implantcast GmbH
implantcast GmbH is a highly–specialised and innovative medical technology company. We are based in Buxtehude near Hamburg, Germany and have more than 600 employees. The company operates in the fields of product development, manufacturing, sterile packaging as well as sales and distribution of primary, revision and tumour endoprostheses. At implantcast we provide high-quality, dynamic technologies to the orthopaedic surgeon and patients to offer an ideal solution for each individual patient worldwide. implantcast is the leading tumour endoprosthetic system in the European market. When we started out as an OEM partner of several well-known orthopaedic companies implantcast originally operated behind the scenes to a large extent but over the years implantcast products became increasingly popular so we started selling direct to hospitals.
Company details
Find locations served, office locations
- Business Type:
- Manufacturer
- Industry Type:
- Medical Equipment
- Market Focus:
- Globally (various continents)
- Year Founded:
- 1988
- Employees:
- 101-1000
Company
As Managing Director of implantcast GmbH I would also like to extend my own warmest welcome to you.
On the following pages you have the opportunity to find out more about our company and our philosophy.
In 1988 we started a company called „implantcast Feinguss GmbH“ – which we simplified to „implantcast GmbH“in 2001. To begin with we focussed mainly on the development and marketing of the MUTARS® system. Today this is the leading tumour endoprosthetic system in the European market. When we started out as an OEM partner of several well-known orthopaedic companies implantcast originally operated behind the scenes to a large extent but over the years implantcast products became increasingly popular so we started selling direct to hospitals.
Today, implantcast GmbH is a highly–specialised and innovative medical technology company. We are based in Buxtehude near Hamburg, Germany and have more than 600 employees. The company operates in the fields of product development, manufacturing, sterile packaging as well as sales and distribution of primary, revision and tumour endoprostheses. At implantcast we provide high-quality, dynamic technologies to the orthopaedic surgeon and patients to offer an ideal solution for each individual patient worldwide.
Our head office in Buxtehude has expanded greatly in recent years and further expansion is planned there so that we can continue to manufacture on site and continue to grow as a company. The recent establishment of a logistics centre allows us to export our products to more than 65 countries worldwide. At implantcast we rely heavily on our highly motivated team and we plan to keep our manufacturing based in Germany - rather than move this function to low-wage economies as we do not consider this as a valid option for us. The growth we have experienced in recent years confirms this conviction.
Rebranding
The new design is coming!
From now on we appear even clearer, more self-confident and globally uniform(er).
The last revision of our design took place in 2001. Since then, we have grown and developed continuously. For our new design, we have retained proven elements, combined them with new ones and positioned them in such a way that we can communicate flexibly on all channels.
The "cloverleaf" is implantcast's visual symbol. We remain true to it. As well as to the intention of our slogan. "walk with us." is our promise to act reliably and in partnership at eye level. We seek and value personal exchange for innovative, optimal solutions.
The central element of the new design is the "implantcast" typeface, a modern sans serif with a geometric touch. It is not only beautiful, but also informs in almost all languages. Our icons are characteristically integrated into the communication as visual signposts.
We use colours as an orientation system. We have adapted our corporate colours for this purpose, for clear use with a lot of white space. The colours of our product branches are new: strong and dynamic, they draw attention to our competences across all areas of endoprosthetics.
The quality, functionality and aesthetics of our endoprostheses speak for themselves. That is why we do without a set when staging the products and show them off in the original in dynamic perspectives.
Next steps
We are gradually introducing to the new design. This means that from now on, all materials and templates that are due for revision or a new edition will be redesigned. The new design will be implemented by us as well as by our subsidiaries and partners. For our customers and the public, the new design will be visible from spring 2022.
Sustainability
Why should you choose implantcast?
