Press Kit Contact: Ms. Lucijana Manovic Sales/Marketing Tel.: +43 (0) 316 42 65 00-10 E-Mail: lucijana.manovic@mides.com
Index 1. The Company... 3 2. Facts and Figures... 4 3. Products and Services... 5 3.1. Research-Laboratory for Medical Ultrasound Systems and Probe Repair... 5 3.2. Probe Repair instead of Buying a New One... 6 3.3. Probe Repair with an All-in-One Solution... 7 3.4. Ultrasound Equipment Trading... 7 3.5. Showroom with New and Used Ultrasound Systems... 7 3.6. Quality-Management: Testing the Probes On-Site... 8 3.7. Probe Repair: A Market with a Lot of Potential... 8 3.8. Best Trained Employees... 8 4. Contact Persons... 9 2/9
1. The Company MIDES-Headquarter in Graz (Styria, Austria) MIDES was founded in the field of diagnostic ultrasound by Norbert Minarik. In 1996 one of the largest showrooms in Austria was opened in Graz. Further showrooms opened in Vienna and Linz in 1997. In the following years MIDES expanded the partner network beyond the Austrian boarders and founded five more subsidiaries within six years throughout Europe. In the meantime, MIDES exports its products in over 50 countries worldwide. MIDES continuously invests in research and development of the ultrasound probe repair. In 2007 the owner-managed Austrian company entered the market with probe repair services. Since then MIDES uses a special process for the probe analysis. With this special analysis system, MIDES can perform professional quality tests, exact initial analysis and diagnosis, which are compliant with the requirements of the main ultrasound manufacturers. Within a few years MIDES has achieved a special role in the European probe repair market. Through the exclusive test system as well as the opportunity of high standard live-tests, MIDES built a unique position in the Austrian market. In 2013 MIDES was honoured with the federal emblem from the Republic of Austria for outstanding accomplishments for the Austrian economy. Product and service quality, innovative drive as well as sustainability were the requirements for receiving this award from the Federal Ministry of Economy, Family and Youth. Furthermore, in 2014 MIDES received the Primus-Award in the category Sustainability and the Styrian Export-Award from the Styrian Economic-Chamber in the category Service and Trading. In January 2015 followed the Styrian federal state emblem. Thus, MIDES is able to represent Austria perfectly in the international markets and to fulfil its role as a market leader. 3/9
2. Facts and Figures Foundation 1995 Corporate Form Headquarter Subsidiaries CEO Director European Probe Repair Network (EPRN) GmbH /Ldt Weinholdstraße 33, 8010 Graz Styria, AUSTRIA Market presence in over 50 European countries and a few in the USA Dr. Hannes Fliesser Mag. Christian Brunner Dr. Hannes Fliesser Employees 72 (40 % Trade, 60 % Service) Certification ISO 9001 & ISO 13485 Awards and Distinctions Revenue in 2014/2015 10,7 M. Service Portfolio Federal Emblem from the Republic of Austria Export-Award from the Styrian economicchamber in the category Service and Trading Primus-Award in the category Sustainability Styrian Federal State Emblem Trading with ultrasound systems In-house service department multibranded for all manufacturers and brands Big stock with varieties of spare parts Manufacturer independent repair and analysis of ultrasound-probes through in-house researchlaboratory Repair of ultrasound-endoscopy-probes, standard-probes, TEE-probes und 4D-probes Highest quality standards and quality assurance Showroom with a broad variety of new and used ultrasound systems Target Groups Hospitals University Clinics Medical Specialists Institutes for Scientific Research Distributors 4/9
3. Products and Services 3.1. Research-Laboratory for Medical Ultrasound Systems and Probe Repair The Development of Probe Repair at MIDES 2006: Repair of standard-probes 2008: Repair of TEE-probes 2010: Foundation MIDES Health Care Technology GmbH (02.10.2010) 2011: Repair of 4D-probes Beginning of cooperation with universities Internal educational curriculum Certified according to ISO 9001 and ISO 13485 2015: Repair of ultrasound-endoscopy-probes 2016: Foundation competence-center for ultrasound-endoscopy-probes Probe-Repair in the Ultrasound-Servicecenter from MIDES The sonography (ultrasound) is the most used medical imaging technique in and indispensable for medicine. Due to the unique research-laboratory of MIDES, which was built ten years ago, they became THE specialist in repairing standard and TEE-(Transoesophageal-Echocardiography) ultrasound probes. 5/9
