The Birmingham Post, Article - Healthy Diagnosis
The Birmingham Post: 27th January 2006: Medical and Healthcare Technologies

HEALTHY DIAGNOSIS

David Faers went in search of the medtech boom and came across a company that has used the art of ceramics to take the medical device industry by storm.

Some the worlds leading footballers have North Staffordshire to thank for an often speedy recovery, yet few will actually realise that the cure to their injury has its roots in ceramics.

In fact, there will probably be more puzzled expressions if you explained that the business, which started life has a research and development project, is now one of the area’s leading medical technology businesses, with international offices in North Carolina and Shanghai.

Of course, we are referring to Biocomposites, one of Keele’s biggest success stories and a perfect illustration of the UK’s growing desire to move into value added manufacturing.

From its purpose-built base on the university’s burgeoning Science and Business Park, the company continues to develop, manufacture and sell a growing range of devices for bone grafting, the dental market and sports medicine, listing hundreds of hospitals and world-class surgeons amongst its exhaustive customer base.

“Our growth has really accelerated over the last three years, leading to our recent relocation to Keele” explained managing director Stephen Bratt.

“We were initially a R & D department for a major ceramics firm, but spun out of the company through a MBO in the late 90’s after spotting a commercially viable use for synthetic calcium technology.

“Ironically, our big break came when two major pharmaceutical giants from the US attempted to copy our products, which gave us a massive endorsement and one that kick-started interest from around the globe.”

Approval by the US Federal Food and Drug Administration soon followed and before long the company were dealing direct with surgeons, many of whom were impressed with the flexibility and strength of the products, not to mention the fact that it absorbs harmlessly into the body over time.

“There was never any question that our devices added something new to the market place especially the way we bioengineer proprietary technologies to mimic in-vivo the composiite structure of human bone,” says Mr Bratt, who was born and bred in North Staffordshire.

“Sales increased so quickly that we found ourselves running out of space at our old site in Etruria in Stoke-on-Trent and we were left with the prospect of finding a new home.”

The former athlete was adamant that there was only going to be one choice.

“Its an old cliché, but our people are vital to our success and we knew, ideally, we needed to stay in the area,” he says.

“We liaised with Keele University for a new base and their proposal, involving the collaboration with Advantage West Midlands, enabled us to have input into Med IC4, a truly world-class medtech facility that perfectly matches our needs."

The 18,000 sq ft self-contained facility is state-of-the-art in every sense of the word, from the modern and sleek exterior to the open plan office and the hives of activity that house the laboratory and clean room manufacturing department.

While appearances are important when welcoming top surgeons from across the world, the benefits of the location go far deeper than pure aesthetics.

“The facilities at Med IC4 and at the Medical School opposite are absolutely first class, with special conference rooms ideal when entertaining large numbers of potential customers,"says Mr. Bratt.

“There is now a large contingent of Med Tech businesses nearby, which could prove invaluable when sourcing suppliers or working together on R&D programmes.”

You also get the feeling that the amiable MD is looking forward to the completion of the University Hospital of North Staffordshire as a potential employment ground for staff.

“If we can help the area establish a reputation for its medtech business expertise.” Says Mr. Bratt, “then that can only be good news for everyone connected with the industry and the area.”

Any suggestion of Biocomposites being overly dependent on the domestic market is quickly swept aside when you find out about the company’s two international offices in North Carolina and Shanghai in China.

More than ten people are employed in the two satellite offices, which act as sales and marketing centres for products manufactured in North Staffordshire.

With more staff planned in the next couple of months, it appears that the international expansion is gathering pace.

“”There is a world-wide potential demand for our products, which are currently used in more than 20 countries, including the hugely popular Bilok, Stimulan and Little Grafter screw system,” enthuses Mr. Bratt.

“Our companies in the US and China are essential if we are to be successful in those countries.”

Mainland Europe possibly Germany, is the next location under consideration for overseas expansion, especially in regards to exploitation of the dental market.

Mr. Bratt concludes: “In our sector, you have to be constantly innovate or face the real risk of being caught and overtaken by competitors looking for that all important breakthrough.”

“With this in mind, I’m delighted to announce that we have just launched Genex, a new concept in synthetic, fully absorbable bone graft that is injectable and harnesses body’s cells to enable faster fracture healing. This will be our most groundbreaking technology to date.”

Sixty minutes in the company of Stephen and all seems well in the land of North Staffordshire, an area that thanks to the work of Biocomposites and others is embracing the future by reassuringly using some of the traits of the past.

Source: The Birmingham Post