More than a decade after the international banking crisis in 2008, the coronavirus has provided another reminder of how vulnerable the global production system really is. Like the bottleneck of protective masks at the beginning of the pandemic, in 2021 we also saw how problematic broad global supply chains can be for Germany's corona vaccine supply. Recently the running aground of the Ever Given container ship and the blocking of the Suez Canal made it painfully clear how fragile the world economy is and how important it is to become independent of global catastrophes.
implantcast GmbH consistently focuses on keeping its supply chains as short as possible. All implants are manufactured at its production site in Buxtehude, Germany. All instruments are created in cooperation with suppliers from the EU and wider Europe. In the past year, the amount of non-European suppliers was reduced even further, and now amounts to only 7.7% of all suppliers (compared to 9% in 2019). implantcast GmbH procures 92.3% of its instruments, raw materials, supplies and services from partners in Germany (77.1%) and Europe (15.2%), and is endeavoring to further shorten its supply chains and value creation chains in order to make them more robust and to reduce vulnerability to global crises.
Short supply chains have other positive economic and ecological aspects. Short transport routes reduce transport costs and result in a significant reduction of CO2 emissions, which relieves the burden on the environment. By 2030 implantcast GmbH expects to be CO2-neutral. implantcast products, which are manufactured in Germany, reach hospitals without having been transported halfway across the globe. For more than 30 years implantcast GmbH has been based in Buxtehude. As one of the few German manufacturers of joint replacements, it pays all of its taxes in Germany and, in addition to the employees working at implantcast, it safeguards additional jobs at German and European partner companies.
implantcast currently employs more than 600 people at its Buxtehude location and educates up to 20 trainees in production and management every year.
The use of renewable energies not only reduces the CO2 footprint but also secures long-term energy cost savings. implantcast is gradually converting the company's vehicle fleet to e-mobility and hybrid drives. The switch to green electricity and the construction of wind power stations on the company’s own premises are concrete projects that implantcast GmbH is using to take further steps toward decarbonization.
Sustainability is a commonly used term that describes more than just the recovery and conservation of resources. For years, implantcast GmbH has been establishing innovative manufacturing technologies with the goal of optimizing the use of energy and resources as well as increasing efficiency. For some time now implantcast has been using grass-based cardboard to ship implants to hospitals. Currently the company is working to reduce the use of plastics in its implant packaging.
Shortly after the emergence of the pandemic in March 2020, implantcast adapted to the new circumstances. In addition to hygiene concepts, the company implemented work organizational projects, created home-office workplaces and adopted new communication approaches. Meanwhile, implantcast has organized several monthly international and national scientific training events for doctors and hospital staff in the form of webinars. The further training of employees at the Buxtehude location and international partners has also been switched to the new communication methods, and is done via video conferences.
implantcast and its partners have committed themselves to sustainability and the integration of modern technologies and solutions.
Philosophy
The cloverleaf - joy of recovery
They say that finding a four-leaf clover will bring good luck. implantcast GmbH uses the stylised clover as a way of signifying the joy of recovery; it has been incorporated into the technical design since 1992, when it was first used in the design of the MUTARS® tumour system.
The colour green was chosen for our banner and logo also because of its positive imagery. It symbolises life, new beginnings and growth, as well as willpower, balance, comfort and hope. Besides the colour green is the colour orange, which stands for obtaining and maintaining healthiness. Complemented by the colour yellow-orange (yellow: cheerfulness, joy, fulfilment, enterprise and imagination; orange: health, optimism, joy, sociability, ambition, activity, confidence and sincerity), the implantcast logo indicates the essential components of the company philosophy. The white in the background, known for its connotations of virtue and purity, furthermore represents the qualities of neutrality, honesty and reliability, as well as business instinct.
Our focus is on the human being, especially the patient, is at the centre of everything that we do
The human focus of our company philosophy of course also extends to our clients as well as to our partners and to our employees alike.
The rapid and uncomplicated recovery of the patient’s quality of life is our primary objective. As a financially and ideologically independent company implantcast maintains relations with other independent partners both at home and abroad. As a modern manufacturer we continuously scrutinise our actions and optimise, where necessary, our processes and structures. Speed and reliability of service, the precision and quality of our products as well as continuous development are the principles to which implantcast GmbH is fully committed – in the knowledge that financial contentment cannot lead to true happiness.
