Schwind eye tech solutions

SCHWIND eye-tech-solutions GmbH develops, produces and markets devices for the treatment of ametropiae and corneal diseases consisting of laser systems, diagnostic systems, software for individual treatment planning and a microkeratome. The owner-operated enterprise, based in Kleinostheim near Aschaffenburg, Germany, employs more than 100 people and distributes its products in more than 120 countries worldwide. Customers include ophthalmic surgeons, eye clinics, laser centers and university hospitals.

SCHWIND eye-tech-solutions GmbH
TypeGmbH
IndustryMedical technology
Founded1958
HeadquartersKleinostheim, Germany
Area served
Worldwide
Key people
Rolf Schwind (CEO)
ProductsOphthalmic devices
Revenue€ 25.5 million (2009/10)[1]
Number of employees
>100
Websiteeye-tech-solutions.com

Corporate history

Named after its founder, the enterprise was registered in 1958 as Herbert Schwind GmbH & Co. KG in the Aschaffenburg trade register.

Founded in 1964, the subsidiary Titmus Eurocon specialized in the development of contact lenses. In 1972, with the introduction of the first soft contact lenses, Titmus Eurocon brought a world novelty to the market.[2][3] Titmus Eurocon was sold in 1982 to the Swiss group Ciba Geigy (Novartis).[4][5][6]

In the following years, Schwind eye-tech-solutions made a decisive turn from diagnostic technology supplier for ophthalmologic practices to the development of innovative technology in laser systems for refractive and therapeutic corneal surgery.[7][8][9][10][11]

In 2007 the company introduced a new excimer laser generation, the Schwind Amaris, which is the first and only laser system worldwide to combine all available modern refractive technologies in one system.[12][13] Since then, the Schwind Amaris product family has been enhanced continuously. Today, Schwind Amaris laser systems compete successfully in a market otherwise dominated by multinational, market-listed corporations. The latest Amaris evolution features, with 1050 Hertz, the second after Optosystems Microscan (1100 Hertz) highest available pulse repetition rate on the market of excimer lasers today.

In 2013, Schwind concluded an agreement to license the Schwind Amaris platform to the Alphaeon Corporation for marketing and FDA approval in the United States.

SmartSurfACE

Schwind recently enhanced the Schwind AMARIS firmware to include a new feature called "SmartSurfACE", a laser spot optimization algorithm, developed in conjunction with Dr. David T.C. Lin in Vancouver, Canada. SmartSurfACE provides for an exceptionally smooth stromal surface post-ablation which accelerates re-epithelialization and dramatically reduces discomfort. The results of this stromal smoothing optimization have been nothing short of spectacular with transepithelial PRK (transPRK) patients seeing better immediately after surgery than they would after 1 month with a previous treatment algorithm. In the words of Dr. Lin, Pacific Laser Eye Center, Vancouver, Canada, patients are routinely seeing better immediately after surgery than they did with their glasses prior to surgery. Third party studies are now confirming the previously published results of the company's consultants.

Awards

For its innovations, Schwind was awarded various national and international prizes since 2008, for example the German "Industriepreis 2008" in the medical technology category,[14][15] the "Gusi Peace Prize 2008",[16][17][18] the "Medical Design Excellence Award 2008"[19] in Gold as well as the German "TOP 100 most innovative companies 2008"[20][21] and "Germany Land of Ideas - Selected Landmark 2009"[22] awards.

References
  1. "Jahresabschluss zum 30. Juni 2010". Elektronischer Bundesanzeiger (in German). Retrieved 23 February 2012.
  2. "Nicht knüllen" (in German). Der Spiegel. 3 May 1971. Retrieved 23 February 2012.
  3. "Wasserreiche weiche Linsen" (in German). Der Spiegel. 16 June 1980. Retrieved 23 February 2012.
  4. "Trademark database". tmdb.de (in German). 28 November 1975. Retrieved 23 February 2012.
  5. "CIBA VISION - Von den Anfängen bis heute" (in German). Retrieved 23 February 2012.
  6. Zeller, Christian (2001). Globalisierungsstrategien - der Weg von Novartis. Springer Verlag (in German). ISBN 3-540-41629-3. Retrieved 23 February 2012.
  7. "Device for corneal surgery". FreePatentsOnline.com. 14 June 1998. Retrieved 23 February 2012.
  8. "Device for the removal of tissue from the cornea of an eye". FreePatentsOnline.com. 11 September 2001. Retrieved 23 February 2012.
  9. "Process and arrangement for examining a section of the eye". FreePatentsOnline.com. 1 August 2000. Retrieved 23 February 2012.
  10. "Vorrichtung zur Hornhautchirurgie". PatentDe (in German). 22 April 1999. Retrieved 23 February 2012.
  11. "Das Unternehmergespräch: Rolf Schwind, Geschäftsführender Gesellschafter der Schwind Eye-Tech-Solutions". Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (in German). 17 March 2008. p. 16.
  12. "All inclusive - Schwinds neuer TotalTech-Laser Amaris". Ophthalmologische Nachrichten (in German). October 2007. p. 25.
  13. "Konkurrenz für Brillen und Linsen". Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (in German). 16 November 2007. p. 66.
  14. "Kategoriesieger Industriepreis 2008". Huber Verlag für Neue Medien GmbH (in German). Retrieved 23 February 2012.
  15. "winner's certificate" (PDF). Huber Verlag für Neue Medien GmbH (in German). 21 April 2008. Retrieved 23 February 2012.
  16. "Gusi peace prize international: past laureates". Retrieved 23 February 2012.
  17. http://www.ge-kompakt.de/news/pharma_medtech/,navigation_id,48,medcon_artikel_id,232644,_psmand,3.html
  18. "Innovation a key to Schwind's success". Eurotimes. March 2009. p. 36.
  19. "Medical Design Excellence Award 2008". UBM Canon. Retrieved 23 February 2012.
  20. Busche, Maralen (14 July 2008). "Top 100: Innovativste Unternehmen". Focus netnews (in German). Retrieved 23 February 2012.
  21. "Top 100: Medizintechnik und Marketing". Main-Netz Media GmbH (in German). 8 July 2008. Retrieved 23 February 2012.
  22. "Germany - Land of ideas - trust your eyes". Land der Ideen Management GmbH (in German). 12 July 2009. Retrieved 23 February 2012.
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