Gambro strengthens joint identity - COBE BCT
Gambro strengthens joint identity - COBE BCT renamed Gambro BCT Stockholm, Sweden - Gambro AB (Stockholm Stock Exchange: GAMBaST, GAMBbST), a leading international medical technology and healthcare com- pany, today announced that the joint identity of the group is strengthened. COBE BCT is renamed Gambro BCT, operations of which include Blood Bank Technology - products and services enabling blood centers to collect, purify and store blood components - and Therapeutic Specialties including therapeutic apheresis and stem cell therapy. The name of Gambro's two other business areas have also been refined. Gambro has globally leading positions in the group's three business areas: Gambro Healthcare, Gambro Renal Products, and Gambro BCT. The business area Gambro Healthcare, with revenues of about USD 1.3 billion, provides renal care services to a total of 44,000 patients in 585 clinics worldwide. Clinics in the US account for 36,800 patients, Europe for 3,800, and the rest of the world for 3,700. Services include hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis, acute dialysis as well as transplantation. The total number of employees is about 10,000. The business area Gambro Renal Products has revenues of about USD 1 billion and includes products and services for hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis and acute dialysis which are sold under strong brands. Products include filters, dialysis solutions, monitors, blood lines, and water treatment equipment. Sales include activities in 80 countries with own sales operations in 30 countries. Manufacturing takes place in 11 countries with product development centers in Germany, Italy, and Sweden. The total number of employees is about 6,000. The business area Gambro BCT, with revenues of about USD 165 M, includes two segments, Blood Bank Technology and Therapeutic Specialties. Blood Bank Technology includes products and services that enable blood centers to collect, purify, and store blood components. This includes products for automatic collection, apheresis technology and filters for removal of white blood cells from red blood cells as well as IT applications for blood centers/ blood banks. Therapeutic Specialties includes therapeutic apheresis and stem-cell therapy. Blood Bank Technology accounts for about three-quarters of the business area's sales, with Therapeutic Specialties accounting for the remaining 25%. Gambro BCT has about 1,000 employees. For further information please contact: Bengt Modéer, Senior Vice President, Corporate Communications, tel. +46-8- 613 65 00, +46-70-513 65 33 Gambro is a global medical technology and healthcare company with leading positions in renal care - services and products - and blood component technology (BCT). Gambro is one of the leading providers of kidney dialysis services in the world. Gambro treats about 44,000 patients in 581 clinics worldwide. Renal care products comprise dialyzers, dialysis machines, blood lines and dialysis concentrates. BCT includes products for the separation and handling of blood components. The group, with revenue of approximately SEK 20 billion (USD 2.3 billion), has approximately 17,000 employees in some 40 countries. ------------------------------------------------------------ Please visit http://www.bit.se for further information The following files are available for download: http://www.bit.se/bitonline/2000/01/03/20000103BIT00270/bit0001.doc http://www.bit.se/bitonline/2000/01/03/20000103BIT00270/bit0002.pdf