Nihon Kohden announces alliance with Heinen + Löwenstein and Acoma in anesthesia business

Nihon Kohden Corporation, a medical electronics company in Tokyo, Japan, today announced that the Company will enter a business alliance with Heinen + Löwenstein GmbH & Co. KG, a German medical device company, and Acoma Medical Industry Co., Ltd., a Japanese medical device company, to develop and distribute anesthesia machines.

1. Background and outline of the alliance
Nihon Kohden is working to expand its treatment equipment business as one of the key themes in the Company’s long-term vision “The Change 2020 – The Global Leader of Medical Solutions.” Nihon Kohden is one of Japan’s top makers of patient monitors and solutions providers in the perioperative area.
It’s predicted that future perioperative systems will require closer linkage between patient monitors and anesthesia machines. To this end Nihon Kohden will introduce Heinen + Löwenstein anesthesia products into Japan. Heinen + Löwenstein products have already established a strong presence in Europe. Acoma distributes its own high quality products, mainly in Japan. Nihon Kohden will collaborate with Acoma to build a domestic sales and support system for Heinen + Löwenstein products. This collaboration with Acoma will enable early penetration of Heinen + Löwenstein products in Japan as well as strengthen the domestic sales and service network and enable better customer service for Heinen + Löwenstein products.
In future, Nihon Kohden and Acoma will jointly develop new widely-used anesthesia machines and distribute them domestically and internationally, mainly in emerging countries. Nihon Kohden and Heinen + Löwenstein will strengthen their technology and marketing alliance in the perioperative area.  

2. Significance of the alliance
(1) Strengthen development and product lineup in the perioperative area
Heinen + Löwenstein offers products with sophisticated design, high end features and top quality as well as competitive price. Acoma is one of Japan’s top anesthesia makers with a history of over 90 years. Nihon Kohden has strong core capability in development of patient monitors and IT solutions as Japan’s top manufacturer of patient monitors. Nihon Kohden also owns advanced physiological measurement technologies with an advantage in the development of high quality and high-value added products. The three parties will collaborate in introducing Heinen + Löwenstein anesthesia products into Japan. This alliance is also expected to have a synergy effect to strengthen development in the perioperative field, speed up development time, and increase the R&D strength for even more advanced treatment products in the perioperative field.

 

(2) Expand overseas business
Nihon Kohden aims to expand its overseas business as a key priority in its Strong Growth 2017 mid-term business plan. Internationally, the Company has always offered patient monitors in the perioperative area. This alliance will enable the Company to also offer widely-used anesthesia machines, which Nihon Kohden and Acoma will jointly develop, and establish an international presence, mainly in emerging countries. 

3. Overview of each company

Heinen + Löwenstein GmbH & Co. KG

Acoma Medical Industry Co., Ltd.

Nihon Kohden Corporation