History
1988
01.10.: Wolfgang Petroll establishes implantcast Feinguss GmbH at: Buxtehude Technology Center, Alter Postweg, Buxtehude. 10 staff employees
1989
Development and sales of BSTR tumour system. Manufacture and sales of dental alloys, production of cast endoprostheses (straight stem).
1990
New Products: Lengthened Long Stem, SI Hip System. Takeover of the company by the simultaneous managing director Wilfried Mohr.
1991
Deliberations on the ceramic coated ACCIS® hip system. First internal cooperation with the company Van Straten, Nieuwegein, Netherlands; coating of prosthetic components and instruments, surface treatment of endoprostheses: grinding and polishing
1992
Development and first implantation of the MUTARS® proximal femur tumour system.
1993
Development and first implantation of a distal femur of the MUTARS® distal femur and of the MUTARS® total femur – expanding the range of lower extremity tumour offerings
1994
Development and first implantation of the MUTARS® humeral system – the starting point for our upper extremity tumour system.
1995
Development and first implantations of two additional stand-alone hip systems: Anatomic C, ic Straight Stem Type I as well as the MUTARS® proximal tibia – further expanding lower extremity tumour options.
1996
01.01.: Jens Saß becomes Managing Director of implantcast Feinguss GmbH. Development of the MUTARS® Filia system.
1997
Implantation of MUTARS® RS revision hip system; CE certification.
1998
1st October: 10 years company anniversary. 39 staff employees. New Products: WS System, ic RPC and ic Long Stem system. Number of International Cooperations: 6.
1999
First implantation of a partial pelvic replacement. First CR stem implantation in Munich-Großhadern. October – moved to new site at Lüneburger Schanze 26, Buxtehude. Frictional robot for system modification. New product: KAI Arthrodesis system.
2000
First operation of LOAD SHIFT® hip system in Hamburg-Barmbek. Implantation of the thousandth MUTARS® prosthesis. First operation of ACCIS® large head system.
2001
New Products: among others, Angle Plate system. Change of name to implantcast GmbH including the establishment of a new corporate identity and new logo, new ic company colours.
2002
August: Inauguration of CNC manufacturing. First implantation of Cepthar® hip system. First PressFit cup system. First implantation of CCI® Knee System. First implantation of the elbow NESimplavit® system. Beginning of the project MUTARS® and patenting of the silver coating.
2003
Expansion of the CNC manufacturing. New Products: Ceraco hip system, ACS® Knee System. New locking mechanism for MUTARS® PEEK Optima®. Number of international collaborations: 15. OSCAR award for the industrial price of the middle class.
2004
Establishment of new sites implantcast Polska and implantcast Italia. Further development of the manufacturing facility Buxtehude. New Products: Cepthar® SC threaded cup, Dialoc® Hip Stem, EcoFit® hip system. Clinical testing of silver-coated MUTARS® prostheses. Trademark protection for the alloys implatan® and implavit®. Award: Transfer Award from the University of Münster for the cooperation between implantcast and the University in the development of antibacterial silver coating.
2005
First operation of ACCIS® resurfacing system and first operation of the CarpoFit® thumb saddle joint prosthesis. Innovative growth prosthesis MUTARS® Xpand developed. New products: WinX® revision hip socket, AJS hip stem, Agilon® shoulder system, PB Uni knee system, Metallic® metal on metal pairing, ACS® SC. Minimally invasive surgical techniques in total hip arthroplasty. Number of International Cooperations: 24. Employees: 103.
2006
Implantation of the 4,000th MUTARS® prosthesis. New Products: TARIC® ankle system, DiaLoc® screw cup. Further expansion of the site in Buxtehude.
2007
Development of new products: Agilon® inverse, Capica®, expansion of revision product range with ACS® SC knee prosthesis and the GenuX® knee system. Co-organizer of the world's largest congress for bone tumours ISOLS 2007 in Hamburg. The number of employees increases to more than 150.