The vendor-independent specialists concentrate on identifying and remedying electronical, mechanical and other defects on ultrasound probes, which include damaged cables, connectors, coatings and electrical shorts. In order to maximize the expertise and efficiency of MIDES, new probe repair solutions are developed continuously. After two years of intense research work, the company was able to successfully develop a repair-process for complex ultrasound-endoscopy-probes for various manufacturers. This enables MIDES to repair damaged ultrasound-endoscopy-probes in highest quality. In 2015 MIDES already performed successful test runs in Germany with spring 2016 the company will offer this service to full extent. Moreover, MIDES also founded the platform EPRN European Probe Repair Network. 3.2. Probe Repair instead of Buying a New One If a damaged ultrasound probe gets replaced by a new one, hospitals and physicians are faced with high costs. The complete functionality of an ultrasound transducer depends on several factors such as type, period of application, handling and care. The average lifetime of a standard-probe (probes, that are used for the body surface) is five to seven years and of a TEE-probe (transoesophagealechocardiography probe, which is also called cardiologic swallow probe) is one and a half to two years. Leak coatings, damaged strain reliefs, casings and cables as well as bite marks are typical defects. All these factors may lead to damaged piezo crystals and consequently to insufficient imaging. Damaged Probe Renewed Probe Just a few years ago there was no other option than to replace the defective probes with a new one from the manufacturer. But now, thanks to the repair of damaged probes, customers can save costs up to 60 % in comparison to a new purchase. 6/9
3.3. Probe Repair with an All-in-One Solution As a service provider MIDES not only repairs damaged probes at attractive conditions, but also offers a complete all-in-one solution. Due to the large stock of loaner probes, the customers have the possibility to make use of a loaner probe. This means, that customers will receive a loaner probe during the repair, even before sending the damaged probe to MIDES in order to avoid down times. The probes are tested and repaired in the high-tech-laboratory and are live-tested in the in-house showroom in order to guarantee 100 % functionality. After the final check the customer receives an analysis report and a warranty together with the ready-to-use probe. As MIDES only uses the best analysis devices they are producing innovative state-of-the-art solutions. Continuous calibrations and updates, several controls and live-tests directly on the ultrasound devices guarantee the quality of a repaired probe. In the meantime around 90 % of all damaged probes are repairable thanks to the competence of MIDES experts, who constantly develop new probe repair methods. 3.4. Ultrasound Equipment Trading After having been active in the trading of ultrasound equipment for 20 years, MIDES markets new and high-quality second-hand equipment in over 50 countries worldwide. MIDES locations and partners in Europe allow the Austrian company to be completely committed to their customer s interests and needs. Thanks to the good cooperation with manufacturers and the industry, MIDES offers its customers the possibility of a direct comparison of various pieces of ultrasound equipment. 3.5. Showroom with New and Used Ultrasound Systems The showroom at the company s headquarter in Graz (Styria, Austria) has more than 150 new and used ultrasound devices, laboratory technologies, densitometer and other medical engineering products. Customers and partners are able to test the devices, compare different brands and to decide from a broad variety. Thanks to the excellent cooperation with producers and industry, MIDES offers its customers the possibility to compare different ultrasound units directly. 7/9
Showroom in Graz (Styria, Austria) 3.6. Quality-Management: Testing the Probes On-Site The international market is striving to develop a harmonized set of quality standards for ultrasoundmachines. For this purpose MIDES offers hospitals and physicians tests for quality assurance. This means, that the probes are tested and analysed preventively in hospitals and at physicians in order to assess the quality standards and the conditions of the probes. As a result, the best definition of image and the diagnostic quality as well as the complete functionality of the devices are guaranteed. During the quality analysis, MIDES verifies the functionality of each single crystal so the highest level of qualitymanagement can be offered. Due to the preventive probe analysis, defects are recognized before they turn into expensive repairs. MIDES is ISO certified and uses materials, which are equivalent to the manufacturer s quality, which ensures the quality of the repaired probe. 3.7. Probe Repair: A Market with a Lot of Potential The ultrasound market is made up of an equal amount of hospitals and physicians. The geographical main market of MIDES is Europe. 3.8. Best Trained Employees MIDES currently employs 72 people and is constantly looking for and training new and qualified colleagues. Additionally regular international advanced trainings and seminars guarantee a permanent development and improvement of their services. 8/9
4. Contact Persons Your contact persons are: Dr. Hannes Fliesser CEO, CSO Weinholdstraße 33 8010 Graz Tel.: +43 (0) 316 42 65 00 E-Mail: h.fliesser@mides.com Copyright: MIDES GmbH Mag. Christian Brunner CEO, CFO/COO Weinholdstraße 33 8010 Graz Tel.: +43 (0) 316 42 65 00 E-Mail: christian.brunner@mides.com Copyright: MIDES GmbH 9/9