Aircraft Medical continues European expansion with contracts for France, Belgium, Holland and Luxemburg (Press Release)
Posted on Wed 31st October 2007
Aircraft Medical (the “Company”), the UK medical devices company, which specialises in hand held medical devices, is pleased to announce it has reached agreements with SEBAC (Société Européenne de Biologie Appliquée et Clinique) and The Surgical Company BV for distribution rights across France and Benelux (Belgium, Netherlands and Luxembourg) respectively of the McGrath® Series 5 Laryngoscope (the “McGrath®”), the world’s first fully portable video laryngoscope. The Directors estimate that the agreements, which run to December 2012, could generate revenues in excess of £8m for Aircraft Medical over a 5 year period. The Company also has 5-year distribution deals in the UK and Ireland, Canada, North America and Italy.
Paris based SEBAC was formed in 1974 to distribute anaesthesia, intensive care and pulmonary function devices across France. SEBAC was acquired in 2001 by The Surgical Company BV. Founded in 1993 and based in Amersfoort, the Netherlands, The Surgical Company BV has built a strong reputation as a distributor of medical devices in the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg. The company offers innovative and high quality specialist equipment to surgeons and anesthetists.
The McGrath® video laryngoscope is a hand held medical device, which is used for a common global medical procedure called tracheal intubation. This allows medics to artificially take control of a patients breathing during general anaesthetic. Since its launch the there have been numerous accounts of the new technology helping medics save lives in emergency conditions. The proprietary McGrath® technology has been in development some 8-years and is the subject of a substantial IP portfolio, which expanded recently with the filing of 7 new patent applications for next generation applications.
The McGrath®’s portability differentiates it from existing video laryngoscopes, which rely on external cables for power and remote monitors. Medics are now able to carry a more sophisticated technology in their pocket - the McGrath® has an onboard miniature camera, a compact LCD display and variable length blade which none of its competitors has. Marketing of the McGrath® is aimed at operating theatres (anaesthesiologists), critical care units, ER and other emergency medical services.
Matt McGrath, CEO of Aircraft Medical commented:
“I am delighted to have secured these new European contracts in quick succession to the Italian contract with Viglia we announced earlier this year. This is great news for Aircraft Medical and I believe that this positions us well for 2008 where we are aiming for further European expansion”
Frank De Vos, Managing Director of the Surgical Company BV, said:
“We are pleased to be starting our partnership with Aircraft Medical and believe the McGrath® Video Laryngoscope to be an exciting piece of technology which will help strengthen our position in airway management.”