News: Orchid acquire Sandvik's Rotherham facility

American contract medical design and manufacturing firm, Orchid, has taken over the state-of-the-art Sandvik European Centre of Excellence (SECoE) in Rotherham.

Orchid Orthopedic Solutions is a worldwide leader in the contract design and manufacture of implants, instruments and innovative technologies for the orthopedic, dental and cardiovascular markets.

A transaction with Sandvik was completed last month to acquire Sandvik Medical Solutions (SMS), a major contract manufacturer of medical implants and instruments for the orthopedic and dental markets.

The deal includes the Swedish firm's 112,500 sq ft facility at Beighton Link Business Park in Rotherham. The £4m centre opened in 2010 and brought together all the finish processing and supply management activities for the production of medical products from Sandvik's Sheffield facilities.

It has an area dedicated to rapid production and prototyping for the development and manufacture of orthopedic implants, instruments and medical material.

Part of Sandvik Venture, SMS had sales of 90 million USD in 2011 and comprised production units in US and UK with about 550 employees.

Anders Thelin, president of Sandvik Venture, said: "The divestment of Sandvik Medical Solutions is in line with our strategy to exit operations outside of the defined core businesses. There is a strong industrial logic in combining Orchid and Sandvik Medical Solutions and we are convinced that Sandvik Medical Solutions will have a positive development with its new owners."

Based in Holt, Michigan, Orchid provides innovative design and development, implant and instrument manufacturing, advanced machining, plastics technology, implant coatings and surface treatment, and packaging services.

The deal is expected to strengthen its significant influence in product offerings and customer service and create an operation responsible for approaching 30% of the world's orthopedic implants.

Mike Miller, CEO of Orchid, said: "Orchid is very pleased to have SMS and its employees join the Orchid team. Sandvik brings a global footprint and a high value expertise in casting, forging and machining of implants, and complex instruments to Orchid, allowing us to better serve our customers in the U.S., Europe, and Asia."

Altor, a private equity fund, acquired Orchid in 2011. Claes Ekström, board member in Orchid and partner at Altor Equity Partners AB, said: "The combination of Orchid and SMS will have a unique offering to its customers and become the leading orthopedic implant supplier globally. The acquisition also demonstrates Orchid's commitment to build a leader in a consolidating industry."

Orchid Orthopedic Solutions website

Sandvik website

Images: Sandvik