Teleflex Medical restructures its OEM businesses into a single business unit – Teleflex Medical OEM.

Exciting year ahead for newly formed OEM group

February, 2004

In November, it was announced that Teleflex Medical was re-structuring its OEM businesses into a single business unit called Teleflex Medical OEM. This business unit consists of two primary product platforms, the OEM Specialties Group operating under the leadership of Art Burghouwt, and the OEM Orthopedic Group under the leadership of Guy Bradshaw.

The products that make up the Teleflex Medical OEM portfolio are designed, manufactured, and sold to top medical device companies all over the world. We provide these companies with expertise in product development, engineering services, and quality manufacturing which exceed their highest standards. Companies such as Johnson and Johnson, Medtronic, Boston Scientific, Abbott Labs, Zimmer, and Stryker are just a few of the many industry leading companies that rely on the OEM businesses of Teleflex Medical to provide them with the product and expertise they need to serve their own customers and patients.

OEM Specialties Group

The OEM Specialties Group includes the TFX Medical business, an industry leader in custom plastic extrusions, braided reinforced plastic tubing, catheter device fabrication, and specialty guide wires. The Specialty Group also includes the OEM business of one of the world’s largest suture manufacturers, Deknatel. Many of the products from the OEM Specialties Group are used for diagnostic and interventional procedures in cardiology and cardiovascular surgery. This business segment of the medical industry continues to grow rapidly through innovations in procedures and techniques, and from the need to diagnose cardiac disease sooner in our aging population.

OEM Orthopedic Group

Currently comprised of products from Beere Medical and KMedic, both companies enjoy leadership positions in the orthopedic instrumentation market through a tradition of delivering high quality and high precision products. The Orthopedic market continues to see significant growth, especially in the areas of spinal surgery where many of our products are focused. Demand for our products continues to grow and Beere Medical is in the process of moving to a 24/7 manufacturing operation to keep pace.The surgical instruments we manufacture carry very high physician preference,representing their "tools of the trade." We hold a number of proprietary design patents as a result of the innovation and expertise of our engineering team.

The Teleflex OEM team is committed to the integration of these quality products and platforms. We will continue to grow our business through the hard work and dedication of the world class group of individuals that make up the OEM team. While change is never easy, the OEM team has remained focused on our number one priority - taking care of our customers. We look forward to an exciting and rewarding year.

By DAVID FINNEY
Sr. VP/General Manager,Teleflex Medical OEM
David Finney may be reached at: dfinney@teleflexmedical.com