Sectra signs up Japanese distributor
The Swedish IT and medical-technology company Sectra has signed a distribution agreement with the Japanese company Medical Expert, a provider of medical imaging products. Medical Expert is well established in the private and public radiology markets in central and eastern Japan.
Through the partnership, Medical Expert will become a distributor of Sectra’s medical systems in Japan. Initially, the agreement involves Sectra PACS (system for handling radiology images) and Sectra’s orthopedic pre-operative planning tool and it may be extended to comprise more products in the future.
Japan is the second largest market for medical technology in the world. The penetration of PACS is still relatively low, approximately 25%, and is expected to grow rapidly within the near future.
“With this agreement we are well-positioned to take advantage of the growing healthcare market in this region and to help customers maximize the benefit of their investments in medical imaging systems,” says Torbjörn Kronander, President of Sectra Imtec AB. “This is a strategic move in our efforts to strengthen our position on the Japanese market where we have operated through partners since 1998.”
“Sectra’s product portfolio allows us to extend our business in the healthcare area one step further into medical IT,” says Mr. Egawa, President of Medical Experts. “Sectra’s products are very well regarded on the Japanese market and complement our current product range perfectly.”
In addition to the distribution agreement, Sectra will open a local branch office in Japan, to support partners and customers. Currently, Sectra has installations at more than 60 Japanese hospitals.
Sectra will present its latest developments in PACS, orthopedics and mammography at the Japanese Radiology Congress ITEM 2008 in Yokohama, April 4-6. The congress is expected to attract 50,000 visitors.
Dr. Torbjörn Kronander, President, Sectra Imtec AB, +46 705 23 52 27
Dr. Jan-Olof Brüer, CEO and President, Sectra AB, +46 13 23 52 09
About Sectra’s medical operations
Sectra develops and sells IT-systems and products for radiology, mammography and orthopedic departments. More than 950 hospitals worldwide use the system daily, together performing over 45 million radiology examinations annually. This makes Sectra one of the world leading companies within systems for handling digital radiology images (PACS). In Scandinavia, Sectra is the market leader with more than 50% of all film-free installations. Outside Scandinavia, Sectra’s system is installed at customers in North America and most major countries in Europe and the Far East.
About the Sectra Group
Sectra successfully develops and sells cutting-edge products in the expansive niche segments of medical systems and secure communication systems. The company was founded in 1978 and has its roots in the Linköping Institute of Technology in Sweden. Today, Sectra has offices in eleven countries and operates through partners worldwide. Sales in the 2006/2007 fiscal year totaled SEK 673 million. The Sectra share is quoted on the Nordic Exchange in Stockholm. For more information about Sectra visit http://www.sectra.com.