Sandvik to Acquire Doncasters

OUTSOURCING NEWS

Sandvik Materials Technology (Sandviken, Sweden) has acquired Doncasters Medical Technologies (Melbourne, Derbyshire, UK). The deal is still subject to regulatory approval, which is expected later this year. With this acquisition, Sandvik aims to strengthen its position in the medical device market.

“The merger allows us to grow and develop our involvement in the medical market,” said Sandvik president Peter Gossas. “We are now able to work with customers in the very early stages of the product development cycle and can assist in the design, materials selection, engineering, and prototyping of new medical devices.”

Doncasters' core orthopedics products business will operate under the name of Sandvik Medical Solutions. The business will be combined with Sandvik's materials technology, manufacturing, and development capabilities in an attempt to become a single-source manufacturer for medical device OEMs. The newly combined firm will offer assistance with materials development and product design all the way through to final surface treatment.

“We can also offer customers the opportunity of outsourcing more manufacturing operations rather than expanding or investing in their own in-house capacity,” Gossas said.

Sandvik manufactures a variety of components and materials that are typically used in pacemakers or medical implants such as hip joints and bone nails and screws. The company's products are also used for surgical instruments, including scalpels, bone saws, and surgical needles.

Doncasters manufactures cast, forged, and finished orthopedic implants for OEMs in high-alloyed stainless steels, titanium, and cobalt chrome–based alloys. The firm specializes in outsourced orthopedic implants for hip and knee replacements.

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