2008
Development of the Aida® hip system and the EcoFit® acetabular cup system. Beginning of the 4th phase of construction. The construction phase is due to be completed for the 20-year anniversary of implantcast GmbH on 1st October 2008. The manufacturing plant in Buxtehude is expanded by 1.700m2. More than 170 people are currently employed. The number of international cooperations could be increased to 38. Establishment of the subsidiary implantcast Turkey.
2009
Expansion of the manufacturing plant. At the end of the 5th phase the manufacturing plant has reached a size of 4.837m2. The higher classification of the knee, hip and shoulder implants was successfully accomplished. New cooperations between implantcast and Australia, New Zealand, Brasil and Asia were founded. The distribution network includes more than 45 countries. By the end of the successful year 2009 implantcast employs more than 220 people.
2010
Launch of new products: ACS® Fixed Bearing knee components as well as MUTARS® RS Arthrodesis implant. More than 240 employees are working at the plant in Buxtehude. Due to new partnerships the network of implantcast has reached a size of 56 countries.
2011
implantcast GmbH bought neighbouring ground to make sure that there was room for expansion in the future. The 2010-built academic training and conference centre officially opened.
2012
Opening of the 2400m2 large CNC manufacturing. The international distributor network includes more than 50 countries. By the end of 2012 implantcast has established seven international subsidiaries including three new direct subsidiaries in the UK, Greece and Thailand. More than 340 people are working at the head office in Buxtehude.
2013
New enhancements and expansion of the admistration building. Launch of new products: EcoFit® 2M total hip system and MUTARS® RS revision cup system. In November the new additive manufacturing technology was put into operation. On 1st October: 25th anniversary of implantcast. More than 390 people are employed in Buxtehude.
2014
Since the beginning of the year imlantcast employs more than 400 people in Germany. Foundation of implantcast South Africa (Pty. Limited). It is founded together with the former South African partner company Werkomed SA.
2015
The distribution network includes more than 64 cooperations worldwide. implantcast products are available on all continents. On 1st of July the subsidiary implantcast Suisse located in Basel is founded. On September 10th implantcast France is founded in Lyon. EPORE® augmentation implants for knee and hip are available. Launch of the new MK generation of the MUTARS® system.
2016
Approval of EcoFit® EPORE® acetabular cup system. The new EPORE® implant surface is implemented on the stemless AGILON® MI shoulder implant, the RECARTIC® knee implant and on the augmentation implants and defect fillers for the reconstruction of hip and knee joint. implantcast employs 487 people in Buxtehude. At the east plant a new logistics and production centre of more than 5000m2 is build; it will be opened 2017.
2017
The logistics and production center is completed and occupied. With 70 international distribution partners worldwide, the international presence of implantcast products is further strengthened. Since September 25, 2017, the EcoFit® hip system has been approved for clinical use in the United States of America. The EcoFit® hip system with cementless, cemented shanks and short shank and cementless EcoFit® acetabulum including cup inserts and femoral heads is the first FDA-approved implant-enabled product line that will hopefully be followed by other systems soon. The logistics and production center is completed and occupied. With 70 international distribution partners worldwide, the international presence of implantcast products is further strengthened.
2018
In 2018, implantcast celebrates 30th anniversary. The logistics and production center has been put into operation and the capacity of additive manufacturing has been doubled. Now Peru, Chile, Japan and Argentina are the new distribution partnerships.
2019
Since the beginning of the year implantcast employs more than 600 people in Buxtehude. This year, implantcast has closed new distribution partnerships: India, Hong Kong, Libanon and Morocco. The distribution network includes more than 80 international cooperations worldwide. Since July implantcast is certified as AEO (Authorized Economic Operator).
2020
The Actinia® hip stem and the DiaLoc® hip stem portfolio is expanded and MUTARS® PRS is launched. With the extension of the EcoFit® system to include the EcoFit® insert, a tripolar treatment is now made possible for all EcoFit® cups. The storage capacity of the automatic warehouse can be increased by 50%. A new branch office is found in Denmark.
2021
First implantation of AGILON® XO in America. The first AGILON XO surgery takes place in America. The market launch of the new products EPORE® acetabular spacer and EPORE® buttress and shims augments takes place. A new cooperation with Guatemala expands the international network.