based in Luxembourg, Avail Medical Products S.A.R.L. targets the delivery of product design, development, and manufacturing services to existing Avail customers with European operations, as well as medical device firms exclusively serving the European market.

Newly appointed vice president of European operations Tommy Jansson will oversee operations. He has 20 years of international experience in the medical device industry. "Avail's presence in Europe is a continuation of our strategy of providing ready access to design and manufacturing solutions to our customers on a global basis," says Avail CEO Randy Keene. "With a wealth of outsourcing expertise and the ability to communicate fluently in five languages, Tommy Jansson is uniquely qualified to execute this strategy in Europe."

One of the world's leading developers and manufacturers of sterile single-use medical devices for OEMs, Avail has been in the vanguard of promoting outsourcing to the medical device industry for several years. In an interview with MPMN at the time of the Horizon merger, Keene noted that he faced an uphill struggle in the early days convincing OEMs that they should follow the lead of the automotive and electronics industries and embrace outsourcing. With that battle largely won, Keene feels the time is ripe to establish a European presence. "The medical device market in Europe is in the midst of a projected 10-year growth cycle, with industry revenue estimates reaching nearly $55 billion in 2003," says Keene. "Europe is a critical market for the world's leading medical device manufacturers, our key customers."

Avail currently employs more than 2000 people at 13 facilities in the United States, Mexico, and Europe. 

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