Electromedical & X-ray Apparatus Manufacturing

Electromedical & X-ray Apparatus Manufacturing

Brief Excerpt from Industry Overview Chapter:

Companies in this industry manufacture magnetic resonance imaging and ultrasound equipment, pacemakers and other devices, and irradiation apparatus for medical or industrial uses. Major US companies include Abbott, GE Healthcare Systems, Hologic, Varian Medical Systems, and Zoll Medical, as well as divisions Johnson & Johnson. Outside the US, major companies include Hitachi Healthcare (Japan), Medtronic (Ireland), Philips (Netherlands), Siemens Healthineers (Germany), and Sonova (Switzerland).

COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE

Demand is driven by technological advancements, demographics (the aging US population drives the need for medical products), and the needs of the health care industry. The profitability of individual companies depends on efficient operations and effective marketing. Large companies enjoy economies of scale in research, manufacturing, marketing, and distribution. Smaller companies can compete effectively by developing innovative technologies or specialty products for niche markets, such as cancer therapy apparatus. In the US, both the electromedical and the X-ray apparatus segments are highly concentrated: the 50 largest companies account for about 85% and 98% of revenue, respectively.

PRODUCTS, OPERATIONS & TECHNOLOGY

Major products include MRI, CT, and PET scanners, along with X-ray, mammography, ultrasound, fluoroscopy, and nuclear medicine equipment. Other products are hearing aids, pacemakers, defibrillators, electrocardiographs, and electromedical endoscopic equipment.