Originally Published MDDI March 2001

INDUSTRY NEWS

Avery Dennison Specialty Tape Division Establishes Medical Group

A press conference held at the Medical Design & Manufacturing (MD&M) West show in Anaheim, CA, on January 8 announced the formation of Avery Dennison Medical. The new group is part of Avery Dennison's Specialty Tape Div. (Mentor, OH).

"The healthcare industry is constantly looking for new products that will improve wound-care management and patient comfort," said Jef Smets, vice president of Avery Dennison's Specialty Tape Div. "We see an opportunity to leverage our technology base and medical industry partnerships to lead growth in this promising area."

The medical group has been established to operate as a full-line supplier of base materials used in various medical device applications including ostomy, wound care, electromedical, surgical supplies, and diagnostic products. Expanded capabilities include contract manufacturing. The company will not sell products under its own name.

According to Avery Dennison, the demand for wound-care management products is expanding at 15 to 20% annually. Key factors driving this growth are an overall worldwide population base that is older and living longer, as well as a rapid development of and demand for lifestyle drugs directed at solving obesity, arthritis, and impotence, among other conditions.

Karim Marouf