02-04-2020

WITTENSTEIN sells its medtech business to medical device specialist Orthofix

WITTENSTEIN SE is to part company with its medtech business: Orthofix Medical Inc., which has its headquarters in the USA, will take over the portfolio of medical products – comprised of FITBONE® and FITSPINE® – from WITTENSTEIN subsidiary WITTENSTEIN intens GmbH. According to mechatronics corporation WITTENSTEIN SE, the development and marketing opportunities will be significantly improved as a result of transferring this innovative, human centered drive technology to Orthofix, a global leader in the field of medical devices.

Manufacturing operations will initially remain at the present WITTENSTEIN group site in Igersheim-Harthausen for a transitional period of about two years. Only sales will be managed centrally within the Orthofix Group. The change of ownership will have no repercussions for the employment contracts of the 26 affected employees at WITTENSTEIN intens GmbH.

As a certified supplier, WITTENSTEIN intens GmbH develops, manufactures and markets smart implants for use in orthopedics and traumatology as well as controllable mechatronic drive systems for medtech applications.

“It is increasingly difficult for a classic engineering firm like WITTENSTEIN to take adequate account of the specific characteristics of the medtech business”, said Dr. Bertram Hoffmann, CEO of WITTENSTEIN SE, when asked to comment on the sale. “We, the Supervisory Board and the owning WITTENSTEIN family are united by a common conviction that an established, specialized company in the medtech industry is much better positioned to continue developing and perfecting WITTENSTEIN’s medical technology successfully.

Aside from the responsibility towards employees, maintaining the existing relationships with hospitals and patients was a key priority in the negotiations recently concluded with Orthofix.