Greatbatch Opens Facility in Singapore

Greatbatch Inc. is keeping up its momentum with a new Active Implantable Medical Device (AIMD) Research and Development (R&D) Center in Singapore, the announcement coming soon after the company completed construction on its new Fort Wayne, Ind. orthopedic manufacturing and design plant.

The new facility in Singapore will be the first R&D center for active implantable medical devices (devices powered by electricity or another power source besides gravity or the human body) in Singapore and in Asia. Greatbatch has been implementing a medical device growth strategy, and this marks its first step into the emerging market of the Asia-Pacific region.

“This announcement is another step in the process we began in 2008 to move Greatbatch forward and evolve from not only being an innovative component manufacturer but also being an innovator of complete medical device systems,” said Thomas J. Hook, president and CEO of Greatbatch. “Many factors contributed to our decision to establish the first multinational R&D center for active implantable medical devices in Singapore, including the nation’s commitment to developing its biomedical sciences cluster, as evidenced by its strong investment in research organizations. The work being conducted at several national research institutes serves as a perfect complement to Greatbatch and QiG’s resident expertise in the design and development of active implantable medical devices.”

In 2008 Greatbatch formed subsidiary QiG Group LLC to empower the design and development of new medical devices for its core markets: Cardiovascular, neuromodulation and orthopedics. The QiG group will partner with physicians and other key opinion leaders in Asia Pacific to focus on developing innovative active implantable medical devices. The Greatbatch Singapore AIMD R&D Center will leverage “frugal innovation” strategies to develop cost efficient active implantable medical devices and position Greatbatch to capitalize on emerging market business opportunities.

At first, the center will focus on the design and development of active implantable medical devices for the cardiovascular and neuromodulation markets. Both are multibillion-dollar markets with considerable long-term growth potential. For cardiovascular, Greatbatch will start to produce devices for interventional procedures, atrial fibrillation ablation, MRI conditional systems, as well as technologies that target health conditions related to cardiovascular diseases such as obesity and obstructive sleep apnea. To serve the neuromodulation market, the company currently is developing a spinal cord stimulator called Algostim, which will treat chronic pain in the trunk and limbs.

“The devices that the Greatbatch Singapore AIMD R&D Center will design and develop are to be tailored to the unique requirements that exist in emerging markets without sacrificing physician and patient benefits,” said Daniel Kaiser, Ph.D., chief technology officer of Greatbatch. “In order to develop such complex systems we’ll focus on world class talent with the capabilities to bring these solutions through the development and regulatory stages to serve Asia Pacific and broader worldwide healthcare markets.”

The Singapore facility will be headed by Kulbir Sandhu, with Kaiser providing direction as well. Sandhu has more than 15 years of medical device experience in the areas of new product development, program management and manufacturing transfer. In his most recent position as senior director of R&D at St. Jude Medical, Sandhu was responsible for assessing technologies to determine clinical viability, program risk, and return on investment by working with key opinion leaders and advisory councils.

“Mr. Sandhu has the experience and background to lead this effort as we identify clinicians and experts in the region to partner with QiG on our device initiatives,” commented Kaiser.

Singapore’s economic development groups have not been shy about recruiting medtech companies to the tiny but prosperous city-state.

“We are delighted that Greatbatch has chosen Singapore for its first R&D Centre outside the United States, to develop and commercialize medical devices for Asia and global markets,” said Yeoh Keat Chuan, managing director of the Singapore Economic Development Board. “Companies are increasingly looking to growth opportunities in Asia. Singapore is well-positioned as a location for companies to develop the next generation of medical devices due to our strong pool of R&D talent, opportunities for clinicians and industry to collaborate, aggregate and translate regional clinical insights into new ideas.”

Greatbatch Inc.’s brands are Greatbatch Medical, Electrochem and the QiG Group. The company focuses on the cardiac, neurology, vascular and orthopedic markets, while Greatbatch Medical is responsible for the design and manufacture of critical technologies used in medical devices for the cardiac rhythm management, neuromodulation, vascular access and orthopedic sectors. The company recently moved its headquarters to a suburb Dallas, Texas.

Greatbatch will hold a conference call to discuss its second quarter performance on July 25.