He says: “Sometimes it is a new design for a product or a completely new innovation. The UAE is an important market for us, and we have been present in the Middle East and the UAE for over 20 years. The UAE has the goal for Expo 2020, so they have to build an infrastructure with that deadline in mind. We are here to help them meet those needs.”
The company was founded in 1985 by Joel Honigberg with several divisions. One of the divisions that came in later was the medical division. The focus of the company is to represent U.S. manufacturers overseas and it works with a network of established distributors. The company’s role is to look at regulatory aspects for medical devices, and what is required so that they can enter and comply with the regulations of each specific country.
The company’s products can be divided into three different categories. There is radiology, which includes imaging tables, x-ray protection; hospital furnishing equipment, which includes medical carts, exam tables, warming cabinets for fluids, and emergency equipment, which would include ventilators, suction equipment, etc., among other products, such as pill counting machines. The distributors import the products and sell and install it for hospitals and clinics.
One of the innovative products on display is the Operation Heatjac Warming Belts that keeps physicians and nurses warm in the operating room.
Forcier says: “This vest was designed by an anaesthesiologist. It is cold in the operating room, so, he had the idea of having a belt that can have a battery pack so you can walk around or you can plug it into a socket. But to be even more efficient he thought of having an insulating vest and instead of batteries, you can have heat packs that trap the heat along your body for over 12 hours. The product is something very new on the market. Also, it is something that can go way beyond the healthcare facility, as anybody who is cold can use it and it can have multiple applications.”
Another one of the unique products on display is ivNow, which is convenient and easy-to-use, and quickly heats and maintains safe temperatures of intravenous fluids while saving time and space.
“IV fluids are traditionally warmed in cabinets and usually a nurse would have to go outside the operating room (OR) to get the IV bag and when someone goes outside of the OR and back in, there is a risk of contamination. ivNow allows you to have immediate access, while giving prominence to safety,” he adds.
Forcier concludes: “We always look for innovative ideas and aim to bring easier as well as high-quality solutions to the market. We have all the required certifications and our goal is to introduce products that are useful and safe for both the hospital staff as well as patients.”
